BBC Banned TomTom Exclusive Stocks Available At Halfords, While Stocks Last

Halfords spokesman said: "We are disappointed with the decision by the BBC on behalf of our customers who told us they loved the product. It was proving hugely popular"

"While we have plenty of stock at the moment we will not be able to replace them when they are gone, so the strident tones of Mr Clarkson will be appearing in Halfords for a limited time only and after that he will be silenced, at least on a sat nav "

Featuring TomTom’s congestion-busting HD Traffic technology, the new satnav will steer drivers through traffic jams and is packed with Top Gear features including start-up and shut-down screens and car icons. Drivers can choose to have The Stig mode, which renders the device instantly silent, or select Jeremy Clarkson’s voice to guide them.

At £179, the TomTom GO LIVE Top Gear edition includes one year of TomTom’s LIVE Services for free. The flagship service is TomTom HD Traffic, which delivers dynamic routing and accurate traffic information every two minutes. HD Traffic gives drivers detailed incident reports, length of delays and reason for them, accurate travel and arrival times and alternative route proposals.

The LIVE Services bundle also includes the Speed Cameras service, providing mobile and fixed speed camera alerts, while TomTom Places local search helps to pinpoint shops and businesses in the area. QuickGPSfix gets you navigating in seconds and TomTom Weather gives local and five-day forecasts.

Available exclusively at Halfords in the UK, more information on the TomTom GO LIVE Top Gear edition at www.halfords.com

Notes to Editors:
BBC Worldwide, the corporation’s commercial arm, said last month that it was in talks with TomTom, Europe’s largest satnav maker, to market a device that would allow drivers the chance to take directions from Clarkson.

But Worldwide, which markets the BBC’s programmes and brands around the world, has been forced to ditch the agreement after being told by the corporation’s editorial policy advisers that Clarkson’s role on the motoring show meant that he was not allowed to endorse car-related products.

By the time the problem was raised TomTom had already produced 54,000 satnavs worldwide.

TomTom is understood to have approached Worldwide, which had revenues of £1.2  billion last year, earlier in the summer, with the satnav proposal.

A senior BBC executive said there had been a “monumental cock-up” by the corporation’s commercial arm, which had failed to check with the editorial policy team before allowing the satnav company to begin manufacturing the devices.

Under the conflict of interest section of the BBC’s editorial guidelines, presenters “must take particular care not to endorse any product or service which could be covered in the programmes on which they work”.

So great was the rush to get the product ready for the Christmas market that Worldwide allowed TomTom to begin delivering it to stores before the agreement had been finalised.

A spokesman for BBC Worldwide said: “In order to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest in the minds of viewers, BBC Worldwide and TomTom have agreed that all monies that would have been due to BBC Worldwide will be paid to BBC Children in Need together with an additional charitable donation by TomTom.’’

Clarkson, who played no part in setting up the deal, will not receive any money from the sale of the 54,000 devices.

For more information contact:
Louise Iles
Halfords
t: 01527 513206
m: 07921 107362
f: 01527 504780
e: Louise.Iles@halfords.co.uk

The Group is the UK’s leading retailer of automotive, leisure and cycling products and through Halfords Autocentres is also the UK’s leading independent car servicing and repair operator.

Halfords employs approximately 11,000 staff and sells over 12,000 different product lines with significant ranges in car parts, cycles, in-car technology, child seats, roof boxes, outdoor leisure and camping equipment. Halfords own brands include the in-store Bikehut department, for cycles and cycling accessories, Apollo and Carrera cycles and exclusive UK distribution rights of the premium ranged Boardman cycles and accessories. In outdoor leisure, we sell a premium range of camping equipment, branded URBAN Escape. Halfords offers customers expert advice and a fitting service called "wefit" for car parts, child seats, satellite navigation and in-car entertainment systems, and a “werepair” service for cycles.

Halfords customers shop at 462 stores in the UK and ROI and at Halfords.com for direct home delivery or pick-up at their local store. Halfords Autocentres operates from 227 sites nationally and offers motorists dealership quality MOTs, repairs and car servicing at more affordable prices.

Contact Information

Louise Iles

PR Manager

Halfords

Contact via E-mail