THE HAGUE, 30/01/08 - Public broadcasters BNN and VPRO are to show an explicit porn film on Nederland 3 in February. Small Christian opposition party SGP is urging the cabinet to prevent this.

Youth broadcaster BNN and VPRO, once a broadcaster for Protestant Christians, want to show the film Deep Throat (1972) on Saturday 23 February just after midnight. A documentary will be shown on the same film beforehand.

"Porn on public TV, that is possible," claimed Maarten van Dijk of BNN. "We are proud that we could make this special evening with the VPRO."

The decision by the public broadcasters had not led to much attention in the media or parliament yesterday. Christian government party ChristenUnie did react: "The pride of BNN and VPRO is very misplaced. Deep Throat is a historic symbol of shameless sexual exploitation and perverse pursuit of profit."

ChristenUnie is "disgusted" by the initiative, but it did not call for a ban. SGP did insist yesterday the cabinet must prevent the two subsidised broadcasters from showing the film.

The Christian democrats (CDA), the largest party in the coalition, is also unhappy with the initiative, but like the second biggest party, Labour (PvdA), it had not reacted yesterday. ChristenUnie is the smallest of the three coalition parties.

ChristenUnie parliamentary leader Arie Slob pointed out that the leading actress, Linda Lovelace, revealed years later that she carried out the 'performances' in the film under duress. "If you know that story, you cannot look at the film any more without embarrassment and disgust," according to Slob.

BNN and VPRO are struggling with low viewing ratings on Nederland 3.