Newstalk ad leaves ASAI on horns of a dilemma

Complaints against a “vulgar” poster campaign by Newstalk has been upheld by the advertising standards watchdog.

The complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) referred to an outdoor poster campaign carried by the station which featured a background picture of a radio speaker and the caption: “Take the bullshitters by the horns.”

The advert encouraged listeners to “move the dial” and listen to its breakfast show hosted by Ivan Yates and Chris Donoghue. The complaints to the ASAI considered that the language used in the advertising was “coarse, vulgar, and offensive”.