In a victory for objectivity, the ASA has recently rejected a
complaint against ITV concerning its scheduling of an HFSS ad
broadcast during the film, Nancy Drew.
The ad was for McDonald's and had been given an ex-kids
restriction by Clearcast. It therefore could not be broadcast
around programmes likely to be particular appeal to the under
16's. ITV, McDonald's and its media buying agency, OMD, had
all taken considerable care to ensure that the media schedule for
the ad was compliant.
However, one viewer complained to the ASA about the broadcast of
the ad during one particular ad spot at 13:50 on Saturday 15th
August 2020 during a broadcast of the film on ITV2, which is not a
children's channel. This was the fourth occasion on which the
movie had been broadcast by ITV over a period of 4 years.
There were 5 other HFSS brands whose products were broadcast
during the very same ad break; and a further 23 others whose ads
were featured in or around the film on the 4
