ITV, X-Factor rapped over Corinthia London 'promotion'

A UK media watchdog has rapped ITV after an episode of X Factor repeatedly showed the Corinthia Hotel London, where the contestants were staying. The October 6 broadcast saw contestants James Arthur, Rylan Clark and Union J singing the praises of the hotel, where they stayed after reaching the finals of the singing competition. There were also several shots of the exterior and signage of the hotel, leading to a flood of outrage on Twitter, according to the Daily Mail. 19 contestants stayed at the £500-a-night hotel at a 'reduced rate'. Ofcom ruled the coverage ITV gave the hotel breached broadcasting rules, which state that any product must not be given 'undue prominence'. X Factor said it paid for the contestants to stay in the Corinthia Hotel, a 'grand', 'prestigious' hotel in Whitehall, just a stone's throw away from 10 Downing Street. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2265847/X-Factor-slammed-watchdog-shameless-plugging-luxury-hotel-contestants-stayed-free.html#ixzz2Ih68qf8A