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ERA UK Chapter – Affiliate of ERA EUROPE

ERA EUROPE acquired in June 2005 the BRITISH TELEVISION SHOPPING ASSOCIATION which become ERA UK, the British chapter and affiliate of the Electronic Retailing Association, Europe.

Founded in 2002 , the British Television Shopping Association had been established to officially represent the Television Shopping Industry in relation with the ITC and the AA. After its creation in November 2003, in the OFCOM delegation articles of OFCOM to ASA, it was recommended that ASA (B) BCAP, the Official Advertising Self Regulation Institution in the UK, liaise with BTSA regarding Teleshopping matters. This was the backbone of the BTSA activities during the period 2002-2005. After the affiliation in ERA EUROPE, this close relationship has continued, with an extended scope, benefiting from the coordination of the Teleshopping Industry Self Regulation efforts all over Europe, as part of the industry positioning and relations in the EU institutions (EU Commission and Parliament). ERA UK is now on the Board of  BCAP and actively participates in the revision of the British Advertising Standards.

ERA UK leadership

Continuity with the BTSA mission, and integration in the ERA EUROPE agenda and priorities, are provided by the ex-officio presence on the ERA EUROPE Board of directors of the ERA UK Chairman, currently Mike Wells (Director Dolphin TV Ltd) - Elected Chairman of ERA UK in June 2008. The ERA UK Executive Committee comprises: Richard Whinfrey – Founder & Director The Maverick Consultancy | John Bramm – CEO – TVShopping Ltd. | The Secretary of ERA UK is Hugh Geach, industry-renowned expert on compliance, representing ERA UK in British Self Regulation institutions.

This group of high level UK-based volunteers has been actively involved in the building of ERA EUROPE Self Regulation Programme, and in the drafting and representation of ERA EUROPE/ERA UK positions, in the current consultation conducted by OFCOM prior to the implementation of the new Audiovisual Media Services Directive voted in December 2007.

Membership and ERA UK By-Laws.

• Members of ERA EUROPE operating in the United Kingdom are automatically members of ERA UK.
• Members of ERA UK pay one annual dues to ERA EUROPE -ERA UK – see ERA UK Chapter Dues Schedule
• Members of ERA UK enjoy all ERA EUROPE and ERA membership benefits, publications, and special rates at ERA Conferences worldwide.
• They benefit from a single and united institutional representation in the United Kingdom, dealing and dialoging with ASA(B) BCAP, the OFCOM, the Advertising Association and all other relevant British institutions, such as the DCMS, and British members of the European Parliament.

ERA UK/ERA EUROPE by-laws and membership compliance includes the obligation of signing into the ERA EUROPE Self Regulation programme, which includes all British provisions for compliance. Following the ERA Europe Marketing Guidelines is a commitment to compliance with the British Codes of Advertising applicable to the Teleshopping Industry.

The BTSA / ERA UK Self regulation programme, has been heralded as an exemplary effort by the Advertising Association, and in public speeches, by the ASA leadership.

To Join ERA UK, download the  ERA UK Membership Application