At a cabinet meeting last week, the decision was taken to reduce advertising time on the French state-run TV channels. From 2000, advertising slots will be cut by over 50%, from twelve to five minutes per hour on France 2 and France 3. The move has been supported by Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, who claims… Continue reading FR: Reduction of TV advertising
A settlement between US state attorneys general and the major tobacco marketers over sponsorship agreements is expected shortly. It is expected that each company will be limited to one sponsorship deal only.
The European Parliament has adopted a controversial report on consumer protection which calls for additional responsibility from manufacturers of defective products. Adopting the Roth-Behrendt report on farmers’ liability, MEPs voted in favour of amendments which call into question a number of EU principles over producer liability. Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Mario Monti said… Continue reading EU: EP Report on Consumer Protection
The German government’s case concerning the EU Directive on tobacco advertising reached the European Court of Justice on 19th October. The government’s core argument against the legality of the Directive is that the EU has no competence to set up rules in the area of health protection. The German company Salamander AG has filed an… Continue reading DE: Legal action gets under way
During a two-day Health Council meeting last week, EU Health Ministers were told that the German Government is considering dropping its objections to the tobacco advertising ban. During a debate which focused on EC progress in the fight against tobacco addiction, Commissioner Flynn announced a series of measures to provide more information to consumers on… Continue reading EU: Germany to review Court action
Hell comes in many guises according to ITV. Following on the heels of In Laws From Hell, Weddings From Hell and Neighbours From Hell, ITV’s latest look into the old adage ‘if it can go wrong, it will go wrong’, Holidays From Hell pulled in an impressive 12.18 million viewers.Featuring stories of mass food poisoning,… Continue reading TV Viewing Summary W/E 08/11/98
The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA), which has over 200 members, has welcomed the ITC’s decision to allow ITV to move the News At Ten (see ITC Agrees To News At Ten Move) after a lengthy campaign in support of the schedule changes. The Institute says that it has warned of further TV cost… Continue reading Advertisers Welcome News At Ten Move
The launch of digital TV has helped Pace Micro Technology buck the stock market trend and promise higher than forecast profits.Pace, which makes set-top boxes for both terrestrial and satellite digital TV services, said its pre-tax profits for the six months to October would exceed the £7 million predicted by market analysts.The positive trading statement… Continue reading Digital TV Boosts Profit Pace At Set-Top Box Maker
The Consumer Council meeting in Brussels last week adopted a resolution which recognises consumer concern over the development of the information society, and has called on the EC to ensure that consumers’ interests are fully taken into account in all current and future legislative proposals. Notably the Council drew attention to the need for measures… Continue reading EU: Country of origin in e-commerce
EU member states look set to derail the European Commission’s proposals for rules to govern the sale of financial services via telephone, direct mail or the Internet. The proposed law, which would give consumers throughout the EU 14 days to withdraw from contracts without any penalty, limit unsolicited sales and establish redress procedures for disputes… Continue reading EU: Distance Selling plan faces opposition
