Cross Promotion Rules to be revised

Media Guardian (subscription site)

has an item today (29Mar2005) indicating that OFCOM is to review the rules barring cross channel programme (as opposed to channel - that's currently allowed) trailers.

brief quote ...



This could open new trailer opportunities.

I must admit I do not approve of the principle though, Channels should stand on there own feet - what next forcing Sainsbury's to carry promotional posters for Tesco?

Chris.

Yes, I agree there. I quite like the current way of doing it, where by they could advertise on other networks without the time being added.
Though of course the BBC is just doing what any network can do by advertising their other channels. ITV also do it, Channel 4 do it occasionally with E4 and Film Four. UKTV also use the practice from time to time, as do Disney and Nick and of course there's nothing to stop Sky or Flextech doing the same.

It just seems odd to allow competition to advertise directly on another channel. Though I haven't yet been in favour of anything that ofcom introduced, I don't know why ofcom was created. Another Tessa Jowell travesty in my mind.

Whats wrong with this idea and why is it a problem if ads for other channels tell viewers what time shows are on? Surely thats a good thing? I know Living TV and Hallmark already advertise on other channels, whats wrong with mentioning the time that the programme is shown in the ads?

I always thought that the BBC should take a better approach at showing promos too. Whenever people complain about too many promos the BBC state that it is a service to the viewer. If that is the case why didn't they mention that viewers could see another episode of The Simpsons on Sky One after they had shown it on BBC 2? "The Simpsons will be back at the same time tommorow on BBC2". No they won't, they will be back in 20 minutes on Sky One. Why didn't they mention old Dr Who episodes on UKTV Gold after Saturdays new Dr Who episode? Why don't they mention the fact that you can see another episode of Monk on Hallmark whenever they show it on BBC2?

There are hundreds of examples where the BBC could give the viewer more relevant information and it would also promote multi-channel (i.e. digital) television which I believe is also one of their aims.

I agree it seems daft - the comparison with supermarkets is what I was going to use!

Maybe it won't be so bad if the rule states that for example, Hallmark could advertise House as being on Sunday 9pm - except for on Sundays - if you know what I mean!

The supermarkets comparison is a bad one since supermarkets don't take advertising.

This is like magazines taking advertising for magazines from other publishers, which already happens without problems.

This is like websites taking advertising from other websites, which already happens.

Have you thought for a second about how advertisers will feel about this? ITV or C4/5 trying to get ad revenue for showing something, when they or the BBC have been forced to promote the idea of switching over to Sky One instead of staying with them?

Has the reason for End Credit Promotions completely passed you by? All channels, especially commercial ones, have to do all they can to prevent as many channel changers-over as possible. Even though the BBC don't depend on it to justify their advertising charges, they have to to justify their Royal Charter through their viewing figures.

This move is badly thought out and flies in the face of all recently established principles. Besides, it should be up to the viewer to use their EPG to find out where else something might be on. What next, after a movie on BBC2, should they then fill up the screen with a list of all movies on all other digital satellite channels that contain, amongst their cast, any member of the cast of the movie they've just shown?!

Get real.