FAQ
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If you can't find the answer to your question in our FAQs, you might find it in our Welcome to Clearcast, brochure which outlines who we are and what we do. If you'd like a handy A5 sized copy sent to you, please request one from communications@clearcast.co.uk with your address details
Questions:
1) What is Clearcast?
2) What does it cost to clear an ad? / Does Clearcast charge for clearing an ad?
3) How do I upload my video file?
4) What is BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic)?
5) I want to use or refer to a celebrity in my ad. What should I look out for?
6) Should I send my sponsorship idents to Clearcast for clearance?
7) If I am producing a bingo, gaming or betting ad, what should I look out for?
8) Can I make a superiority claim?
9) What are the rules on nudity in advertising?
10) What do I have to watch out for when advertising Toy Guns?
11) Where can I find information about compliance of my legal supers?
12) What are the rules on having an advert sponsored by a company?
13) When is the adult watershed?
14) The offer I am advertising only lasts for a limited time. Will that affect the way I advertise it?
15) My ad has been given a post 19.30 timing restriction – what does that mean?
16) How do I register as a new user on Adway?
17) What is your escalation process?
18) What are the rules on disclaimers for vehicles?
19) Does Clearcast clear ads for broadcast overseas?
20) What does ex-kids mean?
21) Why can't I find the Notes of Guidance?
22) What are the rules on advertising alcohol?
23) Can I get provisional approval for my ad?
24) What are the music reporting requirements for my ad?
25) How do I find out more about the duration of hold time for our Legal Super-Imposed text?
26) Does Clearcast clear VoD ads?
27) Who regulates the cinema adverts?
28) What are the teleshopping service levels?
29) What are some of the copy issues I need to keep in mind when making my teleshopping ad?
30) What are the rules for teleshopping ad clearance?
31) How do I make a teleshopping ad submission?
32) Who do I contact for teleshopping enquiries?
33) What is a Teleshopping Commercial?
34) What are the rules on using swearing or expletives in my ad?
35) What do I do if I'm advertising a product high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS)?
36) What is a late submission and how do I arrange one?
37) Who do I contact if I have a query on the upload of my commercial?
38) Are there any restrictions for films or games that are certified 15 or above?
39) How do I find out who my Operations Assistant is?
40) How do I read your company newsletter?
41) Who do I contact if I have a script query?
42) How can I check the progress of my script?
43) How long does it take a consultant take to get back with comments?
44) How do I update a script on the system?
45) Will evidence submitted in support of advertising claims be kept confidential?
46) Who uses the attribution service?
47) What is the attribution service?
48) Does Clearcast deal with complaints about TV ads?
49) Does Clearcast have counterparts in other countries?
50) Does Clearcast clear radio ads?
51) Does Clearcast clear ads for broadcast in the Republic of Ireland?
52) How many commercials does Clearcast approve?
53) Can an agency or advertiser appeal against a Clearcast decision?
54) What is the Code?
55) What is the difference between a roughcut and a clocked commercial?
56) Who makes up the clock number?
57) How is a clock number made up?
58) What is a clock number?
59) How long does clearance take?
60) Does Clearcast approve ads for other broadcasters?
61) What is the clearance procedure for getting Clearcast approval?
62) Which advertisements should be submitted to Clearcast?
63) What is Ofcom?
64) What is Clearcast?
Answers:
1) What is Clearcast?
Our core role is to provide preclearance for TV and VoD adverts on behalf of the commercial broadcasters (ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Daybreak, Turner, Sky). We work alongside advertisers and advertising agencies to get ads to air and to keep them there.
There's lots more info around this website but as a first stop, see the About Us section of our site.
2) What does it cost to clear an ad? / Does Clearcast charge for clearing an ad?
Clearcast does not charge for clearing short-form ads that are of less than 5 minutes in duration and that will be aired on the channels that we clear for. If your ad is over 5 minutes in length and is being submitted for the first time, it will be subjected to a charge. More details can be found here.
We also provide a "Pitch Perfect" service for scripts that are submitted as part of a pitching process and details can be found here.
We may also clear on an ad hoc basis for broadcasters who do not subscribe to our services and these clearances are charged per submission.
3) How do I upload my video file?
We no longer use our FTP site as a way to upload your submissions. For information on how to upload your video file, please have a look at the document below.
File: Adway Video Upload Quick Guide
Secure upload works in the same way as digital upload, except that the data is sent via an encrypted link, (over SSL).
4) What is BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic)?
When agencies submit their ads to us on our online system, Adway, they are asked to tick a box if their ads feature lead or walk-on actors from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.
We’d like to remind agencies of the importance of ticking this box when submitting ads to Clearcast. This can be found on the submission page when you submit clocked ads. There are two boxes just below the visual artists column for ‘featured’ and ‘walk on’ artists. By filling these in you will allow the industry to more accurately track these figures, giving a more accurate picture of the situation.
5) I want to use or refer to a celebrity in my ad. What should I look out for?
It would be helpful for you to look at BCAP Section 6 on Privacy. It notes that living individuals have a right to their private and family life and should be protected from ‘unwarranted infringements of privacy’. For television, BCAP 6.1 notes: ‘with limited exceptions, living persons must not be featured, caricatured or referred to in advertisements without their permission. Exceptions are made only for brief and incidental appearances, such as crowd scenes, and advertisements that refer to a person featured in publications, programmes, films and the like, providing that the reference to or portrayal of that person is neither offensive nor defamatory’. Clearcast would normally not have a problem with a dead person being referred to without their permission (unless it was a defamatory remark); however, if they were recently deceased (say, in the last year or so) then we would ask that permission is sought from their family/estate before reference to them is made in an advertisement.
We’re happy for you to use celebrities in general in your advertising, although if they are giving testimonials (for example: ‘I’ve tried this and it’s the one I find works the best for me’) then we ask that you’d get them to fill in a Testimonial Form. We would not allow a celebrity to utter definitive statements like ‘this is the best shampoo in the world’ unless it is presented as their own good opinion and not a definitive opinion ie ‘I think this works the best for me’.
If you have any other queries about the use of celebrities in advertisements, please talk to your Clearcast contact.
6) Should I send my sponsorship idents to Clearcast for clearance?
Clearcast does not clear sponsorship idents; instead you would need to have them cleared by the broadcaster on whose channel they will appear.
7) If I am producing a bingo, gaming or betting ad, what should I look out for?
First, you would need to look at the BCAP Code, section 17 on Gambling. Clearcast assigns a ‘GG’ code to gambling advertisements which tells the broadcaster ‘This is an advertisement for Betting, Gaming or Bingo. Not to be transmitted in, or adjacent to, religious programmes, children’s programmes or programmes commissioned for, principally directed at or likely to appeal particularly to audiences below the age of 18’.
A presentation code will also be added to finished ads, as follows:
54 – GAMING – a voluntary agreement exists not to schedule gaming ads before 21.00. Legal advice should be sought on gaming ads proposed to be broadcast in Northern Ireland.
55 – BETTING – a voluntary agreement exists not to schedule gambling ads before 21.00. This agreement does not apply to sports betting around televised sporting events.
56 – WEBSITE – This is a Bingo or Betting ad containing a reference to a website with links to gaming on its home page.
We’d always ask to see terms and conditions of your website/product and offer. We’d ask that, if you have to ‘play out’ bonuses before withdrawing them you describe them as bonusplay or freeplay.
Gambling is a vast and tricky area of advertising and we have advice that is specific to gambling limits, bonuses by prize draw, free bets that are awarded in increments, music, sliding scale jackpots, etc etc. This advice is rather too long and complicated to state in this short note, and varies according to the terms and conditions of your product, so we’d ask that you supply a pre-production script for your gambling product/site together with the terms and conditions of it, then your Clearcast contact will advise you on any necessary changes and clarifications to your script. As with other sectors of advertising, we use ASA precedent on upheld/not upheld complaints to guide us when advising you. You can find past ASA adjudications here (link to ASA adjudications?)
Lotteries
For a lottery ad, you would need to refer to Section 18 of the BCAP Code. Scratchcards are also subject to the gambling rules but if they are non National Lottery scratchcards, they receive a GG timing restriction. National Lottery ads receive an ex kids (PK) restriction ‘ please note that we will be advising the programme companies that this advertisement should not be transmitted in the breaks immediately before during or immediately after children’s programmes’ (this is because 32.4.1 of the BCAP Scheduling Code notes that lotteries ‘may not be advertised in or adjacent to programmes commissioned for, principally directed at or likely to appeal particularly to audiences below the age of 16’).
8) Can I make a superiority claim?
Superiority claims are acceptable but require robust substantiation that should include comparative data against the whole, relevant marketplace.
9) What are the rules on nudity in advertising?
Full frontal nudity is not currently acceptable, genitals or female breasts shown in an ad are likely to cause offence. Pixellation may be an option and this should be discussed with your Clearcast contact as context is important. Bare bottoms are acceptable but will be likely subject to a mild scheduling restriction. The same applies to revealing clothing or scantily dressed characters. Relevance to the advertised product is also important. Extra care should be exercised if the nude subject is a baby or child within the ad. This guidance is likely to apply to animated scenes also.
10) What do I have to watch out for when advertising Toy Guns?
Toy guns may be advertised under the BCAP Code but there are no specific rules that apply. Care should be taken with the depiction of gun play, to avoid glamorising gun violence. If the gun is capable of firing pellets or the like, they should not be fired at other people. As with all toys, please ensure sound effects and any other features shown are genuine and are not enhanced. If the toy gun requires batteries that will need to be made clear in the ad. It will also need to be priced if the toy cost more than £30.
11) Where can I find information about compliance of my legal supers?
A legal super is that text which is there to qualify a claim made in either voice over or text. There are specific rules relating to text height, duration and positioning and these can be found here.
12) What are the rules on having an advert sponsored by a company?
Any advertising message that’s sponsored by a company is generally recognised as a ‘sponsorship ident’ and is usually transmitted at the start and end of ad breaks within a TV show. Clearcast aren’t responsible for clearing this type of advertising, the broadcaster on which the advertising will be shown is responsible for its approval. However if there’s a clear advertising message it must comply with the relevant section of the BCAP code. Any issues are investigated by Ofcom and they will most likely check for compliance with the BCAP and Ofcom broadcasting codes. If an advertiser believes their advertising doesn’t fall within this definition they should either contact their Clearcast representative or Ofcom for further guidance.
13) When is the adult watershed?
The adult watershed in the UK is 9pm for all channels. The only exceptions relate to premium subscription film services. For premium subscription film services that aren’t protected by what’s known as ‘mandatory restricted access’ eg a PIN protection system the watershed is 8pm. There’s no watershed on premium subscription film services that are PIN protected. If a programme straddles the 9pm watershed eg starts before and ends after it, it should be pre-watershed compliant.
14) The offer I am advertising only lasts for a limited time. Will that affect the way I advertise it?
Where an ad contains a time limited offer, viewers need to have enough time after seeing the ad to decide whether or not to take up the offer. If the offer ends relatively shortly after the last airdate of the ad, the advertiser will be required to indicate the offer end date in the ad. As a rule of thumb, if the offer ends within a fortnight of the last airdate of the ad, the end date will have to be indicated. In the case of goods normally bought within a more immediate timescale (such as groceries) the end date needs to be indicated if it falls within a week of the last airdate of the ad.
It should be noted that, once an offer end date has been indicated, if the advertiser decides to extend the offer, they will have to satisfy Clearcast that the original ad did not falsely state that the offer was available only for a very limited time so as to deprive viewers of the time or opportunity to make an informed choice.
15) My ad has been given a post 19.30 timing restriction – what does that mean?
Timing restrictions are a way of attempting to ensure that adverts are only shown at a time that is appropriate to their content. In general terms, some ads may only be shown outside of programmes mainly watched by children, while some may only be shown after the so called nine o’clock watershed, or even later. Post 19.30 is a half way house that would be applied to adverts containing moderate references to sex or violence or behaviour that would be harmful rather than life threatening if emulated.
Examples of content that would be likely to attract a post 19.30 timing are:
a/ Strong but brief interpersonal contact. Scenes of threat and horror in the home. Morphing and/or scary faces. Moderate or strong, but brief, aggressive behaviour. Visuals of injuries, which aren't too graphic but may be bloody.
b/ Moderate innuendo. Moderate non-graphic sexual activity, this might be nudity in a sexual context.
For a more comprehensive list and explanation of our timing restrictions, go here.
16) How do I register as a new user on Adway?
If you are new to workings of Clearcast and need help on how to set yourself up as a new user on our online system, Adway, please visit the Submissions section of our website.
17) What is your escalation process?
We have in place an escalation process for any concerns you may have relating to the services we provide.
Click here to be taken to the relevant area on our website.
18) What are the rules on disclaimers for vehicles?
In principle the rules are the same as for any other sector of advertising. Supers must comply with the rules on hold duration and height so that they’re legible and their meaning is clear. There are however some elements common in car ads that require legals.
If a ‘from’ price is stated and the car shown is not for sale at the starting price you’ll need a legal stating the name of the model shown and it’s price.
If a car ad makes any claim related to its fuel consumption or emissions you’ll need to add a legal stating on what cycle and under what circumstances the figures stated are achieved.
As for other sectors, if a particular car wasn’t available in all dealerships or there was any other type of availability restriction, this would need to be stated. Similarly any conditions related to a claim in the ad such as to qualify for free servicing you must drive under 35000 miles a year, any age requirements or qualifying criteria for a warranty will need to go into a legal. Credit offers will require the usual standard credit supers.
Any key exclusions to a claim will need a legal such as delivery restrictions.
Scrappage schemes are now quite common on car deals. If the price stated in an ad is related to a scrappage discount, this must be stated as should any other important condition related to the scheme, such as owning the car for over a year.
This covers the most common issues, chat to your Clearcast contact if you have any questions.
19) Does Clearcast clear ads for broadcast overseas?
Clearcast is owned and funded by the major UK broadcasters and as such we can only clear ads that will be aired by those broadcasters. For a list of channels that we clear for click here.We do clear ads that are aired overseas but only when they are broadcast from the UK, for example, Sky and E4 which broadcast from the UK into the Republic of Ireland.
If you intend an advert to be broadcast in another European country then check here for the appropriate European body.
20) What does ex-kids mean?
Ex-kids (or PK in Clearcast speak) is a restriction applied to ads depending on its content or automatically in other circumstances. One thing to bear in mind is that it’s NOT a timing restriction but a scheduling restriction which will keep the ad away from breaks immediately before, during and immediately after children’s programmes. Children’s programmes for scheduling purposes also includes those programmes which have a high index of children viewers. It is worth contacting your media buyer about which programmes are included in the restriction as they do change.
An ex-kids restriction will be applied to an ad that contains, but is not limited to, mild and/or accidental interpersonal violence, where there is a risk of emulation but from which no serious harm would result, where very young viewers may be scared by the contents of the ad or where there is mild sexual activity or innuendo.
There are also certain circumstances where an ex-kids is applied automatically regardless of content (though, if the content requires a higher restriction then that will apply). An ex-kids will be applied when the advertised product is a licensed medical product, where it features a film or video game that has been BBFC or PEGI rated 15 or above. An ex-kids is also automatically assigned for adverts for sanitary protection, condoms and where we see matches or candles being lit (again the content may require a higher restriction).
If you're in any doubt you should contact your Clearcast executive.
21) Why can't I find the Notes of Guidance?
Because the Notes of Guidance relate to previous Codes and are out of date in many areas, the Clearcast Notes of Guidance were removed from our website on 1 September 2010. In the coming months, as the new Code is used and interpreted, we will monitor and gauge what guidance we want to issue to amplify the Code’s rules.
22) What are the rules on advertising alcohol?
Please visit the Committee of Advertising Practice wesbsite for further help on advertising alcohol on tv.
http://bcap.org.uk/The-Codes/BCAP-Code/BCAP-Code-Item.aspx?q=Test_Specific
23) Can I get provisional approval for my ad?
Provisional approvals are granted to give temporary clearance to a commercial to allow it to be transmitted before the full approval process has been completed. Provisional approvals are normally only granted in cases where the clearance of the commercial is likely to be fairly straightforward.
For further information please take a look at our workflow document:
File: Clearcast Copy Clearance Workflow
24) What are the music reporting requirements for my ad?
Before ads can be approved by Clearcast, agencies are asked to provide details of the music used in it. PRS for Music explains in an article written for our summer 2009 newsletter what it does with the data and why it is important that agencies provide Clearcast with accurate information.
25) How do I find out more about the duration of hold time for our Legal Super-Imposed text?
Superimposed text is an essential part of TV advertising to ensure viewers fully understand the offers and any relevant legal info and is a strict requirement under the BCAP code. Please see the Super-Imposed Text section of our website for further info.
26) Does Clearcast clear VoD ads?
In 2009 we launched a new compliance service for VoD advertising to help our clients comply with the European Audio Visual Media Services Directive. VoD ads are cleared against the CAP (non-broadcast) code.
27) Who regulates the cinema adverts?
Clearcast does not clear adverts to be shown in cinemas. This is the responsibility of the Cinema Advertising Association.
28) What are the teleshopping service levels?
The Clearcast Teleshopping Team aims to be able to respond with the initial comments to script submissions in the following times:
Scripts 2 minutes and under – within 4 working days
Scripts over 2 minutes but under 5 minutes – within 6 working days
Scripts 5 minutes and longer – within 12 working days
29) What are some of the copy issues I need to keep in mind when making my teleshopping ad?
Long form/teleshopping advertisements must identify their commercial nature in optical and acoustic means immediately at the beginning and immediately at the end e.g. "The following is (proceeding "was") a commercial presentation brought to you on behalf of X"
Advertisements must not refer to themselves in a way that might lead viewers to believe they are watching a programme. The word "show" however, is considered acceptable e.g. "Welcome to the show!"
The script must specify the purchase price and the cost of p&p in either sound or vision. If the script does not specify purchase price and the cost of p&p, then it cannot be said to include a direct offer for sale and does not qualify as teleshopping material.
More details will follow in our new Teleshopping section on our website, coming soon!
30) What are the rules for teleshopping ad clearance?
The rules applicable to teleshopping scripts are the same that apply to all advertising and the first reference point should be the BCAP Television Advertising Standards Code
31) How do I make a teleshopping ad submission?
The Submission process for teleshopping scripts is exactly the same as for any other commercials. The process for the teleshopping shortform video submission is also the same as for any other commercials.
For any longform teleshopping ads (longer than five minutes), video submission is required in our Adway system and in addition, a DVD needs to be sent to Clearcast. Please ensure that you also directly contact the Clearcast Teleshopping team (Paul and Justyna) so that the status can be changed in the system from ‘awaiting tape’ to ‘new’.
Further Info:
File: Claims support
File: Testimonial form
32) Who do I contact for teleshopping enquiries?
Clearcast has a dedicated team that provides clearance for teleshopping ads:
Teleshopping Clearance Manager – Justyna Shala (020 7339 4706) and Senior Teleshopping Clearance Executive – Paul Burrows (020 7339 4716)
33) What is a Teleshopping Commercial?
Teleshopping (also known as home shopping, advertorials, infomercials, etc.) is a form of advertising involving the broadcast of direct offers to the public with a view to the supply of goods or services, including immovable property, or rights and obligations, in return for payment.
34) What are the rules on using swearing or expletives in my ad?
The use of bad language offends large numbers of people particularly where it is unexpected and it is not acceptable in advertising.
Further Info:
ITC Research "Delete Expletives?"
Audience attitudes towards offensive language on television and radio.
35) What do I do if I'm advertising a product high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS)?
New content and scheduling rules were introduced in 2007 which have an impact on advertising products which are high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS). This is determined through application of a nutrient profiling mechanism devised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Further Info:
Practical Guidance for HFSS advertising
36) What is a late submission and how do I arrange one?
On May 4th 2010, Clearcast introduced a deadline for the submission of ads for broadcast throughout the week. This follows a review of current arrangements undertaken with our shareholder broadcasters.
The deadline allows Clearcast to clear ads for broadcasters by 6pm; it also ensures we have enough time to undertake the routine technical checks needed and to let broadcasters have all clearances in time before broadcast. The deadline also avoids the need for broadcasters to use alternative copy in spots for which ads have not been cleared because they have been submitted too late.
We recommend you read the full article about the process for arranging a late clearance. Please click here
37) Who do I contact if I have a query on the upload of my commercial?
Your Executive has an Operations Assistant who is responsible for the distribution of ads and rough edits within Clearcast. You can find your Operations Assistant in the Contact us section of our site, by inputting your agency name in our "Exec Finder". By doing that you will be told who your Exec is and who that Exec's Assistant (and therefore your Assistant) is too.
38) Are there any restrictions for films or games that are certified 15 or above?
Films and games that are BBFC or PEGI certified 15 or above will automatically attract an ex-kids restriction regardless of content. However, Clearcast will view any commercial with reference to harm, violence and sexual content and apply an appropriate restriction.
Please read a related article on video games in our Winter 2009 Newsletter
39) How do I find out who my Operations Assistant is?
If you go to the Contact Us section of our website and enter your agency name in to the "Find your copy group executive" box and hit "Go", you will be told the name and phone number of your Copy Group Executive and your Operations Assistant.
40) How do I read your company newsletter?
On our Homepage or our News section, you can sign up to receive our alerts and our bi-annual newsletter.
If you'd like to read any back-copies please click here to read the Summer 2009, Winter 2009, Summer 2010 and Spring 2011 releases.
41) Who do I contact if I have a script query?
When a Clearcast account was created you will have been allocated a Copy Group Executive who will be responsible for clearance of your script. You can find out who your Executive is by either calling our switchboard on 020 7339 4700 or inputting your Agency name in our Exec Finder on the Contact Us page. It is via this method that you can also discover who your Operations Assistant is.
42) How can I check the progress of my script?
The first port of call is Adway. When you look at your script submission it will indicate a status. ‘New’ means that the submission is currently in your Executive’s in box and is awaiting their attention. ‘In progress’ means that your Executive is working on your script or it is with their second reader for their comments. When you see the status as ‘In Progress’ please don’t upload amended scripts, substantiation or make comments on Adway without contacting your Executive first otherwise this may cause delays in getting comments to you. ‘Pending agency’ means that your Executive and their second reader have considered your script and have placed comments on Adway which may require your attention.
43) How long does it take a consultant take to get back with comments?
The aim is that our consultants will respond to an initial request for advice within a week. However, this is very much dependent on the complexity of the issue being advised on and the adequacy of the supporting evidence supplied. In order to make the process easier our consultants have developed the Claim Support Model which helps the advertiser to identify the claims with a script and attach the appropriate evidence. The Claim Support Model can be found in Clearcast Forms
44) How do I update a script on the system?
Click on the script submission from the home page. When the submission is open click on the ‘History’ tab and scroll down to the ‘Update script’ section at the bottom page. Click on the ‘Browse ...’ button and upload your script in the usual way. It’s important that you upload an amended script in this way as it ensures that the script appears in your exec’s inbox. Please avoid uploading amended scripts as substantiation.
45) Will evidence submitted in support of advertising claims be kept confidential?
All confidential information submitted by or on behalf of advertisers will be held in confidence by Clearcast. Accordingly Clearcast will not disclose, copy, reproduce or distribute any such confidential information save only as is required in connection with the clearance and broadcasting of the commercial, except where Clearcast is required to do so by law or regulation or by governmental or competent regulatory authority.
46) Who uses the attribution service?
The data, which also includes Clearcast copy title, telephone number and website and NMR category information, is made available to Nielson Media Research UK subscribers. The data is used by research companies in conjunction with BARB commercial spot data supplied by Nielsen Media Research UK.
47) What is the attribution service?
The attribution service supplies codes and names matched to unique copy for product, buying agency, advertiser and holding company fields. For more information, visit the Our Services section of our website.
48) Does Clearcast deal with complaints about TV ads?
Clearcast is not responsible for considering complaints about TV ads. Viewer complaints are dealt with by the Advertising Standards Authority. For further information contact the ASA at www.asa.org.uk.
49) Does Clearcast have counterparts in other countries?
Clearcast, together with the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA), offers an online copy advice / pre-clearance facility. It allows users to submit their copy for advice in the selected country/ies by the self-regulatory organisation for advertising in the country. For more on how it works and e.g. where pre-clearance is required, go to www.ad-advice.org
50) Does Clearcast clear radio ads?
Radio ads are cleared by the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre (RACC). For further information contact the RACC at www.racc.co.uk.
51) Does Clearcast clear ads for broadcast in the Republic of Ireland?
Clearcast clears ads for broadcast on channels that broadcast from the UK into the Republic of Ireland e.g. BSkyB and Channel Four. For further information about clearance for ads broadcast from the Republic of Ireland contact RTE http://www.rte.ie/ or copyclearance@rte.ie.
52) How many commercials does Clearcast approve?
In 2010 Clearcast considered 33,000 scripts (13% more than 2009) and 60,000 clock commercials (12% more than 2009).
53) Can an agency or advertiser appeal against a Clearcast decision?
When agreement cannot be reached scripts and/or commercials can be submitted to the Clearcast Copy Committee, which consists of senior representatives from six of the leading broadcasters for a view. The Committee's view on a script or commercial is final.
54) What is the Code?
The TV Advertising Standards Code is the set of rules with which ads have to comply. Ofcom has contracted the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) to write and enforce the Code. For further details of the Code and CAP go to:
55) What is the difference between a roughcut and a clocked commercial?
A roughcut is an unfinished commercial, normally submitted for a Clearcast view before being properly finished. A clocked commercial is ready for transmission and starts with a countdown clock.
56) Who makes up the clock number?
Agencies or advertisers are responsible for making up the clock number but the agency code in the clock number is allocated by our Operations Administrator
57) How is a clock number made up?
The convention for a clock number is that it shows the name of the agency, the client and product, a commercial unique identification number and the commercial length. These codes are punctuated by a "/" to make a 15 character number:
Agency Code (three alpha characters)
Terminator/Client Code (two alpha characters)
Product Code (two alpha characters)
Unique I.D. (three numeric characters)
Terminator/Duration three numeric characters)
Example: DIR/CORP001/030
The agency code in the clock number is allocated by our Operations Administrator, the rest of the clock number is made up by the agency or advertiser.
58) What is a clock number?
A unique alphanumeric identification number used to identify an advertisement and its creators/source (the advertising agency). The number is used from the clearance process through to transmission and post-transmission reporting.
Please note that clock number must be entered in the following format:
1. Agency Code (3 alpha characters)
2. Terminator /
3. Client Code (2 alpha characters)
4. Product Code (2 alpha characters)
5. Unique Id (3 numeric characters)
6. Terminator /
7. Duration (3 numeric characters)
For example: XYZ/ABCD001/030
If your submission is Linear and Video on-Demand (Teleshopping) or Linear and Video on-Demand (Green button), the clock number should be entered as
EITHER
[Agency Code - AAA] + "/" + [Client Code - AA] + [Product Code - AA] + [Unique Id – NN] + "/" + [duration - NNNN]
OR
[Agency Code - AAA] + "/" + [Client Code - AA] + [Product Code - AA] + [Unique Id - N] + "/" + [duration - NNNNN]
59) How long does clearance take?
The time taken for script depends on its complexity. Straight forward scripts may take only a few days to approve whereas those that require in-depth analysis and, possibly, a consultant's view on technical evidence take longer. Clearcast aims to either feedback on or approve rough or clocked commercials within two days of ingestion.
60) Does Clearcast approve ads for other broadcasters?
Clearcast offers its services to other broadcasters who wish to use them. There is a cost for this service. For further info contact the Head of Policy and Customer Operations:
kristoffer.hammer@clearcast.co.uk
61) What is the clearance procedure for getting Clearcast approval?
Pre-production scripts and rough-cut or finished commercials should be submitted to Clearcast, to the relevant assigned individual. For those that subscribe to it, pre-production scripts and films can be uploaded digitally to Clearcast's digital clearance system, Adway. Please see our Clearance Process for further info.
62) Which advertisements should be submitted to Clearcast?
Ads intended for broadcast on analogue and digital terrestrial, cable and satellite channels owned by ITV, GMTV, Channel Four, Five, Sky, IDS (Virgin Media) and Turner, should be submitted to Clearcast for approval.
63) What is Ofcom?
Ofcom is the regulator for the UK communications industries with responsibilities across television, radio, telecommunications and wireless communications services. It is responsible for licensing UK television services on analogue and digital terrestrial, cable and satellite.
64) What is Clearcast?
Clearcast is the specialist company, owned and funded by seven leading commercial broadcasters, ITV, GMTV, Channel Four, Five, Sky, IDS (Virgin Media) and Turner, all of whom are represented on Clearcast's board. On behalf of broadcasters, and in accordance with their Ofcom licences, Clearcast advises on and clears commercials, against the TV Advertising Standards Code (the Code), before they are broadcast. Clearcast also manages the attribution service which standardises and validates attribution data for all BARB reported commercial copy transmitted on TV in the UK and reports attribution for transmission by UK broadcasters in the Republic of Ireland.