The government has taken steps to declare unacceptable an Italian satellite channel broadcasting violent pornography, the Culture Department confirmed today.

The proscription order for Extasi TV, made under section 177 of the Broadcasting Act 1990, will not make it illegal to watch the station but will ban the supply of equipment for the purposes of viewing the channel (such as decoding cards), the publication of adverts for the channel (including programme listings), and the advertisement of goods or services on the channel.

"I was notified by Ofcom that the content of satellite channel Extasi TV is unacceptable and should be the subject of a proscription order," said Andrew McIntosh, the broadcasting minister. "Under the requirements of the Act, I have viewed material from the channel and consider that a proscription order would be in the public interest, in particular to ensure that children are not exposed to such potentially harmful material."

If Parliament raises no objections, the restrictions will come into effect on February 21.