The body representing Britain's commercial radio groups has launched an attack on the Corporation over excessive use of the 'Radio 1' logo in publicity for Coldplay's Viva La Vida tour.

 

It says it contradicts the BBC's policy on endorsement. It is planning to take its complaint to the BBC Trust.

 

RadioCentre, the commercial radio body, has also accused the BBC of "undue prominence" of Coldplay's music and promotions for its Viva La Vida tour on the radio and online.

 

The commercial radio sector is angered that the BBC is spending too much time promoting established bands - such as Coldplay and U2.

 

It argues that the Corporation should prioritise music by up-and-coming artists.

 

While the current complaint is centred on Coldplay, RadioCentre said this is part of a wider issue, using the example of U2's gig on the roof of BBC Broadcasting House and a feature on the BBC website titled "U2=BBC".

 

The alleged "blanket coverage" of U2 across BBC television and radio has already provoked much criticism from other parties.

 

The RadioCentre believes that the supposed over-promotion of well-known acts will be detrimental to the commercial radio sector, saying listeners may migrate to BBC stations and cause advertising spend to fall further.

 

"The BBC's excessive promotion of some artists, using licence fee funding, overwhelms any opportunity for commercial competitors," said Andrew Harrison, the chief executive of RadioCentre.

 

"If BBC=U2, then by definition commercial radio does not = U2."

 

Following a complaint to the BBC from RadioCentre, the BBC has admitted that the use of the Radio 1 logo in publicity for Coldplay's Viva La Vida tour may lead to the perception of endorsement.

 

As a result, it has recommended that guidance should be updated to require some form of context when using the Radio 1 logo.

 

A BBC spokeswoman said: "We are now clarifying the exact nature of the relationship with any third party events."

 

The commercial radio body said the response it received from the BBC was unsatisfactory and it had no choice but to go to the BBC Trust.

 

Mr Harrison said: "The proposed action - to revise guidelines - amounts to a token slap on the wrist.

 

"We will be appealing to the BBC Trust for much tougher changes to editorial and fair trading practice."

 

The BBC said: "Having reviewed the complaint, the controller identified the following elements of the complaint that relate to alleged breaches of the Fair Trading guidelines.

 

"The BBC's promotional material for Coldplay's Viva la Vida Tour is in breach of BBC guidelines requiring that such activities avoid the perception that the BBC is endorsing the third party's trading activities."

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5071061/BBC-giving-Coldplay-and-U2-unfair-advantage-commercial-rival-claim.html

:rolleyes:Pffft.

Although RadioCentre raises a good point...

 

DEATH to RADIOCENTRE. They know with the way their argument is structured they will not get anywhere. They sound feeble.

 

But then again DEATH to BBC. They mucked it up, fools!

mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Well, I suppose it's a matter of contention, but if the commercial broadcaster's want things to change, why don't they promote really great talent, and improve their ratings, instead of trying to aim at the deals and choices made by BBC? Not that it's any of my business, but if it were the case here with public broadcasting, I would think that if the commercial sector want's the market share, then earn it with better ratings (which they sometimes do!) by fostering new talent, and improving existing talent. sounds like sour grapes to me!

say wha??

 

edit: (not at chuck, but to the article in general)

What next people moaning that radio 1 isn't playing much super-new-super-crappy music?

itv uses Coldplay as well. they used LiT in that programme on cosmetic surgery with Coleen Nolan this week.

And coldplay is being used by sky to promote their easter schedule

BBC admits Coldplay and U2 errors

 

 

BBC admits 'unfair' Coldplay promotion

 

The BBC has admitted that it made mistakes in its coverage of a Coldplay tour in 2009 and the launch of U2’s last album No Line on the Horizon. UK commercial radio body RadioCentre complained to the BBC at the time that its coverage of the Coldplay tour and the U2 album launch amounted to undue prominence for commercial products or organisations, and that several specific items (including the Radio 1 presents Coldplay website and the on-screen graphic "U2 = BBC") breached relevant BBC guidelines.

 

The Corporation’s complaints department said today that the Radio 1 / Coldplay website included direct links to the websites of ticket agents and was therefore not in keeping with the BBC's guidelines.

 

In addition, it concluded that “the use of the mathematical symbol for identity in the graphic ‘U2 = BBC’ gave an inappropriate impression of endorsement” and “a pre-recorded interview between Zane Lowe and Bono of U2 was for the most part appropriate, but a reference to Radio 1 being 'part of launching this new album' was not”.

 

However, complaints about an edition of Jo Whiley’s Radio 1 show and an online news report on the U2 concert on the roof of Broadcasting House were not upheld. BBC programme-makers have been reminded about giving 'undue prominence' to stars and the difference between reporting new artistic work and commercial promotion. The blizzard of coverage last February led to accusations that the BBC was behaving like a publicity machine for the band, days ahead of the release of its album, No Line On The Horizon.

 

http://news.google.co.uk/news/more?cf=all&cf=all&ncl=dn3KLQjOEHi05GMjVwPp4fAZYtgMM

I'm not sure if I entirely understand this, but I guess I can't complain if the BBC was "too nice" to Coldplay and U2 :P.

it's not like they're doing a favor to Coldplay or U2, covering famous bands' tours/events makes them get money from advertising

well since the BBC is entirely devoid of advertisements by virtue of the subsidies from the licensing fee, links to ticket agents and product promotions would be quoffed at by the average Brit who splashes out £140 a year for the priviledge of 'putting up with the corporation'!

I'm not sure if I entirely understand this, but I guess I can't complain if the BBC was "too nice" to Coldplay and U2 :P.

it's not like they're doing a favor to Coldplay or U2, covering famous bands' tours/events makes them get money from advertising

 

BBC is not a private TV/radio station, they for one don't have adversting but we happily pay each month for the privilege to have a TV and to watch the BBC.

 

P.

but we happily pay each month for the privilege to have a TV and to watch the BBC.

I'd be delighted if my BBC channels were scrambled if it meant I didn't have to pay my license fee! :laugh3:

BBC is not a private TV/radio station, they for one don't have adversting but we happily pay each month for the privilege to have a TV and to watch the BBC.

 

P.

 

still you pay, if they have popular stuff in their channel, more and more people will pay to watch it

Explains why Radio One completely pulled the Wembers coverage.

still you pay, if they have popular stuff in their channel, more and more people will pay to watch it

 

It's not an option - its the licsence fee, everybody who has a TV has to pay.

 

P.

Explains why Radio One completely pulled the Wembers coverage.

 

yeap, guess so.

British television and radio is better than the German though :bigcry:

You have awesome series for example!

 

And all that advertising didn't make me like the U2 album more :P

 

Btw - they are still discussing this now? No other things to do? :thinking:

Explains why Radio One completely pulled the Wembers coverage.

:idea2: Yes, that must be it!

 

 

This sounded so promising :bigcry:

You can't blame them. It's good music :D

British television and radio is better than the German though :bigcry:

You have awesome series for example!

 

And all that advertising didn't make me like the U2 album more :P

 

Btw - they are still discussing this now? No other things to do? :thinking:

 

well, that's true I have to say and I think german TV gets worst everytime I see it.

 

BBC is like a government office...everything takes a bit longer there.

 

P.

It's not an option - its the licsence fee, everybody who has a TV has to pay.

 

P.

 

This is the reason Yossarian does not own a television.

 

Aside from not having to fork out a couple of hundred pounds a year, Yossarian can still watch the worthwhile shows (IE, Peep Show) on 4OD (Channel 4, Overdose) with less adverts than you stupid tv-owners have to put up with, not to mention iPlayer.

 

And all the respectable programmes (usually american) are up for piracy pretty much instantly anyway.

 

DITCH YOUR TELEVISIONS PEOPLE. The only worthwhile thing the license fee permits us is http://www.bbc.co.uk/news, and the corrupt cocaine-addled BBC have their fingers in so many pies, their not likely to go under any time soon.

I'm not sure I entirely understand this article :wtf:

:lol: