BEIJING - China's TV regulator on Tuesday announced bans on 44 TV commercial advertisements, an effort to prevent customers from being misled by fake or exaggerated product promotions.

The campaign marks the largest number of banned illegal ads, including spots for mobile phones, computers, cosmetics and art investment and collection items, said an official of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.

The official said these ads exaggerated when promoting their products, used news reporting or hawking concepts in TV sales promotions, or did not include product exchange or refund guarantees.

"Some companies with bad moral records have bought large sections of commercial time to advertise their products repeatedly, which misled consumers and sparked public aversion," said the unnamed official.

Before Tuesday's announcement, the regulator had banned 15 commercials and punished 30 people involved with the ads since measures for TV ads were implemented on January 1, 2010.

The official said the watchdog would further regulate inserting ads during TV operas and establish a "blacklist" for frequent violators.