Important Information - Marketing Blackout

[UKaffiliates]

Got this email today from Kindred. Thoughts anyone?

Important Information - Marketing Blackout

Dear Affiliate,

As you will no doubt be aware, the funeral for the Duke of Edinburgh is taking place on Saturday 17th April. In respect of this, and following other major sporting organisations, we will be instigating a marketing "blackout" for the duration of the funeral proceedings (2.45pm-4.15pm).

Many sporting bodies have also agreed to postpone their events, such as the Irish Grand National, Formula 1 Qualifying and Premier League fixture Wolves vs Sheffield United (to name but a few). At Kindred, we felt it was necessary to follow their lead and enforce a marketing "blackout" for our brands.

We would ask that, as a partner of our Affiliate program, you also do the same for the period of 2.45pm-4.15pm on 17th April. We are not asking you to remove our offers or content from your site, but simply ask that for this 90 minute window, you do not actively push any marketing communication related to Kindred's brands.

Kind Regards,
Your Kindred Affiliates Team

[rmeeuwsen]

What an odd request. I guess that means they want you to stop paid media ads and observe a “moment of silence for 90 minutes”. If you are a Prince apparently you deserve more than a mere minute.

Out of respect they would like you cease your money grubbing attempts for an hour and a half.

How touching.

Maybe they should also lower their flags to ¼ rather than half-mast.

Consider it done!

[tufty]

It's mad but it is from the UK authorities. All the UK firms have sent out emails including Bet365, William Hill, Betvictor etc. All TV gambling ads are banned for that timeframe. This is the one from Bet365, that gives a better explanation:

"As you’ll no doubt be aware, the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral takes place on Saturday, and following discussions with DCMS, sporting bodies have agreed as a mark of respect to move sporting fixtures so that they are not taking place between 2.45pm and 4.15pm. In line with this, no gambling advertising will be shown on TV between those times, and we’re looking to also ensure that any proactive marketing is also suspended on digital platforms. Could you therefore please ensure that you’re not running any PPC campaigns between those times, and that anything else that would be classed as proactive marketing of bet365 is held back? We’re not looking for you to pull all references to bet365 wherever they appear, but it’s just a case of making sure you don’t run any advertising that’s specifically allocated to those timeslots."

[Sherlock]

Should I kneel down as well?

[gil.langelaan]

Interesting.
Did they send it to all affiliates or only UK based?


But overall that's a tragic moment for UK history and Duke of Edinburgh deserves an attention in his last time.

[Sherlock]

I do not see anything tragic when 100 years old guy dies. Tragic moment is the theatre around. I do not give a f about some monarch from different country. Sorry I do not and I never will. Few days ago I took a shovel and buried a stray cat killed by car. That moved me. Are the eshops with pet food taking down banners during the cat funeral and my mourning?

Truly tragic moment is to force other people to take part of something they do not want to. Even more tragic moment is when the ones who force the others are not even aware what they are doing.

Thank god I got nothing from any affiliate program. Which is even more bizzare. Only Uk affiliates lose the revenue and international ones can show the ads. Maybe we should change the 18+ disclaimer for the 2 hours: "Sorry we are not taking down the gambling banners even during that tragic funeral, because we are the international affiliates. You can keep destroying your life with gambing habits. Terms and conditions apply. We feel your pity, but not that much. If you want to see a disabled banner during funeral and the real sincerity visit tuftysite.co.uk."

[rmeeuwsen]

In the US there is an expression “always a bridesmaid, but never a bride”. But in this case I guess it would be “always a prince, but never a king”. How unfulfilling it must have been.

However, there must be many other ways that they could show respect for the prince.

Maybe everyone could shave their heads. But they do have that odd custom about wearing powdered wigs. And then there's the “House of Commons” and the “House of Lords” thing.

With such a solemn occasion I think the best thing that could be done is for all commoners to shave their heads. All the elite should wear 1 powdered wig out of respect for a highborn, and because he was the prince, they should plop 1 more wig on top of that one.

This is such a sad occasion. But they have had almost a hundred years to figure out what to do when this situation occurred. Since the British like regulation (and over-regulation, such as with gambling) I assume that there was already a publicly funded commission formed to study the matter.

I fear what may happen when, God forbid, the Queen passes. But, It probably should have something to do with gloved hands, multi-colored dresses and Tiaras.

[Pokerface]

Indeed it was a strange request however more likely like a poor PR attempt for some strange reason.

[baldidiot]

Indeed it was a strange request however more likely like a poor PR attempt for some strange reason.

As far as I'm aware it was a BCG rule, so all associated bookies were supposed to comply with it.

[Mattbar]

As far as I'm aware it was a BCG rule, so all associated bookies were supposed to comply with it.

Yeah, same as the safer gambling week last year, none of them wanted to do it but they kowtow to what the BGC say.

Wait until the Queen dies, they will probably stop marketing for a week.

[Nenad]

Very odd request from them. What's the goal of it?

[baldidiot]

In the old days Paddy would have been offering odds on the colour of the queens hat. Or what wood the coffin was made out of.

[Mattbar]

Very odd request from them. What's the goal of it?

The BGC are petrified about the new gambling legislation due in the UK and they are trying to make themselves look like a lovely responsible, caring bunch of companies. Sucking up to the teacher basically.

[Nenad]

I can agree with that!

The BGC are petrified about the new gambling legislation due in the UK and they are trying to make themselves look like a lovely responsible, caring bunch of companies. Sucking up to the teacher basically.

[Mattbar]

Flutter have also now said there is going to be another social marketing blackout from end of Friday to Monday:

Please see Flutter group statement regarding the upcoming social media boycott in relation to the Kick Racism Out of Football campaign:

“We fully support the decision of football to take a stand against racist abuse online, and indeed anywhere. Our UK facing brands within the Flutter Group are all supporting the boycott with a commitment to not post any football related content during the boycott.”

We’re asking our partners to do the same and not promote any Paddy Power or Betfair content (links, sign up offers, existing customers promotions & other) on social media during this period - 3pm Friday April 30^th to 11.59pm Monday May 3^rd.

I'm guessing the other BGC members will follow suit.

[baldidiot]

I'm guessing the other BGC members will follow suit.

You guessed correctly:

Dear Affiliate,

BetVictor and Parimatch will be joining the wider football family, including our partners Fulham FC, Leicester and Everton, in the social media blackout this weekend to stand up against online hate speech.

You won’t see any social media posts from us between 3pm on Friday April 30th and 11:59 Monday May 3rd .

We ask that you stand in solidarity with us, and do not post BetVictor or Parimatch content over this period on your own social media channels.

Any questions please get in touch.


Regards,

BetVictor Affiliates

[Sherlock]

I got the email from WH. They say would close my account. Which is what they defacto did.

I keep missing the news. I thought they are still burying the corpse of the aristocrat and did not pay attention. So no, this time it is a fight against racism. So I can keep kneeling down.

Some kneeldown.app would be handy. Or at least Telegram reminders. I imagine, every day I wake up, switch on my phone and I immediatelly know why I can not work for the good of the world.

But seriously. There are The Real Reasons why is this happening. People working offline are disadvantaged with lockdowns. We need also online lockdowns. This is a solidarity with them.

[tufty]

WH . . . say would close my account.

Yes I got that. Moral high ground from a bunch of dishonest bookies, now that is funny.