Channel 5 challenged over naming of pop chart show

The independent production company Video Visuals responsible for ITV’s The Chart Show has protested to Channel 5 over the name of its new pop programme, The Pepsi Chart.

Keith Macmillan, chairman of the production company, claims that there is “confusion” about the two programmes’ names.

Macmillan has written a number of letters to Channel 5 complaining about the name of its new music show which is sponsored by Pepsi. He says: “My worry is confusion in the market and that seems silly to me. We have had lots of calls from the general public and record companies who are confused.”

Macmillan – who has registered the words The Chart Show as a trade mark – first became concerned when he spotted a flyer for the rival programme at a television fair in France last September describing it as The Pepsi Chart Show.

A spokesman for Channel 5 says: “People may have referred to it at that point as the Pepsi Chart Show. But it was never the official name.”

He explains that Pepsi Chart is the official name of the programme and a registered trade mark belonging to Pepisco.

He adds: “We aren’t aware of any confusion. The branding is distinctive as is the look and format of the programme.”