Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday banned the AXN channel for its ''obscene'' programme World's Sexiest Advertisements.
The channel will not be allowed throughout the country till March 15, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi.
Using the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry prohibited the channel’s transmission and retransmission for telecasting the programme which it said was against decency and outraged public morality.
Dasmunsi said the ban would be applicable on Direct to Home and Conditional Access Service. "What they have telecast is condemnable and deserves action," he said.
Sony Entertainment, which distributes the channel in the country, has been told about the government’s decision.
The Ministry has often warned channels for showing “obscene” programmes and first planned action against them by framing downlinking guidelines in 2005.
A programme schedule on the channel’s described the show as a “compilation of the best and the raunchiest television ads from the international arena”. The schedule said the ads were “clever, witty and highly amusing” and proved that “sex sells”.
The Government banned Fashion TV in February 2002 for vulgarity but the decision was reversed a week later when the channel promised to follow a code of conduct.
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