NEW DELHI: The government has banned, with immediate effect, the telecast of Sony Entertainment's action chanel AXN for two months for showing "obscene programmes".

The information and broadcasting ministry today issued directions for blocking signals of the channel into India up to 15 March.

Sources told Indiantelevision.com that the ministry had taken objection to the channel repeatedly telecasting such programmes such as World's Sexiest Commercials that "are against good taste or decency and are likely to adversely affect public morality".

The government has been issuing warnings from time to time to various channels to desist from telecasting "obscene programmes" and software not suitable for women and children.

The Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 clearly stipulates that the government has the right to block or take action against channels which violate the broadcasting and advertising codes of the country.

Multi-system operators (MSOs) like Hathway Cable & Datacom have blacked out AXN. Incablenet is in the process of switching off the channel, a senior executive in the company said.