BSkyB In Close Shave With ASA

The ASA has dismissed complaints against BSkyB after viewers objected to an ad for adult TV channels in Sky Customer Magazine claiming it was “offensive and unsuitable.”

The ad, which featured nine bushes trimmed into different shapes, stated: “With more bush than your local garden centre, these adult channels are where the action is. Every night you can whip out your tool and to go Sky Digital. So don’t beat around the bush, you know where to come.”

BSkyB apologised for any offence that had been caused and said that the intention of the ad was to move away from the stereotypical promotions for adult channels featuring women. The publishers of Sky Customer Magazine said that they did not believe the ad to be offensive and added that they had demonstrated their “sensitivity and judgement” when deciding whether or not the ad was acceptable.

The ASA considered the ad to be a “light hearted” and “irreverent” way of promoting the content of adult orientated programming and concluded that it was unlikely to offend most readers of Sky Customer Magazine.

ASA: 020 7580 5555 www.asa.org.uk

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