The Commission is today debating a couple of key infringement cases under Article 169 relating to the German Premiums law, the Zugabeverardung and the equivalent Belgian legislation. These laws restrict the use of premiums including Air Miles and American Express (who brought the complaints). These companies offer their card-holders a bonus in the form of… Continue reading EU: Incentive Promotions Infringements
BSkyB has said that it will not be allowing ITV to show the crucial England v Italy World Cup qualifying match live on Saturday. Instead, ITV will be showing an unedited recording of the game at 10pm. The Football Association had put pressure on Sky Sports to allow live coverage of the game to be… Continue reading No Live England Game For ITV
The French Spirits Federation has reported that, for the first time ever, sales of whisky in France have outstripped those of aniseed-based spirits. The Federation says that this is due to the Loi Evin’s ban on most types of alcoholic beverage advertising, which has given internationally-recognised brands, it says, a major advantage over local brands.
The Director-General of Telecommunications has issued a consultative document on ‘The Provision of Directory Information Services and Products’. Industry groups meeting at the Advertising Association have registered their profound concerns about some of the proposals. One such proposal would extend to commercial activities the UK administrative law concept of ‘reasonable expectations’. It also proposes to… Continue reading UK: OFTEL Consults On Directories
The Tobacco Institute of Japan has announced that from 1 April 1998 it will adjust its voluntary code of practice to ban all tobacco advertising from cinema, radio, TV, the Internet and outdoor posters. Tobacco companies will also stop the distribution of free cigarette samples on the streets. Newspaper and magazine advertising appears unaffected by… Continue reading JPN: Total Ban Imminent
On 7 October the EU Presidency is expected to table a formal compromise on proposals to ban tobacco advertising in the EU, in the hope of paving a concrete agreement between Health Ministers at the December Council meeting in Luxembourg. The latest proposal – to ban all forms of tobacco related advertising – includes new… Continue reading EU: Luxembourg to propose compromise
The two IPC magazine Internet sites Uploaded (http://www.uploaded.com)and New Scientist Planet Science (http://www.newscientist.com) have received their first official ABC //electronic web audits.The audits cover the period from 1 July to 31 July 1997. UpLoaded received 1,949,541 page impressions and 101,235 users; New Scientist received 1,619,934 page impressions and 173,857 users.The ABC certificates are designed to… Continue reading Uploaded And New Scientist First Web Audits
The International Communications Round Table (ICRT) – whose groups include Bertelesmann, Reuters, Sony, Microsoft and Dow Jones, and which lobbies on behalf of companies in the media, communications and publishing industries – has called on EU governments to implement and interpret the Data Protection Directive with sensitivity and flexibility. Its concern is that global trade… Continue reading EU: Concern From Industry
The ITC has changed its rules to allow centre-break advertising in half-hour documentaries. Meanwhile, in a separate decision, it turned down a request from ISBA, the UK advertisers’ group, to increase advertising on terrestrial services from the existing average of 7 minutes per hour to an average of 9 minutes per hour.
The UK’s Broadcasting Standards Commission has suggested that those adhering to its new code on privacy and fairness could become exempt from key parts of the EU’s directive on data protection. The new code, which adds extra regulations to the ITC’s guidelines, will be published within the next two months.
