Lords call for cut in TV adverts

17th February 2011

Peers have called for the number of television adverts to be cut by as much as 20 per cent to "greatly improve viewer experience".

The House of Lords communication committee said the current rules on advertisements should be changed by the time the digital switchover is completed in 2012.

The report recommended that all commercial channels have a cap of 7 minutes advertising per hour, in line with public service broadcasters.

As public service broadcasters, this is the existing limit for, ITV1 Channel 4 and Channel 4 and up to eight minutes during peak times between 6pm and 10.30pm.

However it would be a cut of 22 per cent for digital channels such as ITV2 and E4, which are currently capped at nine minutes an hour and 12 minutes at peak.

The report said it was time to level the playing field.

The group of peers also called for the end of the Contract Rights Renewal, rules that keep a lid on ITV prices, such as the X Factor and make it stick to current deals.

In its report, the committee calls on ITV bosses to invest an appropriate proportion of any additional revenues from advertising in creating UK originated programming including children's, current affairs and arts output.

Lord Clement-Jones, who chaired the inquiry, said: "It is time to put the television viewers interests first.

"The committee feels strongly that changes are needed to the regulation of television advertising and that our recommendations would encourage both public service and commercial broadcasters to provide their viewers with quality original UK television programmes."

He added: "We are conscious of the pressures of commercial realities of the industry, and if the television advertising regime is to be changed, the binding undertakings that we recommend would be rigorously upheld."

Bookmark and Share

Have your say...

Please enter your comments below.

Name

Your e-mail address


Listen to audio version

Please type in the letters or numbers shown above (case sensitive)

Related News

Peers experiment with online engagement

MP backs Gamu charity single

Conservatives await Cameron's speech

BBC 'should scrap licence fee'

Budget June 2010: Culture, media and sport



Latest news

Coalition 'will survive' AV poll

David Cameron and Nick Clegg have both said the coalition will survive the referendum on changing the voting system, despite their two parties being on opposite sides of the debate.


Government 'lacks growth strategy'

The government's growth strategy is too dependent on the private sector to simulate British industry, according to a group of MPs


Cameron: AV is 'unfair, unclear and a backward step for democracy'

David Cameron making the case for a 'No' vote at this May’s referendum.


Clegg: "The chance to clean up politics and improve democracy"


Good news for Britain's timber industry


Independence from government 'a good thing'


Government must handle DLA reforms with care


Spelman axes forest sell-off


More from Dods