Holden base jumping ad is cleared by ASB
A Holden ad featuring base jumping – skydiving from a tower – has been cleared by the advertising standards body after the car manufacturer demonstrated that there was nothing illegal about its footage.
The complaint to the ASB complained that base jumping is “illegal and highly dangerous”.
However, Holden pointed out: “The advertisement to which the complainant refers was created using footage of a legally sanctioned BASE jumping event in Kuala Lumpur… all necessary permits and permissions were obtained prior to the footage being taken and the BASE jump occurring.
Although it cleared the ad, the ASB added: “”The Board considered it would be preferable for the advertisement to have a short disclaimer or statement about the activity.”
The Advertisement to which the complainant refers was created using footage of a legally sanctioned BASE jumping event in Kuala Lumpur. We understand that the relevant competition has been operated for seven years. The person shown in the footage is Chuck Berry, a New Zealand BASE jumper who is a member of the Red Bull Extreme Sports team and was a participant in the event. All necessary permits and permissions were obtained prior to the footage being taken and the BASE jump occurring.
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such an amazing and original ad as well
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Great news. The base-jumping sequence was clearly indelibly linked to the idea in this spot.
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I am sorry. perhaps I am just really dumb…whats the connection with car and the base jumper?
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BASE Jumping, while dangerous, is not illegal in Australia – though certain things some participants may do while BASE Jumping are against the law (e.g. trespassing, pubic endangerment, jumping without a permit in national parks).
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I thought pushing the buttons on the dash and taking your eyes off the road was more dangerous than base jumping….
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@JC. there is no connection to the car in the ad at all. Just marketing folks going completely crazy and seeing a connection that none in the audience will. Or maybe the subliminal message is “if you bought one of these cars you too would want to throw yourself off the tallest building!”.
@ Channel – exactly! lol
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the base jumping sequence has absolutely no meaning? They may as well have had a surfer or some other random feel-good outdoors sporty shot.
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Someone seriously complained about this? And do we really need a disclaimer to say “was performed under supervised conditions, blah, blah, blah”?
I suppose given my lawn mower has warning stickers on it advising not to pick up the base while the motor is running, then yeah, that’s the society we live in…
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Pretty tenuous defence at best … “well BASE jumping is not illegal in KL”.
So why not shoot a family car ad in New Hampshire as they don’t have mandatory seat-belt laws. Or shoot an off-roader ad in Ethiopia because they don’t have drink-driving laws. Or shoot a sports car ad on the Isle of Man as they don’t have speed limits.
But I suppose the defence is as tenuous as the link to the car in the ad.
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Defence used was all that was needed to defend a pointless objection.
Mission accomplished, Holden.
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John Grono, Didnt you read the article? Base Jumping is NOT illegal in australia.
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9 out of 10 complaints are actually sent in by competitors incognito…
.. and 73.8% of statistics are made up on the spot
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@ Thomas Dodson.
Yes I did read the article. However, I wonder how closely you did.
I also read the comments, which included Jason’s comment saying BASE jumping is not illegal in Australia.
But as I was commenting about Holden’s defence of the ad to the ASB then my point still stands that Holden are saying it is OK because it is legal in KL. Oh, unless Jason works for Holden and that comment then forms part of the article.
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I don’t work for Holden, but I am a BASE Jumper, and was there to watch that jump in KL being filmed. 🙂
I was only pointing out that the complaint was ill-informed rubbish!
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Who cares , its base jumping wow big woop…people need to get a life in this day and age…..who cares if its base jumping or surfing its an ad to sell holden cars …Get a life
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