ASA Bans

ASA bans Samsung LED TV ads

The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that Samsung's use of "LED TV" to describe LED-backlit LCDs is "misleading."
Samsung has been roundly spanked by the Advertising Standards Authority, the UK's marketing self-regulatory body, for misleading claims that its latest range of displays are "LED TVs."

which advised consumers they were in for a treat thanks to "the ultra slim Samsung LED TV." As two fun-loving complainants pointed out, the only problem was the fact that it's a common or garden LCD screen.

The confusion - or misleading marketing, depending on whether you're Samsung or the ASA - comes from the fact that while the display technology powering the screens is LCD, the lighting uses LED technology rather than the more common cold cathode lamp


The ruling means that Samsung will no longer be allowed to refer to its screens as "LED TVs" in UK advertising - unless, you know, they actually are LED TVs - and neither will it be allowed to run its current adverts in their present form.

ASA bans Sky broadband press ad

The Advertising Standards Authority has banned a "misleading" press advertisement for Sky's broadband service following a complaint from BT.
Under the banner headline 'Reduce Your Costs Not Your Speed', the advert claimed that consumers in a Sky network area would not have their broadband speeds slowed down at peak time as they would with BT or Virgin Media.

In response, BT said that the statement was misleading because it implied that all BT users have their speeds slowed during peak times, when it fact this component of the fair usage policy only applies to "very heavy users".
The ASA noted that both BT and Virgin do operate fair usage policies on all their broadband services, whereas Sky Broadband Unlimited offers unlimited broadband in Sky network areas without restrictions on the bandwidth being used.

Last week, the ASA also ruled in favour of BT over another "misleading" Sky advert which promoted the potential savings available when switching landline and broadband services from BT.


ASA bans Mercedes-Benz environmental ad

The Advertising Standards Authority has ordered Mercedes-Benz to pull an advertisement because it exaggerated the level of CO2 emissions for the E-Class range.

The press advertisement claimed CO2 emissions for the range were "down to 139/km, which means it's better for the environment".
The model shown was the E250CDI Sport, which has emissions of 139g a kilometre.
Although a footnote stated the range's emissions went from 139g to 261g a kilometre, the regulator ruled that the headline implied that the whole range was low in emissions.

Following an investigation, it found that only two of a possible 24 E-Class cars corresponded with the emissions figures, warranting an E band in the Government's banding system.

Some cars were in the M band, the highest set by the Department of Transport to warn drivers about high levels of fuel consumption, taxation and pollution.
The ASA ruled that the advertisement should not be allowed to run in its present form.