Our Service Levels

Take a look at our recent performance by opening the below pdf docs:

Clearcast through advertisers and advertising agencies, clears advertising before it is broadcast. Clearcast has two principal functions; the examination of pre-production scripts and the pre-transmission clearance of finished television ads.

During the production of advertisements, advertising agencies can consult with Clearcast on pre-production scripts and associated substantiation and should present clocked commercials for Clearcast approval.

The Service Levels are a demonstration of Clearcast’s willingness to add transparency to the service it provides, to measure its performance and to share that information with its stakeholders.

The Service Levels should be read in conjunction with the Escalation Process. They have been formulated to give a clear indication to advertising agencies of the turn around time for submissions and to help advertising agencies in their management of the creative process.

The Service Levels indicate the time it takes for Clearcast to either provide a considered response to or to approve scripts from the time they are received by Clearcast. A considered response may be an outline of potential concerns, advice on how scripts can be amended or a request for further information. A considered response also indicates that material has been subject to internal scrutiny on two occasions, as part of the Clearcast decision making process.

The Service Levels also outline the time taken to receive approval or feedback on clocked commercials. The feedback may be an explanation of why a particular clocked commercial cannot be approved.

From May 4th 2010, Clearcast will introduce a deadline for the submission of ads for broadcast throughout the week. For more information please visit the relevant Submission Deadline article in our news section.

Pre-production scripts

Aim

Scripts: Clearcast aims at providing a considered response or to approve scripts within four days for 80% of all script submissions. Those taking longer are typically more complex submissions or those where substantiation that will need to be sent to a consultant for review.

Clocked commercials: Clearcast aims to turn around clocked commercials in less than two days for 95% of submissions.

What Clearcast Needs

In support of Clearcast’s commitment to continuous improvement of its service, it would be appreciated if agencies could continue to follow the guidelines outlined below.

All paperwork should be correctly submitted, with agency/advertisers’ contact details, to the relevant pre-production e-mail address, fax number or direct on to Clearcast’s digital delivery system.

For the efficient handling of submissions, agencies are required to register for and actively use Clearcast’s digital delivery system for submission of scripts with supporting documentation, and subsequent communication with Clearcast.

Submissions whose claims are supported by technical or scientific data may be sent by Clearcast to the relevant Clearcast Consultant for further consideration. Agencies and advertisers are urged to use the Clearcast Claim Support Model when compiling submissions of technical claims support. Claims support should be submitted with scripts to ensure early consideration of all relevant information.

Clocked and rough-cut commercials

Aim

Clearcast aims to ensure that rough-cut and clocked commercials are quickly cleared for broadcast. Current measures demonstrate that 95% of all commercials submitted are cleared within two days. Clearcast aims to continue to approve, or provide feedback on clocked or rough-cut commercials for 95% of submissions within two working days from the time of ingestion. It will also assess any need to enhance its procedures to establish if improved service can be achieved in this area. For those that submit commercials digitally, confirmation of approval is automatic through Clearcast’s digital delivery system.

Those commercials that take longer than two days to approve may be those that are presented to Clearcast as a part of a series of ads, all of which need to be submitted before the clearance process begins.

What Clearcast needs

In support of Clearcast’s commitment to perform at a high level, the following guidelines should be adhered to:

Clearcast approved script should be submitted to the relevant Operations Assistant.
Agencies are required to register for this service and should make every effort to submit digitally. Registration to upload digitally is separate from the digital submission of scripts.
Substantiation of claims contained in the advertisement should be submitted together with the script.

Reporting on performance

Clearcast publishes performance statistics on a quarterly basis on www.clearcast.co.uk. The statistics will cover the number of scripts and clocked commercials it has considered and how it has delivered against the Service Levels.

Clearcast is also reporting on a weekly basis on its website the number of scripts received and clocked commercials assessed.