You hear about things like this happening, but it seems you’re never lucky enough to catch it when it does. It turns out that a cable network aired porn on a public access channel. Channel 2 on Adelphia Cable in Cincinnati ended up running what was said to be hardcore porn after a program on go-kart racing. The error surly got enthusiasts’ hearts racing after the tape came to an end and the naked truth of adult entertainment was revealed.

You hear about things like this happening, but it seems you’re never lucky enough to catch it when it does. It turns out that a cable network aired porn on a public access channel. Channel 2 on Adelphia Cable in Cincinnati ended up running what was said to be hardcore porn after a program on go-kart racing. The error surly got enthusiasts’ hearts racing after the tape came to an end and the naked truth of adult entertainment was revealed.

Surly there is a serious side to the problem. By no means am I saying that porn should be available on cable TV when children aren’t protected. I believe the vast majority of the porn industry would agree with me, as well. Adult material, although fun for the masses, shouldn’t be shown without discretion and this was a grave error for the cable company to make.

Someone fell asleep at the switch. Adelphia says that the screener watched the tape for the full time that it was scheduled to run. The problem is that individuals or community groups often supply tapes for the channel. I imagine the story may go a little something like this:

Mr. Smith from three homes down is so excited. He just came home from little Bobby’s first big race and he wants to share his video footage with the entire city. He hooks his camcorder up to his VCR and, in his haste, accidentally slides one of his favorite, unmarked porn tapes into the drive. Once recorded, he runs right down to the station and gives it to the 17 year-old intern who’s job it is to screen the ridiculously boring footage. The kid slumps off to the windowless room where his work is done. The next thing he knows, the credits begin to roll, signaling his work is done. Like a good intern, the teen has been text-messaging friends during the time when he should be watching the tape. He has no idea that the end came 20 minutes before a regulation-length program should. He places his seal of approval on it and takes off to blow a joint behind the mobile unit RV. The tape-jockey picks up the tape and runs it to the big switching unit where all of the programming for upcoming episodes is stored. He flips it in and calls it a job well done. A few days later, on a dull Saturday afternoon, the weekend shift is in full session – meaning there’s one operator sitting in the control room who is looking after the monotonous public access station. It’s too bad nothing exciting ever happens here, he thinks. After his 47th game of solitaire, he decides to go for a beer at the local strip joint, leaving a silly little piece on go-karting to spin its way to close. Little did he know that this mistake would prove so costly!

Well, what’s done is done. The cable company will probably receive little more than a slap on the wrist. The intern may get fired and have to search for a new placement, but in all likelihood will get off with a lecture and a warning. And what about the control room guy who fell asleep at the switch? He’s occupying his new seat at the strip joint because that’s what guys do after they get fired for such a dumb-ass mistake.