(in the UK) cable and satellite channels have fewer restrictions on content (ie 9pm watershed) than terrestrial channels
That's...not entirely correct. The transmission medium isn't really relevant :)
It's somewhat more complicated than that but the simple version is that adult content must be protected (usually by a PIN) outside of the watershed hours. Since that requires the programme to be encrypted it generally restricts such 'out of watershed' content to only be on premium channels hence only on satellite and cable. But they are the same restrictions.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
