A technical failure at a major cable company in the United States meant that, for two hours in the early morning, previews of Playboy TV programmes were shown on a children's channel in the early morning.

The cable company, Time Warner, became aware of the problem when it began to receive phone calls from angry parents. The broadcast apparently included scantily-clad women striking suggestive poses and making sexually explicit remarks.

Time has apologised, repaired its equipment and assured viewers it will never happen again.