LONDON — E! Entertainment has been fined £40,000 by U.K. communications regulator Ofcom after it broadcast consecutive episodes of "Girls of the Playboy Mansion" during the daytime.
Ofcom's findings over the reality show episodes found they were "clearly unsuitable for children," particularly since they were shown during a Christmas school holiday on Dec. 27, 2011.
The report said the two episodes included "prolonged sequences of nudity," but with body parts blurred out, and that there was "repeated bleeped and masked offensive language throughout."
Ofcom regulations under Rule 1.3 state that children must be protected by appropriate scheduling and that 9 p.m. is the watershed when broadcasters can begin airing themes of an adult nature.
In addition to the fine, Ofcom has demanded that E! Entertainment broadcast a statement of Ofcom’s findings on a date and in a form to be determined by the regulator.
E! Entertainment has been afoul with Ofcom before. The channel was sanctioned over two other shows that used "most-offensive language" aired before the 9 p.m. hour.
Comcast/NBC Universal spokeswoman Amelia Stewart declined comment to XBIZ over whether the company would appeal the fine.
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