Ad watchdog raps NTL and Orange

NTL has again fallen foul of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which has now upheld complaints running into double figures against the cable firm this year.

Claims that NTL's digital service gave users access to "some of the world's best internet sites for free" angered customers, who discovered that this meant home shopping or advertising walled websites and not access to the world wide web as they had thought.

In all, only 60 websites can be accessed through NTL digital TV and only then in certain areas. NTL was also told to restrict its advertising to those areas where users could access the services offered.

An ASA spokeswoman said: "We will be discussing NTL's poor compliance record and be looking for signs that it is taking appropriate action."

The advertising watchdog has now advised NTL to submit future ads for vetting prior to publication. It could refer NTL to the Office of Fair Trading.

Meanwhile, Orange was criticised for not adjusting ads claiming that its network could transfer data three times quicker than its rivals.

The ASA pointed out that this was no longer true once Vodafone's GPRS network was launched, which occurred during Orange's campaign, and that the ads should have been changed. That Orange's network used different technology was no defence, the body ruled.

However, it was only Orange's second offence within the last year and the telco will not have to have its ads vetted.