Commercial Leaves Kids Too Scared to Watch TV

Wed Mar 16, 9:41 AM ET Oddly Enough - Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - A Marmite commercial that parodied 1950's science fiction film "The Blob" has been banned from all children's' programs in Britain after leaving kids too scared to watch television, the advertising watchdog said.

Two Marmite adverts featured a giant brown blob rolling along a crowded street, terrifying some people who tried to flee while others ran toward it with delight.

The ad ended with Marmite's slogan: "You either love it or hate it."

Six people complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that their toddlers had been terrified by the adverts, with four refusing to watch television after seeing them and two suffering nightmares.

Unilever Bestfoods, makers of the dark brown savory spread, argued against imposing a tougher "ex-kids restriction" as broadcasters were likely not to show it during general programs such as "Pop Idol," which attracted younger viewers.

But the ASA said the complaints were strong enough to ban the advert from all children's programming.

"We accepted that the advertisements' effect on young children would have been hard to anticipate," it added. "However, it was clear from the complaints we received that they had caused distress to very young children."

Steve McQueen always was a scary bastard...

Marmite.

It's a yeast extract that is a by-product of brewing beer. Burton-on-Trent breweries actually pay the makers of Marmite to come and remove it from their vats. The Marmite company then puts it into bottles and sells it. They get paid twice!

Love the stuff, much better than that Aussie crap Vegemite.

Marmite.

It's a yeast extract that is a by-product of brewing beer. Burton-on-Trent breweries actually pay the makers of Marmite to come and remove it from their vats. The Marmite company then puts it into bottles and sells it. They get paid twice!

Love the stuff, much better than that Aussie crap Vegemite.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Totally agree with the vegimite statement!

As for where it came from I thought it was made from vegatables, seeing as it says 'vegatable Extract' on the jar!

A by product of beer! No wonder I love it!

Incredible

When I was a kid I used to hide behind the couch when the daleks were on dr who!

I suppose becuase of that reruns of dr who should be off air too

Commercial Leaves Kids Too Scared to Watch TV

Wed Mar 16, 9:41 AM ET  Oddly Enough - Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - A Marmite commercial that parodied 1950's science fiction film "The Blob" has been banned from all children's' programs in Britain after leaving kids too scared to watch television, the advertising watchdog said.

Two Marmite adverts featured a giant brown blob rolling along a crowded street, terrifying some people who tried to flee while others ran toward it with delight.

The ad ended with Marmite's slogan: "You either love it or hate it."

Six people complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that their toddlers had been terrified by the adverts, with four refusing to watch television after seeing them and two suffering nightmares.

Unilever Bestfoods, makers of the dark brown savory spread, argued against imposing a tougher "ex-kids restriction" as broadcasters were likely not to show it during general programs such as "Pop Idol," which attracted younger viewers.

But the ASA said the complaints were strong enough to ban the advert from all children's programming.

"We accepted that the advertisements' effect on young children would have been hard to anticipate," it added. "However, it was clear from the complaints we received that they had caused distress to very young children."

   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It was the cybermen that scared the crap out of me, with the Yetis in the London Underground coming a close second.