Bakom punishes surreptitious advertisers

The Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM) is penalizing several Swiss companies for surreptitious advertising. It has issued injunctions against Sat.1 Schweiz, Presse TV, Star TV and Alpha Vision (Fenster zum Sonntag) for violating the Media Act. This was reported by the Sonntagszeitung. The programs affected are "Joya rennt" and "Celebrations" on Sat.1 Switzerland, "Claudias Sofa" on Star TV, "Fenster zum Sonntag" on SF 2 and "Café Bâle" on Presse TV. The broadcasters had inadequately declared sponsors, engaged in product placement or placed sponsors in the picture for advertising purposes, Carole Winistörfer, Co-Head of Supervision at OFCOM, told the Sonntagszeitung. In the case of Star TV, OFCOM confiscates the "unlawfully generated income" and allows it to flow into the state coffers. The Federal Office is considering the same penalty against Sat.1 Schweiz and Presse TV.