Channel 7 complaint
September 25th 2006 03:56
Much to my husband's distress I have become 'one of those'. I'm one of those people who get indignant about things and then claim, "I'm going to write a letter!” Half the time I don't know who to, or why I would. But I feel a sense of power in writing irritating complaint letters. I was once told that the television stations view one letter as being equivalent to 1000 people's opinions. That's a lot of people squeezed onto one page!
I don't know you have seen an ad that channel 7 run during children's programming. It's an ad for a silent mobile phone ring tone and the selling point is "kids, fool your teachers and parents with this silent ring tone". I was really upset when I was watching TV with my 6-year-old son and that ad came on. My son does have a mobile (because the stupid school bus never drops him at the same spot and I need to know where he is!) but luckily he didn't seem remotely interested in the product. None the less I was not impressed - so I wrote a letter.
Today I received a letter saying:
Dear Mrs XXXXXXX
Thank you for your letter of 14 August 2006, in relation to an advertisement for Silent Ring Tones broadcast during the program Heavyweights on Sunday, 13 August 2006. Your letter has been referred to me for reply.
While we appreciate the point you are making about use of mobile phones and silent ring tones the issue of control of the use of mobile phones by children and teenagers is primarily a parental matter. For example, it is possible to block access to premium charge telephone services through the relevant telecommunications company.
Thank you for taking the time to contact the network to express your opinion. Letters such as yours provide valuable feedback into community attitudes and concerns.
Complaints about the content of advertisements are the responsibility of the Advertising Standards Bureau (ASB) and we have forwarded your letter to them for their response.
Yours Sincerely
XXXXXXXX
I am glad they finally responded, but I feel they missed my point entirely. I am not concerned that they are targeting mobile ring tones at kids; advertisers always try and suck kids into getting their parents to buy things. For me the problem is they are promoting secrecy in children, to hide their actions and acquaintances from their parents and teachers. In a time such as now where every day there are stories of predators using the net and mobiles to lure children into dangerous situations I think it is reckless for any company to be saying "you cool dudes, it's so ace if you hide your actions from your parents". What kind of attitudes so they really think they are propelling? Arg I can't even articulate what I am trying to say anymore, I'm just so appalled by any marketing team coming up with the idea of hiding things from your parents. If ANY child goes on to think it's ok to hide their phone activities form their parents and end up hurt I hope channel 7 reflect on it. It’s not the money. Man $6 is not that much compared to my children's safety. Raising children to be honest and open id hard enough without TV telling them it would be cool to hide things from me.
I don't know you have seen an ad that channel 7 run during children's programming. It's an ad for a silent mobile phone ring tone and the selling point is "kids, fool your teachers and parents with this silent ring tone". I was really upset when I was watching TV with my 6-year-old son and that ad came on. My son does have a mobile (because the stupid school bus never drops him at the same spot and I need to know where he is!) but luckily he didn't seem remotely interested in the product. None the less I was not impressed - so I wrote a letter.
Today I received a letter saying:
Dear Mrs XXXXXXX
Thank you for your letter of 14 August 2006, in relation to an advertisement for Silent Ring Tones broadcast during the program Heavyweights on Sunday, 13 August 2006. Your letter has been referred to me for reply.
While we appreciate the point you are making about use of mobile phones and silent ring tones the issue of control of the use of mobile phones by children and teenagers is primarily a parental matter. For example, it is possible to block access to premium charge telephone services through the relevant telecommunications company.
Thank you for taking the time to contact the network to express your opinion. Letters such as yours provide valuable feedback into community attitudes and concerns.
Yours Sincerely
XXXXXXXX
I am glad they finally responded, but I feel they missed my point entirely. I am not concerned that they are targeting mobile ring tones at kids; advertisers always try and suck kids into getting their parents to buy things. For me the problem is they are promoting secrecy in children, to hide their actions and acquaintances from their parents and teachers. In a time such as now where every day there are stories of predators using the net and mobiles to lure children into dangerous situations I think it is reckless for any company to be saying "you cool dudes, it's so ace if you hide your actions from your parents". What kind of attitudes so they really think they are propelling? Arg I can't even articulate what I am trying to say anymore, I'm just so appalled by any marketing team coming up with the idea of hiding things from your parents. If ANY child goes on to think it's ok to hide their phone activities form their parents and end up hurt I hope channel 7 reflect on it. It’s not the money. Man $6 is not that much compared to my children's safety. Raising children to be honest and open id hard enough without TV telling them it would be cool to hide things from me.
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Comment by Damo
Unfortunately it is revenue to channel 7 and they have a whole PR department to justify anything.
I still remember the reply my mother got from Derrin Hinch when he was on TV. Can't remember the issue but the reply I can. It basically went like this.
Dear Mrs...
Read you letter and we disagree with you because I'm Hinch and that's about it.
Thanks
The Hinch Show.
Comment by Johanna
PCOS Mum
Comment by Jimbo
As to the relation of children, it is an issue, but rather a minor one in my opinion. The main aim of this ringtone was that children could receive sms', and phone calls during class and other such contexts. I understand your point about the promotion of secrecy amongst children, but it is an unfortunately inevitable problem amongst children. The respondent from Channel 7 had a point - it is really only an issue that can be decided upon by parents. They must take charge - don't give kids too much freedom with their mobile phones, check their bills regularly, and definitely make sure that they don't sign up to any such "Ringtone King" etc deals - they are financial deathtraps and the companies behind them have no regard for the financial problems of families and individuals everywhere. The only thing that Channel 7 can do is adjust the scheduled airing of the ad so that it doesn't appear during child-targeted hours. Of course, the ideal thing would be to pull the ad altogether, but that isn't realistically going to happen - the ad itself breaks no broadcasting laws, and so in the end it comes down to the financial interests of Channel 7.
Comment by Nina
And good on you for being a letter writer - its important to make your feelings heard.
Comment by MelissaA
Fun Facts
I've heard from a number of people 2 different things about this ringtone.1, that a lot of the kids who can hear it think it's an awful sound and don't really want to hear it themselves, and 2, some of the teachers are young enough that they actually can hear it anyway when it goes off in class and then they get busted.
I know we're still left with the original problem, but as the TV stations only care about the money, I think the best thing to hope for is that the novelty soon passes and everyone forgets all about it. But it is a sad state of affairs when the mighty dollar drives everything these days and there's not much room to move in what is more of a decent or moral direction.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Sisi
Comment by Peter Hartley
As an Essendon supporter of over 30 years, I am disgusted and appalled about the 2 hour delay of the Essendon v Sydney game on the 19/05/08. When Channel 9 was broadcasting the football there was never such delays for Sunday games. With Sydney being formally South Melbourne and with Essendon having over 40,000 members, this delay was ridiculous to say the least.
I hope the bid for the right to broadcast the football soon returns to the hands of Channel 9, as they show respect to the football fans and television audience.
Pissed off member of Essendon football club, Peter M Hartley.
Comment by Anonymous
Where are your standards????