The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers (ISBA) and the Data and Marketing Association (DMA) have responded to the the Queen’s speech yesterday addressing the government’s legislative agenda for next year.
According to ISBA director general Phil Smith, the speech indicates “enormous change for the advertising sector”.
He believes that changes to the UK’s data regime and measures on digital competition will have “far-reaching consequences”.
“When seen alongside the continuation of the Online Safety Bill and the progress of the Online Advertising Programme, we are facing government action on multiple fronts which will shape our industry for years to come. We call on Ministers to listen carefully to businesses and trade bodies so that these reforms are fit for the future.”
READ MORE: ISBA launches consultation with UK advertisers for Origin programme
The ISBA representative also aired the society’s distaste towards the announcement that Ministers still intend to proceed with the privatisation of Channel 4.
He said: “Channel 4’s unique remit provides UK advertisers, which fund the broadcaster through advertising revenue, with highly valued, younger and diverse audiences. Channel 4 also supports the UK’s world-leading creative sector, on which local advertising production depends.”
“No new owner, with a purely commercial incentive, could be guaranteed to maintain all the facets of the current offering, which contributes so significantly to media plurality and diversity in the UK.”
“Channel 4 have set out their own proposals to turbocharge their existing remit, securing the distinctive programming for which they have become known while driving up investment in people and communities outside London. Ministers should think again about pressing ahead with a sale that commands neither wide parliamentary, nor public, support.”
However, the CEO of DMA Chris Combemale also voiced his concerns regarding data protection reforms and how it will affect the industry.
“The data, marketing and creative industries remain in limbo, unsure of what form the UK’s data protection reforms will take.”
“Data-driven innovation can still deliver further growth across the digital economy, without compromising the UK’s data adequacy status or current privacy protections, but the government must move forward urgently and publish the results of the ‘Data: A new direction’ consultation and the text of the legislative reforms.”
“Our industry welcomed many of the proposals put forward in the consultation that have a direct impact on building successful customer relationships and public trust, primarily through further legislative clarity and industry transparency.”
Click here to sign up to Marketing Beat’s free daily email newsletter
