Just spotted this thread.
Swearing on TV is just another way that standards have dropped like a stone. There is no (or at least seems to be) respect these days. People just do as they please.
I think that children are exposed to swearing far too much, not only on TV but by their own parents as has been said. I remember last christmas I was out on the 24th doing my shopping (late i know). There was this woman who had a trail of children following her. She was shouting at them at the top of her voice in the middle of the street "come on you F***ing C*****s get a move on. B******s the lot of you". I was so amazed at this I stopped dead in my tracks. I simply looked at her and said "people like you do not deserve to have children". For this remark, she punched me in the chest to the ground! I suppose I should not have said anything, but I was so shocked it was an "auto pilot" moment.