Time Warner Cable has apologised for airing Playboy programming on two children's TV channels, according to a local report in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

Melissa Buscher, director of media relations for Time Warner in the Carolinas, told WRAL-TV the mistake was caused by "equipment failure".

The error caused Playboy programming to air on Channel 553 Kids on Demand and Channel 553 Kids Preschool on Demand.

It is reported that the programming menu listed information for children's shows on the screen's left side, while previews of nude women played on the right side.

The company's office was flooded by calls of parents and viewers even as workers took about two hours to fix the problem.

Spokesman Keith Poston said the error occurred between 6:15 and 8:15 a.m. local time.

"We're very, very sorry it happened," the New York Post quoted Poston, as saying.

He added: "We know parents are concerned. I have a 9-year-old. I'm a dad. I'd be concerned too. It was a technical malfunction that caused the wrong previews to be shown on our kids on-demand channels." (ANI)