‘Coverage and Reception Are Not The Same Thing’ ASA Tells BSkyB

The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint from ONdigital about a national press advert by BSkyB. In the ad, Sky claimed that it was the only broadcaster whose digital signal covers the whole of the UK. ONdigital pointed out that reception and coverage were not the same thing and that therefore the ad was misleading.

The ad watchdog accepted that although the satellite broadcaster sends digital television signals to the entire geographical area of the UK, a report by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) suggested that there would be line-of-sight problems for satellite signals, especially in the North.

The Authority asked Sky to make a clearer distinction between coverage and reception, and to avoid implying that all UK homes would be able to receive its digital TV service.

Advertising Standards Authority: 0171 580 5555