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Linda Carter is completely unrelated to Free Republic. But if I am going to have to post donation begs until the Freepathon is over, I'm going to occasionally post something I want! And there is only one way you can stop me! |
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Posted on 01/02/2004 5:42:38 PM PST by blam
BBC pulls plug on Coca-Cola in charts
By Matt Born
(Filed: 03/01/2004)
The BBC is to drop all references to Coca-Cola from its weekly music charts after widespread criticism that it was being used to promote junk food to children.
The corporation had agreed to plug the fizzy drinks giant, which sponsors the chart, during the weekly countdown on Radio 1 and BBC1's Top of the Pops.
But news of the proposed tie-in, which emerged on the same day last month that Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, called for tougher regulation of the advertising of children's food, drew fierce criticism from politicians and health campaigners.
Yesterday a spokesman for the corporation said: "In the light of the views expressed by others when the deal was announced, we have decided this sort of sponsorship is not something we want for the BBC."
Coca-Cola had signed a reputed £2 million, two-year deal with the Official UK Charts Company to sponsor the singles and albums lists.
The original agreement between the BBC and the charts company was signed four years ago and included a clause allowing for a sponsor's name to be mentioned on-air.
As a publicly funded body, the BBC does not allow direct sponsorship of its programmes but guidelines allow it to mention sponsors of other people's events and products. Other examples include references to the Barclaycard Premiership.
But yesterday Andy Parfitt, the controller of Radio 1, said the "broadcast market has moved on considerably" since the original deal was signed.
"Taking this into account, and recent events, we no longer feel it is appropriate to allow on-air mentions of sponsors of the chart," he said.
Coke's sponsorship of the chart starts tomorrow. The BBC said it would honour the contract but take advantage of a get-out clause which comes into effect in February.
Which is a capital offense in politically correct societies...
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Linda Carter is completely unrelated to Free Republic. But if I am going to have to post donation begs until the Freepathon is over, I'm going to occasionally post something I want! And there is only one way you can stop me! |
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LVM
You're right. She would be much more likely to post on DU
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