A 'promotion' currently on high rotation at ABC television announces:

" ABC Films now brings Thomas the Tank Engine to the big screen …….In cinemas December 14."

The film, "Thomas and the Magic Railroad" , stars Hollywood actors Peter Fonda and Alec Baldwin, but the 'promotion' does not disclose any Australian connection with the film apart from the fact that it is said to be brought to the big screen by "ABC Films".

Friends of the ABC national spokesperson, Darce Cassidy said:

"This looks like an advertisement. It sounds like an advertisement. It appears that this film is being released in commercial cinemas, and the ABC will receive a financial benefit. On the face of it this is an advertisement in breach of the ABC Act.

"It may be that this film will eventually end up on ABC Television, well after its commercial cinema release, as other commercial films have done. In the meantime it appears that the ABC is advertising a commercially available product, in competition with other films of a similar nature."

"Is this film a genuine ABC production, or is it a marketing ploy, a version of 'badge engineering' whereby the ABC gets paid to put its name on someone else's product, and then advertise it?

"Section 31 of the ABC Act prohibits the ABC from broadcasting advertisements. Section 8 of the Act requires the ABC Board to ensure that the ABC does not contravene the Act. The Board must therefore take this advertisement off the air immediately."

……..ends

Contact: Darce Cassidy, National Spokesperson, Friends of the ABC
0412 685 178