Hi. I'm Lying Out My Ass Rob Lowe....

[gblowfish]

DirecTV getting bitch slapped by Comcast for "deceptive advertising."

Story:

Hi, I'm Rob Lowe, and I have cable."

"And I'm deceptive advertising Rob Lowe, and I have DirecTV."

Following a Comcast complaint, the Better Business Bureau this week recommended that DirecTV discontinue its hilarious ad campaign featuring actor Rob Lowe, because the satellite TV company couldn't substantiate many of the claims made in the commercials.

DirecTV clams in the spots that its service gets 99% signal reliability, up to 1080p HD programming, better picture and sound quality than cable, more sports programming than its rivals and shorter customer service wait times than its cable competitors. It also said it was rated No. 1 in customer satisfaction.

The ads feature Lowe playing various awkward versions of himself, including a Rob Lowe with scrawny arms, "painfully awkward" Rob Lowe, "super creepy" Rob Lowe, "far less attractive" Rob Lowe and "meathead" Rob Lowe.

At the end of the commercials, the normal, DirecTV version of Lowe says, "Don't be like this me. Get rid of cable and upgrade to DirecTV."

In most cases, the Better Business Bureau National Advertising Division review board agreed with Comcast and urged DirecTV to pull or modify the ads.

For instance, the NAD found no supporting evidence to substantiate the "far less attractive" Rob Lowe commercial's claim that DirecTV has better picture and sound quality than cable. "Scrawny arms" Rob Lowe claimed DirecTV has more sports programming, but the NAD said that was also unsupported.

The review board also said DirecTV failed to explain how it arrived at its customer service claims. The NAD even took issue with the commercials' statement "don't be like this me," because it "conveyed a comparative and unsupported superiority message."

It did, however, find that DirecTV's message of 99% signal reliability and "up to 1080p" picture were solid.

DirecTV is appealing the claim that the ads are deceptive.

In a statement, the company said it "continues to believe that the various Rob Lowe advertisements are so outlandish and exaggerated that no reasonable consumer would believe that the statements being made by the alter-ego characters are comparative or need to be substantiated."

According to a report in Variety, DirecTV has stopped airing the Lowe ads because the company had moved on to another ad campaign.

This isn't the first time DirecTV has been charged with false or misleading advertising.

The Federal Trade Commission ruled in March that the satellite company failed to make it clear that its $19.95-a-month plan requires two-year contract is required, and that customers must proactively cancel the free premium channels like HBO and Showtime that they get during the first three months of the package.

Link to story:
http://www.kmbc.com/money/directv-to...inkId=13415653

[WhawhaWhat]

I liked the Creepy Rob Lowe one. Also the one where he eats the sandwich that he found on the bus.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

People don't understand how little credibility the BBB should have. You can resolve complaints and they wont increase your grade or show that online without significant payment. They're a shitty organization that I give no credence too.

[sd4chiefs]

They should have done a "Hi. I'm Pedophile Rob Lowe and I have cable" one.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by sd4chiefs

They should have done a "Hi. I'm Pedophile Rob Lowe and I have cable" one.

And I'm audiophile Rob Lowe and I have DirecTV.

With DirecTV I have over 70 digital quality music stations to play all my favorite tunes across every genre through time!

And with cable I have 27 dedicated channels to Nickelodeon and Disney tween shows!

[scho63]

I love those commercials!

[Strongside]

These ****s have taken all of the fun out of advertising.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by Strongside

These ****s have taken all of the fun out of advertising.

Eh, the issue is really more about the statements they're making than about Rob Lowe's characters themselves.

[morphius]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I've had Direct TV for 12 years and I've had one loss of signal, which was back in 2004, with far less advanced equipment.

The picture quality and especially the audio quality, are far superior, IMO, to Time Warner Cable, AT&T, Comcast and Everest. Having everything On Demand (as opposed to limited programming) is another awesome feature.

Comcast, who's leading this charge against Direct TV, can suck it.

To be fair you live in a place known for its lack of weather changes and storms.

Comcast can still suck it though.

[Aries Walker]

I have no doubt that they stretched some truths - it happens - but the idea of Comcast complaining when someone said they have better customer service is hilarious to the point of being surreal.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by morphius

To be fair you live in a place known for its lack of weather changes and storms.

True. But during the winter, we've often had very severe rain and thunderstorms which resulted in flash floods and I've never lost signal. In 2005, we had something like 46 inches of rain in January and February. I had a river for a street, literally, and the signal was never lost.

I would imagine that the biggest deterrent in the KC area would be the wind and tornadoes. I'd be shocked if rain and snow would kill the signal in 2015.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I would imagine that the biggest deterrent in the KC area would be the wind and tornadoes. I'd be shocked if rain and snow would kill the signal in 2015.

I've had probably 98% consistent service since I moved here in 2013.

I think it was actually worse in Houston because it rains more down there.

My only real complaint with DirecTV is that they call trying to scam me into getting their movie channels almost every month like clockwork. I fell it for once, never again.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Numbah One

I've had probably 98% consistent service since I moved here in 2013.

I think it was actually worse in Houston because it rains more down there.

My only real complaint with DirecTV is that they call trying to scam me into getting their movie channels almost every month like clockwork. I fell it for once, never again.

I have six boxes and every channel they offer. As long as you're willing to sit on the phone every six months to renew or get deals, it's really affordable, IMO.

I pay $172 a month with tax for everything, which I think is a very good deal.

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I have six boxes and every channel they offer. As long as you're willing to sit on the phone every six months to renew or get deals, it's really affordable, IMO.

I pay $172 a month with tax for everything, which I think is a very good deal.

I've tired of the hassle of going through all that to get a decent deal and will be cancelling and "cutting the cord" in a week or so when my contract is up. I'm definitely looking forward to $15/month for Hulu and Netflix rather than $120 for DTV like I am now (though I'm sure I'll add more stuff like SlingTV shortly after).

[DaveNull]

If Comcast doesn't have the facts to take this to the FTC or bring a suit against DirecTV independently then they probably don't have a leg to stand on.

The Better Business Bureau? What's next...Comcast leaving a bad review on Yelp?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I've tired of the hassle of going through all that to get a decent deal and will be cancelling and "cutting the cord" in a week or so when my contract is up. I'm definitely looking forward to $15/month for Hulu and Netflix rather than $120 for DTV like I am now (though I'm sure I'll add more stuff like SlingTV shortly after).

I understand.

But I have to do for our VOIP and internet service through Time Warner so I just put it in my calendar and knock them both out at the same time.