Venus TV rapped for too many ad breaks during films

Ofcom has rapped Venus TV for taking too many commercial breaks during film telecasts.

Ofcom identified 34 films broadcast on Venus TV between 6th August and 8th September 2016 which raised issues under Rule 10 of COSTA. Each film occupied a
180 minute EPG slot and was interrupted eight times by advertising – twice more than permitted by Rule 10 of COSTA.

Ofcom therefore asked Venus TV how the scheduling of advertising breaks during these films complied with Rule 10 of COSTA.

Venus TV apologised for the broadcast of the excessive advertising breaks and explained that they were the result of an oversight. It added that it understood the rules and was committed to comply with them in future.

Ofcom said it would monitor the channel after it found the 34 films identified had a scheduled duration of 180 minutes and were therefore entitled to contain a maximum of six advertising breaks. However, in each case, an additional two advertising breaks were broadcast. Consequently, these films breached Rule 10 of COSTA.