The notice from the Norwegian Media Authority concerns an episode during the cross-country sprint from Lillehammer, broadcast on TV 2 on 3 December. Swedish Emma Ribom won the race on the women’s side and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo on the men’s side. Already during the sprint, there were several people who reacted to what they thought was strange placement of advertising breaks on TV 2. Among other things, in the semi-final there were advertisements during the heat itself. Now the Norwegian Media Authority has taken action. They state to news that they have sent notice of sanctions to TV 2 as a result of their use of advertising breaks. SENDING NOTICE: Hanne Nistad Sekkelsten in the Norwegian Media Authority confirms that they have sent a notice to the channel. Photo: Thomas Ekstrom / Thomas Ekstrom – Firstly, we believe that broadcasting advertising on a split screen is not permitted during sprint exercises in cross-country skiing on television. Secondly, we believe that in several cases the advertising interruptions were placed so that they interfered with the viewing experience. Parts of the advertisement were sent at the same time as the cross-country heats were discontinued, says director of the legal and regulatory department in the Norwegian Media Authority, Hanne Nistad Sekkelsten, to news. TV 2 takes self-criticism TV 2 admits that the advertisement was placed in an unfortunate way in the broadcast. – The criticism we received during and after the cross-country sprint race on 3 December was justified. I would like to emphasize that it was not about the advertisement itself, but the placement of it, says press manager at TV 2 Jan-Petter Dahl. TV 2 further confirms that they have received the notification from the Norwegian Media Authority. The channel has been given until 5 January to respond to the notice, and says that they are working on their response now. After the response has been sent, the Norwegian Media Authority will make a final assessment of the case. PRESS MANAGER: Jan-Petter Dahl in TV 2. In the Act’s regulations on broadcasting § 3–7 it is stated that “advertising on a split screen is permitted in live broadcasts of events that take place without interruption”. – Our preliminary assessment is that this is in breach of the regulations, but here TV 2 will have the opportunity to make a statement before we reach a final conclusion, says Sekkelsten. Press manager Dahl emphasizes that they have extensive experience with discontinuing advertisements during sports broadcasts and that they have a practice that is in line with the rules. During the sprint, however, the routines failed. – On the Saturday in question, unfortunately, there was an error with the timing of the cancellation of the advertisement, and we apologize for that. We have had a thorough evaluation of this afterwards and will be extra careful that we use the split screen in the right way going forward, says Dahl. Commentator apologized live The advert on TV 2 started just after the last heat in the men’s quarter-finals, and continued one minute and 40 seconds into the women’s first semi-final. TV 2 commentator Marius Skjelbæk himself reacted to all the commercial breaks, and chose to apologize during the broadcast. – Sorry, but now it’s advertising, said the commentator. He explained his frustration to VG. – I knew that the sprints this weekend were going to be characterized by commercial breaks at inconvenient times. When one notices anger, frustration and reactions beyond the usual, it would be arrogant and inhuman not to acknowledge the situation. The contract with the viewers is, after all, our most important mission, Skjelbæk told the newspaper.
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The Norwegian Media Authority believes that TV 2 broke the law during the cross-country broadcast – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
