News

The story you’re about to read is true. Tobacco ads return to Australia

Tobacco advertising made an unplanned return to Australian airwaves after a 17 year absence when a Brisbane community TV station broadcast an episode of Dragnet which included ads for cigarettes.  

The Australian Communications and Media Authority said today that Briz31 head breached its licence by broadcasting the ads last September.

The episode of the classic police procedural drama was made in 1953 and Chesterfield cigarettes was a sponsor of the show. Each episode used to begin with the words “Ladies and gentlemen, the story you’re about to hear is true.”

The ads were filmed in the same style of the programme, using actors from the show adn the station did not notice them. One featured Jack Webb, Sgt Joe Friday in the show, telling the audience: “You can’t beat em for taste and mildness.”

Although ACMA found that Briz31 had breached its licence terms, it accepted the station’s promise that staff and volunteers would be trained on tighter editorial procedures.

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