Frequently Asked Questions

ClearAds is Australia’s trusted advertising compliance and classification service. We review advertisements across all media platforms – television, radio, digital, social media, cinema, and out-of-home – to ensure they meet Australian regulatory requirements before publication. Operating since 1998, we’re a part of Free TV Australia and work with advertisers, agencies, and media outlets to maintain high standards in Australian advertising.

ClearAds provides:

– Television commercial classification – review and classification for all TVCs and infomercials broadcast on Australian commercial free-to-air networks

– Prechecks – early-stage feedback on scripts, storyboards, and concepts before production

– Consulting services – bespoke compliance guidance on complex regulatory matters

– Training and education – webinars and bespoke training on advertising compliance

All television commercials and infomercials broadcast on commercial free-to-air networks in Australia must be classified before they can air, in accordance with the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice. ClearAds is the designated classification service for this purpose. For other advertising (digital, radio, print, etc.), ClearAds provides expert compliance review to help you avoid costly regulatory breaches and ensure your campaigns meet all relevant advertising codes and regulations.

ClearAds has been operating since 1998 and is a part of Free TV Australia. Our team has deep expertise in Australian advertising regulation and compliance.

You can reach us at:

– Email: hello@clearads.com.au

– Phone: (02) 8968 7200

– Business hours: 9am – 5:30pm AEDT (Sydney time)

Oasis is our online application system. To register:

1. Go to oasis.clearads.com.au
2. Click ‘Register’
3. Search for your organisation – if it doesn’t appear, you’ll need to register your organisation first
4. Complete your details and accept the Terms and Conditions

Once registered, you’ll have immediate access to submit applications, view job history, and download the ClearAds Handbook.

Any user creations need to be linked to an agency. You can, therefore, either register as a user under an existing agency or, you will need to register an agency in our system.

If you work with multiple agencies, you’ll need separate login details for each (with different email addresses), or you can register yourself as an agency and submit all applications from one account.

Yes! You can register as many people from your agency as needed. Each person will have their own login credentials, and all applications will be visible to everyone registered under your agency account.

If you are unsure who your agency administrator is, contact us at hello@clearads.com.au to find out. They will either need to follow the link sent to them to confirm your user registration or email us directly to authorise and ClearAds can link you to the agency internally.

The ClearAds Handbook is available to download once you’re logged into Oasis. You’ll see a download button at the top of the page. The Handbook contains comprehensive information about classification requirements, substantiation guidelines, and submission best practices.

All applications must be submitted through Oasis, our online application system. Simply log in, select the appropriate service (TVC Classification, Precheck or Multiplatform), and follow the prompts to upload your materials and complete the application form.

A key number is a unique identifier for each advertisement, similar to a serial number. It allows ClearAds, networks, and booking agencies to track and reference your ad throughout its lifecycle.

Key numbers should be:

– Up to 13 alphanumeric characters

– No spaces, underscores, dashes, or special characters

– Unique to each advertisement

You create the key number when submitting your application.

Requirements vary by service type, but generally include:

– Vision file (MP4, MXF, or MPEG format – we cannot accept MOV files)

– Vision script – a two-column document showing audio (voiceover, music, sounds) in the left column and visual descriptions (including on-screen text and disclaimers) in the right column

– Supporting documentation – substantiation for claims, ARTG certificates (for therapeutic goods), testimonial documentation, etc.

Specific requirements for each service type are outlined in the application form and the ClearAds Handbook.

Yes! You can submit multiple key numbers on a single application by dragging and dropping additional vision files or using the ‘Add Key Numbers’ button. However, if some ads require faster turnaround than others, we strongly recommend submitting them as separate applications so you can select the appropriate Fast Track service for urgent keys.

If you don’t require a Purchase Order Number, simply enter ‘N/A’ in the PO Number field – this field cannot be left blank but it’s fine if you don’t have one.

If you require a PO number to be added to your invoice after your application has been submitted, please send that invoice through to hello@clearads.com.au once it has been generated and we can edit and add this for you.

Yes! When submitting your application, you can add email addresses for colleagues or clients who should receive correspondence about the job. You can include as many people as needed.

ClearAds operates in AEDT (Sydney time), Monday to Friday, 9am – 5:30pm. If you submit an application outside these hours or outside of the specified window for our fast track services, the review time will commence from 9am the next business day. If you need after-hours processing, contact us about our After Hours services.

Standard turnaround times are:

– Television commercials: 2 business days

– Prechecks: 2 business days

– Infomercials: 28 business days

Fast Track services are available if you need faster turnaround. Processing times begin from when a complete application with all required materials is received.

We offer several Fast Track options for urgent applications:

– Pronto: 30 minute turnaround

– Express: 1 hour turnaround

– Red Hot: 3 hour turnaround

– Priority: 24 hour turnaround

For our same-day fast track services to apply, jobs must be submitted within the specified timeframe indicated in the application process. Jobs submitted outside of this timeframe will be reviewed from 9am the next business day.

Fees vary by service type and whether your ad is Simple or Complex. Visit our Rates for full pricing details.

All fees are available on our Rates page. Our website’s ChatBot can also provide cost estimates! If you’re unsure which service level is right for you, call us on (02) 8968 7200.

The complexity of the ad affects pricing. A detailed breakdown of Simple vs. Complex submissions is available in the ClearAds Handbook. Generally, Complex submissions involve therapeutic goods, financial services, gaming/wagering, political content, or require detailed substantiation review.

– National/Metro fees apply to campaigns broadcast nationally or in metropolitan markets (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth)

– Regional fees apply to campaigns broadcast solely in regional markets (e.g. Canberra only)

If even one TVC in your campaign airs in a metro area, National/Metro fees apply to all versions.

Yes! To upgrade your application:

1. Call (02) 8968 7200 immediately
2. Email hello@clearads.com.au to confirm in writing

Both steps are required – calling ensures immediate action, while the email provides written confirmation of the upgrade request.

Log into Oasis and use the search function to find your application by Advertiser name, Key Number, or Job Reference Number. Once you’ve opened your job, the status will be displayed at the top of the screen. You can also respond to any comments or requirements we’ve added to your application.

If you’re registered under an agency, you’ll automatically see all applications for that agency in the My Jobs Dashboard in Oasis when you log in. All approved jobs should be in the ‘Classified and Closed’ folder.

Substantiation is evidence that supports claims made in your advertisement. Australian Consumer Law requires advertising to be truthful and not misleading. When your ad contains claims or representations (e.g. “Australia’s best-selling,” “clinically proven,” “9 out of 10 dentists recommend”), we may ask you to provide adequate evidence to support those statements. This could include research data, test results, sales figures, or expert opinions. More information is available in the Substantiation section of the ClearAds Handbook.

You can either re-supply the substantiation or reference the original key number and ClearAds number on your new application. We’ll review the previous substantiation for currency and relevance to determine if it’s still applicable.

Submit a new application referencing the original key number. To help ensure your ad receives the rating you need, we recommend submitting a precheck application indicating the classification you’re after and we can make suggestions on how to amend your ad to achieve this rating. Note that achieving a lower rating may require amendments to your ad.

No – any revision to an approved ad requires a new ClearAds number. Depending on the extent of the changes, we can process this as either a Revision or Minor Revision, which may be eligible for a reduced fee.

A precheck allows you to submit scripts, storyboards, concepts, or offline edits before final production to get early feedback on likely classification and compliance requirements. This helps you identify and address potential issues before investing in full production.

Prechecks help you:

– Identify compliance issues early in the production process

– Avoid costly re-shoots or edits after production

– Plan for the correct time zone placement and rating

– Receive a 50% discount on your final application fee

No. Prechecks provide feedback and guidance only. You’ll receive a Job Reference Number for your records, but a ClearAds number is only issued when the final advertisement is approved.

Yes. Since our feedback is specific to the particular script reviewed, we recommend submitting revised scripts as a new precheck application, referencing your original precheck, to ensure you receive accurate guidance.

When submitting your final application in Oasis, you’ll be prompted to enter the Job Reference Number from your precheck. This automatically applies the 50% discount. The discount applies per key number – if you prechecked 2 key numbers, you can use the discount for 2 key numbers on your final application.

A ClearAds number is the unique reference issued when your advertisement is approved. It confirms that your ad has been classified and reviewed for compliance. Networks require this number before airing any commercial.

Most ClearAds numbers are valid for 2 years from the date of issue.

Exception: ClearAds numbers issued for Government or Statutory Authority advertisements expire after 3 months but can be extended for additional 3-month periods up to the full 2 years if no changes have been made to the commercial. To extend, post a comment on your job or email hello@clearads.com.au.

Submit the ad in a new application through Oasis. If you’d like to reuse the existing key number, Contact Us first.

The first letter indicates the placement code for your ad. This placement code tells networks which time zones the commercial can be broadcast in according to the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice. All the placement codes and their restrictions can be found in the ClearAds Handbook.

Yes. All approved ads receive their own ClearAds number.

Yes! Our Therapeutic Goods Review (TGR) service provides expert compliance review for therapeutic goods advertising across all media platforms – television, radio, print, digital, social media, and more. This service includes classification for TVCs and ensures your advertising complies with the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (TGAC). Learn more about TGR services.

Yes! With new regulatory requirements for cosmetic injectables advertising, ClearAds now offers a specialist review service to ensure compliance. Contact us for more information.

Political advertising refers to any content dealing with “political matter” as defined in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992. This includes advertising by government, lobby groups, political parties, and any ad containing political statements – even if it’s primarily about products or services. Political advertising requires specific authorisation tags and must meet special requirements. Contact us for guidance.

No. For New Zealand advertising approvals, please contact the Commercials Approval Bureau at www.commercialapprovals.co.nz.

We offer:

– Webinar series – online training modules covering advertising compliance, the review process, and specialist topics

– Bespoke training – customised in-person or online training for your team

– ClearAds Handbook – comprehensive reference guide (available via Oasis)

Our training is suitable for newcomers to the industry and experienced professionals looking to refresh their knowledge.

Visit clearads.thinkific.com to sign up and start learning. You’ll receive a certificate upon completing each module.

By completing all modules in our training suite, you’ll earn ClearAds certification – a formal recognition of your knowledge in advertising compliance and the ClearAds review process. Certificates are valid for 2 years to ensure you’re working with current regulations.

Check our Latest News page or subscribe to our updates for information about webinars, training sessions, and ClearAds events.

First, try using the ‘Forgotten Password’ link on the Oasis login page to reset your password. If you’re still experiencing issues, contact us at hello@clearads.com.au or (02) 8968 7200.

Email hello@clearads.com.au or call (02) 8968 7200 immediately and we’ll help resolve the issue.

Contact us at hello@clearads.com.au or (02) 8968 7200 with the updated information and we’ll make the changes for you.

If you’ve checked the submission guidelines in the ClearAds Handbook and are still experiencing difficulties, contact us at hello@clearads.com.au or (02) 8968 7200 for assistance.

Holiday schedules and important deadline information are posted on our Latest News page.