BBC admits 'undue publicity' for U2
BBC admits 'undue publicity' for U2
Also In The News
|
By Adam Leveridge
Stefano Domenicali has said Ferrari are working hard to recover the performance deficit they had to their rivals in 2009. |  |
Thursday, 14, Jan 2010 12:52
By Lewis Bazley.
U2's last album No Line On The Horizon received "undue publicity" from the BBC last year, the broadcaster has admitted.
The Irish band performed a rooftop concert at Broadcasting House as part of the February 2009 launch and viewers and media bodies complained about the airtime given to the Sunday Bloody Sunday artists.
The corporation's own Editorial Complaints Unit (ECU) has since ruled that coverage of the album launch was in breach of editorial guidelines.
An onscreen graphic stating "U2=BBC" gave an "inappropriate impression of endorsement" while a radio reference to the BBC being "part of launching this new album", was ruled inappropriate.
Conservative MP Nigel Evans had complained at the time that U2 had been given "the sort of publicity money can't buy".
"Why should licence fee-payers shoulder the cost of U2's publicity?" he asked last year.
The ECU has since upheld a complaint that the Radio 1 website published links to ticketing sites for U2 concerts.
"The Radio 1 leadership team have reminded executive producers and presenters about the issues to be considered in relation to judgments about undue prominence, and the distinction between the reporting of new artistic work and commercial promotion," the complaints unit said in a statement.
"The management of BBC Marketing, Communication and Audiences (the division responsible for the U2 = BBC graphic) has reminded all staff of the need to consult the editorial policy team in a timely manner for advice when potentially sensitive issues such as commercial interests are involved."
The ruling follows the upholding of an earlier complaint regarding the broadcaster's coverage of a tour by Coldplay.