FAQ
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Questions:
1) What does it cost to clear an ad? / Does Clearcast charge for clearing an ad?
2) If I am producing a bingo, gaming or betting ad, what should I look out for?
3) When is the adult watershed?
4) What are the teleshopping service levels?
5) What are some of the copy issues I need to keep in mind when making my teleshopping ad?
6) What are the rules for teleshopping ad clearance?
7) How do I make a teleshopping ad submission?
8) Who do I contact if I have a script query?
9) How can I check the progress of my script?
10) How long does it take a consultant take to get back with comments?
11) How do I update a script on the system?
12) How many commercials does Clearcast approve?
13) Can an agency or advertiser appeal against a Clearcast decision?
14) How long does clearance take?
15) What is the clearance procedure for getting Clearcast approval?
Answers:
1) 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.
2) 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’).
3) 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.
4) 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
5) 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!
6) 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
7) 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
8) 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.
9) 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.
10) 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
11) 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.
12) 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).
13) 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.
14) 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.
15) 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.