ITC Launches Second Regulation Consultation
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has launched its second and final consultation of the most comprehensive review of advertising regulation since commercial television began. The second consultation includes a full review of the code and draws upon the views and advice received in the first review, which has resulted in a lifting of the ban on advertising hair loss clinics and pregnancy testing services on television.
“The aim of the consultation is to create a more user-friendly Code, which focuses on public protection.” said ITC deputy director of programmes, Ian Blair, continuing, “By offering clearer, more explicit guidance a greater onus will be placed upon the broadcaster to make their own informed regulatory decision.”
Key changes proposed are clarification or a more logical grouping of rules in Section 3, which covers separation of advertising and programming; Section 6, which covers misleading advertising and Section 10, which covers harm and offence. The last section in particular has had greater guidance added to it, highlighting contemporary concerns. New sections have been added which address the topics of Violence, Personal Distress and Harmful Stereotyping.
The consultation document, including the draft code are available on the ITC website. All comments from interested parties must reach the ITC by 28 March this year.
The first consultation, which looked specifically at prohibitions in the Code, was launched in 2000 (see ITC Begins Review Of Advertising Rules). Prohibitions recommended for removal included those on advertising private investigation agencies, escort agencies and commercial services offering advice on personal or consumer problems. The first two of these remain prohibited in the proposed new code, while the third remains in place with some exceptions.
Other products still prohibited from advertising on television include: breath-testing devices and products that purport to mask the effects of alcohol, betting tips, betting and gaming advertising prohibited by law, all tobacco products, guns and gun clubs, pornography, the occult, products for the treatment of alcoholism, hypnosis-based procedures (including techniques commonly referred to as hypnotherapy), psychiatry, psychology, psychoanalysis and psychotherapy.
ITC: 020 7306 7743 www.itc.org.uk
Subscribers can access ten years of media news and analysis in the Archive