Adelphia Pulls Plug on XXX

Reacting to public pressure, Adelphia Communications Corp. is eliminating XXX adult content from all of its video-on-demand servers, the company confirmed.

Adult content -- which was banned from company systems during the reign of founder John Rigas but introduced under the current management -- will still be available to viewers. But the content which remains will be less graphic, according to the company.

Adelphia representatives did not define the content to be removed. However, XXX content is generally considered to be video that depicts actual sexual penetration and hard-core activities.

Adelphia recently launched XXX programming on its VOD platform in select markets. Although the content is widely available on satellite and through other cable providers, and Adelphia provided customers with technology for use by parents to block adult programming, the MSO has decided to remove the content, according to a statement from the company.

Spokesman Paul Jacobson said "different groups" had expressed concern about the programming, but he declined to name the complainants, opting to stick with the official statement.

Some of the objections could have come from franchisers Some cable franchises contain agreements that allow distribution of adult programming including nudity and sexual content but forbidding depiction of actual sex acts.