After its rules on programmes dealing with immovable property, the Broadcasting Authority has now issued rules on programmes on motor vehicles. It said it had considered how this type of programme is regulated in Europe and had monitored programmes shown on Maltese television.

The rules are to apply from 1 October.

Programmes on vehicles will not be considered in breach of the advertising regulations if several types or brands of vehicles produced, imported, retailed or hired by different vehicle manufacturers, importers, sellers or hirers are presented during the same series of the same programme.

It is allowed to mention the brand name of the vehicle and to sum up the good as well as bad aspects of the vehicle in question. But it will not be acceptable to mention only the positive aspects of the vehicle or to have repeated close-ups of the vehicle’s brand name or any close-ups of the showroom from where the vehicle is exhibited, sold or hired. The producer is to ensure that the programme is balanced when dealing with such positive and negative vehicle features.

It will not be permissible to invite viewers or listeners to buy such vehicles during such programmes. While sponsorship of a programme on vehicles by an importer, seller, agent, hirer, etc., is allowed, it is not permissible for a sponsor to advertise in that programme/s which s/he is sponsoring.

When the price of a vehicle is given, this shall not be allowed for marketing/sale purposes but only for analytical or comparative purposes in relation to other vehicles even if such other vehicles have not been tested during the same programme.

Furthermore, the review of a vehicle’s features should be conducted by a competent person such as a mechanic or vehicle enthusiast provided that if the competent person is an employee or a representative of the firm importing, retailing or hiring such vehicles s/he is not introduced accordingly during the programme.

Promotional material should be avoided. Promotional material includes foreign promotional material supplied by the vehicle’s manufacturer or producer and which contains details of an advertising nature or when the vehicle is given undue prominence beyond the informational aspect. Undue prominence is given when the address, telephone number or other contact details of the importer or agent are supplied, any website of the importer or agent is displayed or when the vehicle is filmed in the showroom and the name of the importer or agent or other details of the showroom are given so as to identify from which importer or agent that vehicle can be purchased.

The term “vehicle” includes cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles and other means of transport of any class or description intended for the conveyance of persons or goods.