BUCHAREST, Romania -- Romanian broadcasting authorities have fined a TV station for airing nude scenes and sexual dialogue during the Romanian edition of the reality TV show "Big Brother," officials said Thursday.

 

The National Audio Visual Council fined Prima TV 200 million lei (US$6,100), the biggest fine ever imposed on a Romanian TV station. The program included nude scenes of the contestants in the shower and dialogue with sexual content, said Ileana Danalache, spokeswoman for the council by telephone. The broadcast included an indication it carried a parental advisory.

 

The fine, handed down Tuesday, was also imposed on the station for airing images of a male striptease show during a news bulletin, with "obscene movements," a statement from the council said.

 

The producer of the show said sex issues have an important role for teenage viewers.

 

"It is absolutely impossible for a group of young people in the circumstances of the show to ignore sexual problems," Adela Harnagea said in a statement. "It is a part of human nature, that has to be considered as it is, just like it happened in the other countries where 'Big Brother' was aired."

 

"Big Brother" participants are usually filmed nonstop, including when taking showers or in their bedrooms. Viewers vote to eliminate participants.

 

Last year, when the TV station aired the first Romanian edition of the show, the council urged the producers not to show every moment of the contestants' life - such as scenes from the shower. The station ignored the recommendation.

 

In another move, radio stations stopped airing an advertisement for daily Evenimentul Zilei after the council recommended that the advertisement not be broadcast because it was deemed to be critical of the government.

 

Media freedom advocate Mircea Toma said he found the council's recommendation equal to censorship.

are you sure it wasn't fined because it is such a crappy show. I have had bowel movements that are more interesting than Big brother