Emap Radio Ads Get Thumbs Down From Advertising Watchdog

The radio stations Key 103 and Magic 1152 have attracted complaints in the Advertising Standards Authority’s latest bulletin.

A poster campaign for the Emap Radio-owned stations featured the heads of the footballers Jamie Redknapp and David Beckham superimposed on to very muscular bodies. Redknapp’s solicitors complained that the posters implied that Jamie endorsed the radio stations, and that this could diminish his reputation and affect his future income for genuine endorsements.

The ASA upheld the complaint, noting that the advertiser had not gained permission from the sports celebrities before featuring them in the adverts, and asked the advertisers not to repeat the approach.

BSkyB also fell victim to the advertising watchdog when ONdigital complained that one of Sky’s ads in the national press for its digital satellite television service implied that ONdigital offered an inferior service with fewer channels than their actual 22. The ASA asked that the broadcaster not give this impression in future ads.

Advertising Standards Authority: 0171 580 5555