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FIVEaa found guilty of running an ad disguised as a current affairs show

Leon Byner

Byner

DMG radio station FIVEaa Adelaide has been found guilty of running an ad that masquerades as a current affairs show by media watchdog ACMA.

The breach – which occured in October last year – took place in a segment of the Leon Byner Show. A topic dealing with water fluoridation mentioned water-filter brand Waterways four times.

The segment was one-minute long and was preceded and followed by a pre-recorded advertising.

ACMA found that one of the purposes of the segment was to promote Waterways, and that the broadcast fell within the terms of a contractual agreement between the licensee and the client.

ACMA also slammed FIVEaa for inadequately responding to complaints made against the show, and by failing to advise the complainant of its right to refer the matter to the ACMA.

As a result of the ACMA finding, FIVEaa has held compliance training for all on-air staff and reviewed its complaints handling procedures.

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