you guys are both not reading what i'm writing.  i'm talking about the rating system, which is "voluntarily" adhered to by both cable and broadcast.  now, i suppose the same stuff could be on tbs as is on hbo.  but i'm betting they won't do that for several reasons.  but what goes on a station is one thing, how it's rated is another.  they don't internally rate, the TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board does.  mature audiences only is  not a tv vs. cable rating, it's one consistent rating system.

hence, as far as i can tell,  sex in the city has exactly the same editing to appear on broadcast as it does to appear on non-premium channels.

http://www.tvguidelines.org/ratings.asp