Spain: Authorities fine Mediaset Group for hidden advertising

Spain’s CNMC has imposed a 600,000 euro fine on local media giant Mediaset Group, accused of violating laws which prohibit hidden advertising for products and services during the broadcast of their program “Qué tiempo tan feliz”.

The specific infraction involves a five minute segment of the show, broadcast between December 2014 and February 2015, which purported to deal with health and well-being subjects. During the segment the packaging of several products was prominently displayed, while brands and retail prices were also mentioned. Furthermore, the show host’s own blog provided direct links to the products’ online distributors.

These actions, the CNMC found, fit the description of hidden publicity as being likely to mislead the public, obscuring the segment’s true purpose of advertising a particular product.

Source: Media Telecom

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.