Clear Cast HDTV Antenna’s advertising not so clear; BBB investigates
Burnsville, MN – The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has received hundreds of calls from consumers nationwide inquiring about the Clear-Cast HDTV Antenna.
The product is manufactured by Brilliant Built Technologies, a subsidiary of Universal Media Syndicate, Inc., located in Canton, Ohio. The company is running large advertorial ads that appear in newspapers across the U.S. and mailing notices to residents nationwide offering to eliminate cable and satellite costs completely using the Clear-Cast HDTV Antenna.
The ads and mailings claim the Clear-Cast HDTV Antenna “pulls in Free over-the-air broadcast signals that the cable and satellite companies get and then re-transmit to you for a hefty charge every month…there’s never a monthly bill, you get all the free channels with Clear-Cast and you won’t pay for hundreds of channels you never really watch.”
Recent consumer calls and complaints to the BBB express confusion with the company’s advertisement. Consumers have informed the BBB that they are under the impression that they will receive 953 channels as opposed to 953 shows as the ad claims. Consumers should be aware they could receive up to 53 channels depending on the area where they live, and that 953 is the possible number of shows available.
In November, 2011 the BBB of Canton contacted the company regarding their advertising and conducted a challenge of several claims that appear in the ad. The BBB Ad Review Committee conducted a secondary advertising challenge on Clear-Cast HDTV Digital Antenna and determined that all matters of compliance were not resolved.
The BBB’s concerns included the use of the word “free,” the company’s claims of advanced technology and the company’s comparison to cable or satellite. The BBB also voiced additional concerns that referenced the company’s implied government affiliation and overall impression of the ad.
The BBB feels these types of misleading advertising are purposeful and do not feel the company is in compliance with the BBB Code of Advertising; further, they are serious enough in nature for the company to receive an “F” rating with the BBB, the lowest rating possible.
The company met with the BBB of Canton in January and April to discuss additional changes and/or provide substantiation regarding the Clear-Cast Digital HDTV. The company provided the BBB with Clear-Cast Digital HDTV antennas to be tested by BBB staff. The BBB found that the product does provide some channels without cable or satellite connections. However, after testing the product the BBB found it did not perform as it is claimed in the ad.
Additionally, BBB inquiries indicate that because the headline claims the consumers can eliminate cable or satellite bills, consumers are under the impression they will receive the same type of channeling as with their current provider, which the BBB found is not the case. Consumers continue to contact the BBB and state they are also confused as to what they are actually getting. The BBB’s research found that 90& of callers surveyed are under the impression that they will receive 953 “channels,” when in fact the statement says “953 Free shows each year.”
When considering using TV antennas versus cable or satellite TV, the BBB recommends the following:
• Contact the BBB to check out any business before purchasing a product or service at www.bbb.org.
• Location is everything. If you live in a valley or rural area, you will have fewer channels available to you than others who live within a 40-mile radius of a TV station.
• You will not receive all the same channels and programming as your cable or satellite TV packages.
• Do not fall victim to sense of urgency claims. Make sure you research any product before buying.
• Make sure you’re aware of return and exchange policies before making a purchase.
• Different types of antennas provide different results; you can view all your options through the FCC’s website at http://www.fcc.gov/guides/antennas-and-digital-television.
The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to be the leader in building marketplace trust by promoting, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct, and to instill confidence in responsible businesses through programs of education and action that inform, assist and protect the general public. BBB hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the BBB at www.bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free at 1-800-646-6222.
this is a scam