Spanish regulator probes RTVE over covert advertising


Details

Juan Fernandez Gonzalez

| 15 January 2016




Despite not having broadcast any private adverts, Spain's RTVE is under investigation for possible covert advertising.



The country's telecom and competition authority, the CNCM, has initiated the process to penalise the public broadcaster for advertising products or services without making it apparent to the audience.

For example, the morning talk show, La Mañana, on TVE1, may have promoted health-related products, according to the CNMC http://cnmc.es/. One section of the show talked about sight problems with an expert from a private clinic and could be seen as giving commercial information, said then CNMC, as there were continuous mentions of the clinic and its facilities, as well as images of its website.

RTVE has 15 days to respond, after which the competition authority will resolve the case within six months.

If proved, the case would end in a fine. The CNMC has repeatedly fined other operators - like Mediaset, which paid over €1 million last year - for similar practices.