Time Warner Cable has apologised for airing Playboy programming on two children’s TV channels, namely Kids On Demand and Kids Preschool on Demand which airs Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon,BBC Kids and Nick's JR.

Melissa Buscher, director of media relations for Time Warner in the Carolinas, told WRAL-TV the mistake was caused by “equipment failure”.

The error caused Playboy programming to air on Channel 553 Kids on Demand and Channel 553 Kids Preschool on Demand at around 6:15 and 8:15 a.m local time,17th March 2010


It is reported that the programming menu listed information for children’s shows on the screen’s left side, while previews of nude women played on the right side.

It took technicians two hours to fix the glitch and officials said they weren't sure how many saw the mixed-up programming.

The company’s office was flooded by calls of parents and viewers.

Spokesman Keith Poston said the TV channels were “very, very sorry it happened”, adding that the problem hit “at the worst possible time on the worst possible channels”.

Poston also pointed out that even Time Warner's robust parental controls would not have blocked the images from viewers who happened upon them on Tuesday.