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The head of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's French arm defended the network's choice to show a racy television series called Hard.

Hubert Lacroix told QMI Agency on Friday that the show, which is produced in France and has sexually explicit content, is popular in Europe. He added buying the rights to the show only cost taxpayers $15,000, which is considered low.

Radio-Canada changed the availability of the show to between midnight and 4 a.m. in order for it not to be seen by children. Hard was originally available online at all hours.

CBC's French arm was criticized by the Heritage Minister for airing the program. James Moore said the show "cannot be defended."

Lacroix was speaking Friday in front of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. During his speech, he criticized media giant, Quebecor - which owns QMI Agency, Sun News Network and the Sun newspaper chain - for its coverage of stories involving the CBC.