Satellite Catholics enter world of Fantasy
By Paul McCann, Media Correspondent
The Times, United Kingdom
Sept. 15, 2000

NOBODY is quite sure whether it was the soundtrack from Babes Illustrated or from the film Stacey and the Hunt, but it was certainly not the 20 cardinals saying prayers and singing hymns that millions of Roman Catholics around the world had been expecting.

A mistake at a satellite television company in Luxembourg led to two hours of the soundtrack from The Fantasy Channel, broadcaster of pornographic films, being broadcast over pictures from a Vatican celebration of the year 2000.

In an equally confusing switch, viewers of The Fantasy Channel, expecting to hear Stacey doing her best, were treated to the sounds coming from The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This was a celebration involving the 20 cardinals, assorted clergy, laypersons and a band proceeding between some of Rome's holiest sites singing, chanting and saying prayers.

The Italian broadcaster RAI was supposed to send pictures and sound of the festival to its satellite for broadcast to Catholic audiences around the world, but RAI's soundtrack got mixed with The Fantasy Channel. Viewers across Italy, Spain and Latin America were therefore treated to passionate moans and a woman saying: "Oh God, Oh God."

A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church in England said: "It sounded like a very unfortunate mistake."

Derek Botham, managing editor of The Fantasy Channel, was far from upset: "We are absolutely delighted," he said. "I'm sure our stuff was a lot more interesting than what they were expecting."

Mr Botham described Babes Illustrated and Stacy and the Hunt as "hot" material. "Almost nothing we broadcast would get an 18 certificate in the UK," he said

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