Fashion TV too "hot" for Indian viewers

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has again banned satellite television channel Fashion TV (FTV), this time for two months, because its programmes were "against good taste" and could affect public morality, the government said on Thursday.

The channel, which was first banned in February 2002 for a week for showing too much flesh, has come under the government's scanner again for its raunchy footage of scantily clad women pouting and sashaying down ramps in shows such as "Midnight Hot."

The latest two-month ban starts on April 1.

"The transmission or re-transmission of this channel on all platforms has been prohibited...for showing programmes that are against good taste and decency, denigrate women and are likely to adversely affect public morality," a government statement said.

In the past decade there has been a jump in the number of satellite channels airing in India, and some viewers and politicians have complained that their content is too risque for Indian sensibilities and culture.

India in January banned the AXN satellite channel, owned by a unit of Sony Corp., for two months for showing programmes such as the "World's Sexiest Advertisements" which the government said were also against "good taste."

It, however, lifted the ban on March 1 after the channel apologized and said it would regulate itself better to comply more effectively with Indian law.