Foreign television channel AXN has been banned throughout the country across content delivery platforms like Cable TV, DTH or CAS for airing programmes with “indecent content”.

Quoting sub-section 2 of Section 20 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995, I&B Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi today said, “It has been decided by his ministry to prohibit transmission or re-transmission of the channel up to March 15, with immediate effect.”

The channel has been banned for airing programme World’s Sexiest Advertisements that the government found to be “against good taste or decency and likely to adversely affect public morality”. “What they have telecast is condemnable and deserves action,” the minister said. Only a few days ago, the minister had written to the IT Secretary to ban a website for posting a night-club strip show by an Indian-American comedian who dressed like Mahatma Gandhi.

Meanwhile, quite satisfied with the roll-out of CAS in parts of Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai, Dasmunsi said his ministry was preparing to implement the second and the third phases of the CAS plan.

The digital cable delivery system, despite nagging complaints of shortage of set-top boxes, would be extended beyond the four metros to other big cities, beginning with Ahmedabad and Bhopal, he said.