To inform Swedish program policy discussions, this study traced patterns in fictional television programing for children and young adults in Sweden. Three sets of questions were central to the inquiry. First, what does "the TV world" look like? Who lives there? Who are the dominant figures? What settings are depicted? How are socially relevant issues treated? How are problems solved? Second, is the TV world homogeneous? Do Swedish programs differ appreciably from imported ones? Do programs for adult audiences differ from those intended for juvenile audiences? Third, in what respects does the TV world differ from reality? What is emphasized, and what suppressed? What values and cultural patterns are thereby transmitted? Materials analyzed were total samples of the fictional programs offered 5 selected weeks at roughly 2-month intervals during 1980 and 1981. The sample was constructed so as to be representative of 1 year of Swedish television programing. Of the 60 narratives in the sample, 34 were of Swedish origin and 26 were imported. Materials were examined from two perspectives: that of "understanding," or Verstehen, and critical analysis. In addition to providing answers to many of the questions above, findings indicated the existence of certain fragments of an ideology involving individualism, liberty, confidence, respect, and traditional sex-role patterns. Also, several inadvertent messages were revealed. (RH)