Advertising Matters 20.12.19

Merry Christmas!

Welcome to the last Ad Matters of the decade! Congratulations first of all to the winner of our Team AA straw poll for Christmas ad of the Festive Season 2019. E.T.’s a cracker!

We hope you have enjoyed each and every weekly edition of Ad Matters during 2019 and we look forward to keeping you informed of everything the AA is up to next year, as well as all the other key news from across our amazing industry. Until then, a very merry Christmas and happy New Year from all here at the AA.

Very best wishes,

Team AA

MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN THE NOEL ABOUT THE POLL!

The only poll we’re  probably interested in now is the pole where Santa will be setting out from next week to give us all our prezzies. But while last week’s national poll is still fresh in our minds, we heard the news this week that Nicky Morgan is to continue as Secretary of State at DCMS.

Having stood down as an MP before the General Election she will take up a peerage in the House of Lords in the New Year. Stephen Woodford, on behalf of the AA, noted in a statement that “at this crucial time for the country and the economy – and as we approach Brexit at the end of January – the continuity offered by Nicky Morgan’s reappointment is welcome”. You can read our full statement over on our website here.

In other political developments, the Competition and Mergers Authority has published a market study interim report on online platforms and digital advertising, recommending tougher rules for online giants. The AA believe it is important that the CMA ensures its work is future-proof and coherent with other Government and regulatory reviews and allows the UK to retain its international standing as the most digitally-developed market in the world. You can find our statement in full here.

MOVE OVER BORIS, THERE’S ANOTHER JOHNSON IN TOWN!

In other post-General Election news, our own Public Affairs Executive Mark Johnson has published a few thoughts on his campaign to become Liberal Democrat MP for Ilford North against Labour’s Wes Streeting and what he’ll take away from the experience. Mark came a very respectable third place in the Redbridge seat and increased the LibDem vote to its highest level in a decade. In this interview, he looks back on the contest and its highlights and looks ahead to what the future might hold for him in his political career. Remember, you read about him here first!

AGE-RESTRICTED AD EXPOSURE IN DECLINE

The ASA yesterday published new figures that show a marked decline in rates of exposure of children to age-restricted TV ads. The data show that children saw 8 ads for HFSS products per week in 2018, down from 12.4 ads per week in 2016.

The research further shows that between 2008 and 2018, children’s exposure to all TV ads for food and soft drink halved, from an average of 35.5 ads per week in 2008 to 17.8 ads per week in 2018. In terms of alcohol and gambling ads the number seen by children has also decreased over the decade – by 62.5% for alcohol and 37.3% for gambling between 2008 and 2017. Read more in Campaign.

UK ADVERTISING NEEDS YOU AT THE QEII!

We are excited to invite you to an afternoon of inspiration on 30 January 2020 at the QEII Centre in Westminster, London! This special event, brought to you by the Advertising Association in partnership with Channel 4, Clear Channel, Department for International Trade, Framestore, London & Partners, M&C Saatchi and Newsworks will be the perfect shot of creative stimulus for 2020. You will hear from Phil Thomas, President of Ascential and Chairman of Cannes Lions, Paul Kemp-Robertson, Co-founder of Contagious and our very own Director of Credos Karen Fraser MBE. With tickets priced at just £35 they are selling fast! To find out more and book your place click here.

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