ITV Launches Discount Finding Extension; UK to Ban Junk Food Ads Online; The Hague Bans Fossil Fuel Ads

Today’s news: ITV Launches Discount Finding Extension; UK to Ban Junk Food Ads; The Hague Bans Fossil Fuel Ads 

ITV has launched ITV Kerching, a new customer-facing affiliate marketing brand which aims to save online shoppers money. It’s a browser extension, available from the ITVX website as well as its mobile app. The extension “simplifies the process of finding discount codes across hundreds of online retailers.” It harnesses tech from Kindred to search for discount codes from retailers; ITV is also investing up to £8.5m of advertising inventory in exchange for a minority equity stake in the company.  

While ITV broadens its horizons, junk food ads are soon to see their days in the UK. As part of a push to improve public health, the government has introduced new legislation regulating the industry which will come into effect from October 2025. Online ads for junk food products will be fully banned, while TV ads will be banned from airing before 9pm. Products high in fat, salt and sugar will fall under the category of junk food. While in power previously, the Conservative government had pledged to introduce the TV watershed ban from January 2023. However, Rishi Sunak U-turned on the plan just a month before it was due to be implemented. Before this, Boris Johnson had also put off the measure. 

Dutch city The Hague is also implementing a ban for certain types of ads: from January 2025, ads promoting fossil fuel products and services will be prohibited in the city. This marks the first time a city has banned high-carbon ads via local legislation. The ban, however, does not prohibit ads promoting general brands which may be damaging to the environment. Political advertising by the fossil fuel industry will also still be allowed. 

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