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Naughty commercials Radio 538 – campaign immoral and lack of good taste?

Naughty commercials Radio 538 – campaign immoral and lack of good taste?

Dutch radio-station “Radio 538” has a reputation for making controversial campaigns, resulting in many complaints before the RCC (The Dutch Advertising Code) after the launch of every summer campaign. It is remarkable that the Netherlands seem to have become more prudish lately. See, for example, the Shameless campaign of Suit supply, featuring a lady drinking coffee while being “taken” on the kitchen counter (this campaign was allowed after all). The new 538 commercial features a young woman, dressed only in a top, sitting in front of a blower-fan with her legs opened towards the viewer. A domestic cat is placed in front of her on the couch, blocking the view of the model’s genitals. According to the complaint, the image of the woman creates an association with pornography. The billboard is placed in plain sight at bus-stops. Therefore the campaign is allegedly immoral and lacking good taste.

In its defense of its campaign Radio-538 claims that a mere reference is made to sexuality, but not to pornography. The use of sexuality explicit images in advertisements does not automatically mean moral boundaries are crossed. The RCC agrees with the latter. However, in case of outdoor advertising to be used at bus stops these rules should be applied more strictly, because the general public can hardly avoid this bill-board. A direct association with pornography is not created, but the positioning of the cat between the woman’s opened legs is clearly meant to direct the attention to her genitals. So with this bill board in combination with it being shown in public bus stops, the line is being crossed, resulting in a warning to not use it in this way.

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Newsletter: Abcor ABC Magazine

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• Stichting Nederlandse Top 40: gericht op Benelux?
• Tijdschrift HART vs Hermitage: soortgelijkheid
• Monique Granneman: nieuwe partner Abcor

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