Sky has issued an apology after an episode of Game of Thrones aired pre-watershed and without PIN protection earlier this year.
On August 19 at 7:35 am an episode of the series – which is famous for its use of strong language, scenes of a sexual nature, and graphic violence – aired on Sky Atlantic.
The episode in question contained a series of strong swear words, which was available free to watch without a PIN restricting underage viewers.
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As reported by RXTV, Sky has now attributed the mistake to an "unseen technical fault" and has assured viewers and media watchdog Ofcom that the situation will not happen again.
Sky said that a software update meant an "excess of data" was created, which, in turn, "caused the system to run out of memory prematurely". This resulted in the issue regarding the disappearance of PIN protection.
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Sky went on to say that it "fully accepts strong content should not be broadcast before the watershed without the necessary mandatory PIN protection".
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Sky apologised to customers, adding: "It is never our intention to offend or upset our viewers."
In the UK, Ofcom states that watershed begins at 9 pm and any material that is unsuitable for children should not be shown before that time or after 5:30 am.
Game of Thrones seasons 1-8 are available on DVD and Blu-ray. House of the Dragon airs on HBO in the US, and on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK.
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Reporter, Digital Spy
Jacob is a freelance writer who specialises in narrative TV and film.
He graduated from the University of Roehampton with an MA in Journalism and has written for several publications since, including Gold Derby, Insider, and Screen Daily.
Jacob has covered major events in the world of film and TV, including numerous BAFTA ceremonies and the Cannes Film Festival, while he's also been an awards expert for several publications, including Korea's Arirang. His particular areas of interest include Star Wars, the MCU, the Oscars, and Hugh Grant.
