Well Peter, I agree with you. TV in recent years has gotten pretty trashy. I have two teenagers and while they were growing up I've always been strict on what shows are watched in the house. All of the parental locks are set at PG-13 and no further. All DVD's with explicite sex, violence and language are out of their cases and stashed away somewhere else.
What has this resulted in? My 16 year old is now watching R rated movies that have been presented to him at MY pace, not someone elses. I don't trust the networks or movie channels to dicatate when my children should be watching their trashy movies and shows. As a result, my son has no desire to "sneak" over to someone elses house to watch something because he simply asks me and we sit and watch it together. Of course, he doesn't get to see everything but enough that I'm comfortable with and to keep him satisfied.
My 14 year old daughter has no desire to see R rated movies because she understands through my guidance that it's not necessary to watch them. Occasionally she does ask but if I say no, I've provided other forms of entertainment to keep her occupied. Eventually, I will do the same with her that I have with my son. That is, exposing her slowly and at what I think is a good pace.
I guess my point is that active parental involvment is the key. As Scott said, simply setting the locks and being done with it is not enough.
As far as TV overseas, Scott is right. It's worse over there but does that make it right? Just because they do it, doesn't mean we have to. What really concerns me is how far all of this go. At what point will it all stop?