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Infomercial on 91.5
- Thread starter CatFM
- Start date
I heard a pain-pill infomercial at 1pm last Wednesday and only stayed tuned because I wanted to hear how a "non-comm" station could present such a thing.
I didn't have the time or patience to stick with the whole program, but I did not hear a specific "call to action" in the program, which was presented as a pseudo-interview. I don't have a strong grasp on what exactly separates a commercial message per se from a value-neutral statement of sponsorship, but this ad can't possibly be within the regular restrictions of underwriting.
I didn't have the time or patience to stick with the whole program, but I did not hear a specific "call to action" in the program, which was presented as a pseudo-interview. I don't have a strong grasp on what exactly separates a commercial message per se from a value-neutral statement of sponsorship, but this ad can't possibly be within the regular restrictions of underwriting.
Been too many years since I worked non-comm, so I'm not up to date on those rules. But, if there truly is not a specific call to action in the program, perhaps that's their "out".
On the "Christian" moniker: quite a few people have become owners by masquerading their companies as religious (and/or minority) companies in the past 20 or so years...so if that's what they did, I wouldn't be surprised.
On Motley Crue: The word "hell" has been considered little more than a mild profanity by most of society and hasn't been a problem for a song lyric on radio since about 1960, when Jimmy Dean had to recut "Big Bad John" when he said John was "a hell of a man." Usually about the only people who complain about that type of thing are your real hard-core devoutly religious people and they represent a small sliver of the type of people who would listen to a radio station playing 80's music.
On the "Christian" moniker: quite a few people have become owners by masquerading their companies as religious (and/or minority) companies in the past 20 or so years...so if that's what they did, I wouldn't be surprised.
On Motley Crue: The word "hell" has been considered little more than a mild profanity by most of society and hasn't been a problem for a song lyric on radio since about 1960, when Jimmy Dean had to recut "Big Bad John" when he said John was "a hell of a man." Usually about the only people who complain about that type of thing are your real hard-core devoutly religious people and they represent a small sliver of the type of people who would listen to a radio station playing 80's music.
They're on shaky ground. Any mention of "call this toll free number" would be a commercial and violate their non-comm license. I'm aware of a non-comm LPFM that avoided doing a sports show at a restaurant for that very reason...any even accidental mention of "come on down to xxx and join us" could jeopardize the license, resulting in another K-Love translator..
CatFM said:
I'm sure Mr Case has done the appropriate research before doing this. While it is a bit disappointing, it would be silly for him to lose this new license over something like this.
I'm sure Mr Case has done the appropriate research before doing this. While it is a bit disappointing, it would be silly for him to lose this new license over something like this.
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I am pretty confident that you are right, but I would still like to know what the fine print says that allows this. If this is entirely legal, how long will it be before financially burdened non-comms such as WCBE resort to such tactics for fund raising? I would hate to see them start loading up their broadcast day with this type of material.
[/quote]
I am pretty confident that you are right, but I would still like to know what the fine print says that allows this. If this is entirely legal, how long will it be before financially burdened non-comms such as WCBE resort to such tactics for fund raising? I would hate to see them start loading up their broadcast day with this type of material.
xiradiodotcom said:
I don't think it's disappointing, if it keeps the current format on the air. So many of the FCC regulations and decisions are just a charade, anyway, such as those relating to move-ins. E.g, how is CC is providing the sorely-needed local service they promised to provide the "independent city" of Ashville as justification for moving 93.3 there? Is it the swell of civic pride Ashvillains feel every time they hear "Ashville-Columbus" at the top of the hour? Or perhaps a 3-minute "Ashville Today" program that airs at 3:17 am on the first Tuesday of every month that starts with an F?
Curious and concerned about the informercial. I'm no expert, but a 30-minute informercial about a "new medical breakthrough" with an 800-number sure don't sound non-comm to me. The 80s music is a step up from what I expected to hear given the licensee name (K-love or worse), but I was hoping for something a bit less commercial-sounding (AAA, "real jazz" or blues, etc.). I moved here from Cincy and am a bit disappointed in the more limited AM/FM choices (I plunked for a cheap XM car receiver). Btw, I'm on I-70 a lot and don't recall getting 91.5 much past the SR 56 exit W of London, mostly due to adj-ch WYSO.
drewguy said:
Columbus really got the shaft in channel allocations. Probably fewer FM's that cover the metro with a city-grade signal than in any market of comparable size. (Same sorry situation with broadcast TV, but that's become less important in the age of widespread cable.) After 40 years we finally got another "big" FM signal a few years ago after CC moved 93.3 in from Chillicothe...only to put it to waste as another AC... designed to needle Saga's longtime AC instead of fill a market hole.
At the end of the infomercial this morning, they stated a 1-800 number to call for a free product sample and stated the previous show was a paid advertisement.
Hello all!! I just registered but I have been an observer for a year or so.
Anyhow, it was explained to me by a dj in rushville (wlry), that as long as
there are no prices mentioned, it is ok to run these advertisements.
Anyhow, it was explained to me by a dj in rushville (wlry), that as long as
there are no prices mentioned, it is ok to run these advertisements.
CatFM said:
I see commercials disguised as "sponsorships" on PBS all the time.
Well, giving a phone number and asking people to call it certainly sounds like a "call to action" but, if anybody will push the envelope Rob certainly will. I don't think the rules should be so relaxed. If you want to make money and must, sell time like everyone else, a spot is a spot. That's like to me saying the sun isn't the sun unless you look at it!!
Just my thoughts. I didn't think the purpose of noncom FM was to have a radio jukebox and run infomercials. Are they saying if you tell me about a car lot that is not a spot until you suggest that I call them???
What a bunch of crap!!!
Just my thoughts. I didn't think the purpose of noncom FM was to have a radio jukebox and run infomercials. Are they saying if you tell me about a car lot that is not a spot until you suggest that I call them???
What a bunch of crap!!!
ToddStach said:
cadkins6739 said:
That's totally it. "More information is available at..." is a factual statement and not a call to action. But "Call 1-800-NON-COMM for more information is a call to action and therefore a "commercial announcement." As long as non-commercial stations avoid any imperative statements with relation to an underwriter's message, they're all good. In the few minutes I listened to that pain-relief infomercial, I never heard them specifically tell the listener to call a number or visit a website. I guess that makes it kosher.
It's a very thin line between one and the other but the FCC has their rules and, just like every other aspect of broadcasting, it ain't cheating if you don't get caught.
Also, please note that "non-commercial" does not equal "non-profit." The two generally go together but it is possible to own a non-comm and try to turn a buck or two.
Snat said:
The FCC really knows how to cloud an issue. Looking at their rules, they seem to contradict themselves to the point where none of it makes much sense. Here is some of what I was able to find:
We reiterate that acknowledgements should be made for identification purposes only and should not promote the contributor's products, services, or company. For example,logos or logograms used by corporations or businesses are permitted so long as they do not contain comparative or qualitative descriptions of the donor's products or services. Similarly, company slogans which contain general product-line descriptions are acceptable if not designed to be promotional in nature. Visual depictions of specific products are permissible. We also believe that the inclusion of a telephone number in an acknowledgement is within these general guidelines and, therefore permissible.
Several examples of announcements that would clearly violate the rule may be helpful:
* A. Announcements containing price information are not permissible. This would include any announcement of interest rate information or other indication of savings or value associated with the product. An example of such an announcement is:
o -- "7.7% interest rate available now."
* B. Announcements containing a call to action are not permissible. Examples of such announcements are:
o -- "Stop by our showroom to see a model";
o -- "Try product X next time you buy oil."
* C. Announcements containing an inducement to buy, sell, rent, or lease are not permissible. Examples of such announcements are:
o -- "Six months' free service";
o -- "A bonus available this week";
o -- "Special gift for the first 50 visitors."
That first line is a joke. "For identification purposes only and should not promote the contributor's products, services, or company." Come on...who are they trying to kid?
The call to action part is also a joke. You can't tell people to stop by your showroom, but you can tell them to call an 800 number?
"Announcements containing an inducement to buy, sell, rent, or lease are not permissible." Oh sure, there is no inducement to sell anything when they spend a half hour talking about how great it is and give an 800 number to contact them.
Either the people at the FCC are stupid, or they think everyone else is when they make ridiculous rules like this. I can see why these programs are on the air. How can anyone argue that they aren't within the FCC rules when the FCC rules don't make any sense to begin with?
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