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Viewers who saw split-second flashes of logos and advertisements while watching TV3 and C4 have been reassured by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The incidents occurred between May and July this year during ad breaks.
Most of the complainants, fearing subliminal advertising, came from the Auckland and Waikato regions.
Flashes of images and logos appeared on the screen, to then be quickly replaced by advertising.
However, MediaWorks - owner of the two TV stations - explained the images had been a technical fault, occurring when the broadcaster switched to regional advertising.
"On a random basis, the server would pick up a few frames of another commercial before switching to the programmed ad," the lawyer for Mediaworks told the ASA.
"I can understand how this might create an impression that we were airing subliminal advertising but I would like to assure you that this is not the case."
New software has been installed and the company is confident it has solved the problem.
The ASA chairman ruled the complaint was resolved.
- NZPA
