Sex Box controversy: Parents Television Council launches national petition to ban WE tv's live sex show

The Parents Television Council (PTC) in the United States has issued a national petition against the show, Sex Box, which debuts on February 27 on basic cable network.

The controversial reality show features couples with "intimacy issues" having sex inside a box in front of a live studio audience. Adapted from the UK series of the same name, the concept is based on a theory that couples are most receptive to counselling post-coital.

The PTC has launched an online petition called, Stop "Sex Box" Petition, which says, "Sign the Petition Join the national movement to STOP SEX BOX!"

The petition further states, "On February 27, the WE tv network will televise real-life couples having sex for a national television audience. This new reality show far exceeds the limits of decency when its participants enter a soundproof box on stage, have sex, and then discuss their "intimacy issues" with a panel of so-called experts. Sex Box should never see the light of day."

Sex Box will air 11 one-hour episodes and the panelists will be joined by comedian and podcaster Danielle Stewart for commentary and on-the-street interviews.

PTC President Tim Winter told FOX411 News: "It's a live sex show on television. This is the type of show you would see on Showtime or HBO, but it's a basic cable package. We have seen historically, like a food chain, what starts on a premium network goes to basic cable and then goes to broadcast."

Winter explained that broadcasting a show like Sex Box will allow for even more explicit content on basic cable.

"By coming into 100 million cable subscribers home they immediately add toxicity to the entire environment," Winter said. "If you have people inside the box having sex the next step is putting a camera in the box."

The President of PTC added, "Cable networks really feel it when advertisers start to leave. What we want is this network to be tossed off by the cable network."