The X-rated adventures of the Teletubbies and
their semi-nude sidekick may be unfamiliar in much of the
world.
But while millions of children revel in their colourful, if
rather tame, adventures, one broadcaster has taken the hit show
into more adult realms.
A major Philippine TV stations has added a fifth Teletubby in
the form of a partially nude actress - and earned the wrath of
regulators.
Felicitas Alejandro, of the Movie and Television Review and
Classification Board, said the broadcast was apparently
accidental, but the station, GMA Network, was warned that a
repeat could force the board to impose penalties.
Ms Alejandro said a still picture of Philippine actress Rosanna
Roces, with one breast exposed, was shown for several seconds
during an episode on 4 January.
She said she was shocked when she first saw the recording,
which should only have included Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa Laa and
Po, plus their entourage of rabbits.
"The program is for children and a picture like that suddenly
appears," she said.
The broadcast was recorded by MTRCB employees assigned to
monitor television shows daily.
A GMA official said the photograph was broadcast for eight
seconds when an employee who was helping repair a computer
accidentally pressed a button on a panel.
The official said the employee had been disciplined.
Teletubbies, which was first shown on the BBC, has been sold
around the world and is one of the most popular children's
programmes in the Philippines.
