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Adam Hills’ Logie campaign dogged by ABC rules

He's not complaining but Adam Hills is at a disadvantage in Logie voting, with the ABC prevented from plugging for SMS votes by its very own Charter.

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Spare a thought for Adam Hills. Better yet, spare 55c for Adam Hills.

While other networks are busy running voting campaigns for their Gold Logie nominees, the Spicks and Specks host is at a distinct disadvantage: the ABC can’t give out the phone number to vote for him.

Promoting the 1902 phone number would be a commercial promotion for ACP Magazines and phoneline company 5th Finger, which contravenes the ABC Charter.

“It’s actually hard for an ABC viewer to vote for me because the ABC technically can’t advertise the phone number because it’s a money-making exercise,” Hills tells TV Tonight.

“They’re running ads but they’re saying ‘Go to the ABC website if you want to vote for Adam.’

“But they can’t put the phone number on their website either.

“So you have to click on a link that takes you to another site that has the number on it.”

An ABC spokesperson confirmed to TV Tonight that the organisation had to be very careful about how it mentions commercial entities.

The ABC Charter states, “Product placement and other forms of embedded or surreptitious advertising are prohibited.”

ABC has been able to buy Google Ad space to help push his campaign, although it’s a fraction of the value of primetime ads that are running for his rivals on commercial networks.

But the always-cheerful Hills said he wasn’t complaining about the problem.

“It’s the reason the ABC was set up. It’s government-funded so therefore it can’t promote anything that’s commercial, so it can’t technically promote the Gold Logie,” he said.

“So if I do win the Gold Logie it will be a triumph for the amount of hurdles that the ABC viewers have managed to jump through.”

This is the fourth year Hills has been nominated for the Gold, but at least he has an extra boost this year because Adam Hills In Gordon Street Tonight has been on air, and ends its season tonight, just days before the Logie Awards presentation.

“I think there’s a perception that if your name is in a show then it will mean you’re more visible, so that may make a difference.”

To vote for Hills SMS “Adam” to 199 52 900 or call 1902 552 901. Call/SMS cost 55c (inc GST), may be higher from pay/mobile phones. Full Terms and Conditions are here.

22 Responses

  1. What about Twitter? The ABC is constantly mentioning that website, owned by a privately held company. They encourage users to use the website which I hear makes money from advertising.

  3. “ABC has been able to buy Google Ad space to help push his campaign, although it’s a fraction of the value of primetime ads that are running for his rivals on commercial networks.” They shouldn’t even be spending a cent on getting this unfunny, anti-American, untalented, smug idiot a Gold Logie (unless they were planning on melting down his award for further programming investments). Public broadcasting should be above this tired exercise in commercial network back-slapping.

    If this moron wins one, what will it prove? That ABC staff can successfully waste their time rigging a ‘popular vote’ competition? Or that Adam Hills belongs on Channel Nine where other past-their-used-by-date television show host hacks fester?

  5. Thats a shame but that the ABC policy. By the way everytime I turn into 9 there is someone telling us to vote for karl. First Keith Urban and yesterday I saw Hugh Jackman tell everyone to vote for him. I guess you use all the frineds you need.

    I put in a few votes. I reckon Adam would make a funny but gracious speech. Its still wrong Shaun isnt there.

  7. While I would love Adam to win, I am quite pleased the ABC is taking a principled stand. What it really shows, however, is how desperately we need a television awards system in this country which is not dependent on commercial or even popular interests, and silly voting by twitter or phone or other such means.

  9. I doubt that in a similar situation in the UK that the BBC would hesitate for a second to take advantage of similar methods to ensure winning the promotional opportunities that having a Gold Logie winner on their network would give them.
    The politically correct luvvies inside and outside the ABC need a reality check.
    Using someone else’s commercial site to advance the popularity and marketing of their network is simply a fact of life in 2011 and beyond. And anyway, it’s the viewers who’ll spend the .55c – not the ABC!
    As a taxpayer I am more than happy to see the ABC and it’s mostly excellent programmes promoted to the wisest possible audience.

  12. Even on shoot of Goodgame When your at an event, You most likely see segment producers removing beer bottles with the product logo on them eg; Tooheys, XXXX, etc

    Just because they could be seen as clever product placement

  15. Adam Hills should win he is funny and a legend on both AHGST and spicks and specks i wont be watching the logies but i hope he wins the other nominees have nothing on him

  16. “Product placement and other forms of embedded or surreptitious advertising are prohibited.”
    What about the Gruen Transfer? There’s plenty of product placement in that yet they can’t show a phone number for a few seconds?

  19. This is what narks me about all these SMS vote for your favourite shows.
    It’s less about the result and more about making some money with premium SMS.
    Why not all stop being d**ks and have regular SMS ?

  21. Since Mediawatch did a segment on Andrew Denton’s Gold Logie campaign of a few years ago, the ABC has had to look at this issue very carefully. Adam could still win it.

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