Telewest Survives Cemetery Ad Complaints
Over 60 complaints from viewers regarding Telewest Broadband advert showing a graveyard have been rejected by the ITC, despite claims that it was offensive.
The ad in question showed a cemetery. A voiceover stated “the residents here are many and varied…but they’re all one thing, they’re jealous.” Onscreen text then stated “Live now. Live big. Live broad” followed by the Telewest Broadband caption.
Of the 61 complainants, 11 said that they had recently been bereaved. Other causes of offence were the graveyard setting and the suggestion that the deceased felt jealous.
The ITC expressed its sympathy for those complainants for whom the ad may have served as an unwelcome reminder of the death of a loved one. However, while acknowledging that some might find it in poor taste, the ITC could not find evidence that it would have been “widely distressing to those recently bereaved”. It also judged it unlikely to be particularly offensive to most other viewers, and therefore did not uphold the complaints.
ITC: 020 7306 7743 www.itc.org.uk
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