News

ABC and YouTube blame ‘account settings’ for video ads blunder

The ABC and YouTube appear to have settled their differences after pre-roll video ads were run before the broadcaster’s programming content despite it claiming it had not given permission.

After Mumbrella revealed that 15s ads for Procter & Gamble products including Head & Shoulders and Gillette Fusion had been running on the ABC’s YouTube channel, the ABC claimed it had been done without its permission and demanded an explanation.  

Both organisations spent the last 24 hours or so without commenting further on the issue, until tonight when they both issued statements within a few moments of each other.

The ABC said:

“The ABC does not run advertising on its NewonABCTV YouTube channel. When it was brought to our attention that a pre-roll ad was featured on this channel, the ABC worked with YouTube to remove it. The ABC does accept advertising on two of its ABC Commercial YouTube channels – ComedyonABC and EntertainmentonABC. A lot of the content featured on these two channels is also available as digital and physical product on ABC shop Online and at ABC Shops and Centres. The ABC derives a percentage share of ad revenue from these channels that goes back to the ABC to make programs.”

And YouTube, which is owned by Google, said:

“Pre-rolls are a new ad format which Australian YouTube content partners can opt into. We recently worked with the ABC to correct some account settings relating to where pre-roll ads would show. This has been resolved.”

Based on the two statements, it is unclear which of the two organisations made the error, if that was what happened. Mumbrella’s requests for further clarification were not answered by either party.

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