Ford v Freeview

FORD Australia is reportedly angry that TV commercials for Freeview – the new digital free-to-air platform – are too similar to an upcoming ad for the Fiesta.

According to advertising industry magazine AdNews, Ford general manager of marketing Kevin Little is asking Freeview to alter the commercials or pull the ads altogether, and is considering pulling Ford's advertising from free-to-air television.

Both ads depict a series of television sets grouped together, moving through an animated landscape.

The Ford ad was made in London and began screening in Europe two months ago, while the Sydney-made Freeview ad began screening around Australia last week.

“If anyone should have exclusive rights to use this form of visual imagery it would be the broadcasters, not a car company,” said Freeview in a statement.