Channel Ten attacked over junk food ads

Advertisers of unhealthy foods make Network Ten their first choice, according to research published today by consumer watchdog Choice.

The report Food Advertising to Children: Who's The Biggest Loser? suggested that Ten carried 41% of the 755 junk food ads aired during the week last April that the group monitored. Nine had 37% and Seven 23%.

The definition of junk food was taken from criteria set out by Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

The show which saw the most ads of that type was Ten's McDonald's-sponsored So You Think You Can Dance, with 23 ads of the type across two episodes. However, despite the title of the report, Ten's show The Biggest Loser only contained one junk food ad.

A spokesman for Ten told today's Sydney's Sun-Herald newspaper that the report contained fundamental flaws including a too-small sample size.

17th November 2008 - CHANNEL TEN TO LAUNCH 24-HOUR SPORTS CHANNEL