Bell ExpressVu has reacted quickly to reports that it was broadcasting hard core pornography on its direct-to-home satellite service.

Bell ExpressVu has pulled two U.S. channels off the air. That announcement comes after a report on The National that previewed a documentary by the CBC's the fifth estate. The direct-to-home satellite broadcaster wrote to CBC that it shut down the broadcasts "as soon as we became aware of concerns about programming content."

The company signed the deal to begin the broadcasts almost a year ago.

The CRTC, the broadcast regulator, is now asking ExpressVu for a list of the films shown, and whether they'd received approval from provincial censors.

The CRTC also only acted after being contacted by the CBC.

The minister responsible for the CRTC made it clear she expects the broadcast watchdog to do a better job watching what goes over the airwaves.

"There is a requirement for this material to be vetted and obviously the CRTC has got to follow up with the fact that in this case that was not done. And it's a pretty serious omission," said Heritage Minister Sheila Copps.

Canadian broadcasters are permitted to show explicit sex acts, but they're not allowed to show acts that are violent or degrading.

There has been a lot of fingerpointing. Bell ExpressVu said the U.S. supplier was obliged to comply with Canadian standards.

The CRTC said so is Bell ExpressVu.

And the official Opposition says Canadians should let the Chrétien government know if they're content to have pornography available on home TV.

"We have to decide once and for all whether or not we're going to make this legal. Right now it's illegal," said Alliance MP Cheryl Gallant.

The CRTC isn't saying whether Bell ExpressVu may have violated the Programming Standards and Practices Code. The regulator has given the company one month to provide the information it's asked for.

ExpressVu says its two porn channels are off the air indefinitely.