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London (pte043/10.02.2005/14:45) - The British government is set to restrict access to an adult TV channel in an attempt to prevent children from tuning into its "frequent episodes of violent pornography". The Department of Culture, Media and Sport http://www.culture.gov.uk has decided to take the step against Extasi TV, an Italian channel broadcast from the French-owned Hotbird satellite. As the Media Guardian http://www.mediaguardian.co.uk reports, from February 21, it will be illegal for anyone to supply a decoder card or other equipment that allows access to the station. Advertising Extasi in TV listings will also be prohibited, as well as placing advertisements for goods or services on the channel or supplying it with programme material.
"Every decent society has to draw a line somewhere," said Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary. "On expert advice we are drawing it here. This channel peddles pornography that is worse than anything legally available in licensed sex shops. We had to act, and act decisively. We are making it illegal to promote Extasi TV in any way," she said. According to broadcasting minister Andrew McIntosh, the proscription order was necessary to ensure that children did not watch Extasi's programmes. "I was notified by Ofcom that the content of satellite channel Extasi TV is unacceptable and should be the subject of a proscription order," he said. "I have viewed the material from the channel and consider that a proscription order would be in the public interest, in particular to ensure that children are not exposed to such potentially harmful material," he added.
It is estimated that Extasi has 3,000 subscribers in Britain, who pay for decoder cards they can then install on satellite receivers. Under the new government order, existing subscribers will not be barred from watching programmes. It is not illegal to watch the channel and anyone in possession of a decoder card will not be breaking the law.
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