FAQ
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Questions:
1) What does it cost to clear an ad? / Does Clearcast charge for clearing an ad?
2) What are the teleshopping service levels?
3) What are some of the copy issues I need to keep in mind when making my teleshopping ad?
4) What are the rules for teleshopping ad clearance?
5) How do I make a teleshopping ad submission?
6) Who do I contact for teleshopping enquiries?
7) What is a Teleshopping Commercial?
8) What is a clock number?
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) 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
3) 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!
4) 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
5) 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
6) 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)
7) 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.
8) 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]