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Comcast vs. DirecTV: The Cable Wars Continue

DirecTV wins the latest round as Comcast agrees to drop claims related to competitor's satellite signal.

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Comcast vs. DirecTV: The Cable Wars Continue

Rainy days are made for binge-watching your favorite shows. Entire seasons have been knocked out in the span of a single rain-soaked afternoon. But the weather can put a damper on viewing, according to one cable company’s advertising.

“If it rains or it storms, you might lose TV … no shows tonight,” Comcast says in the above commercial for its Xfinity TV service, which is set to Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” and which ends: “Don’t get left behind with DirecTV. Xfinity gives you reliable TV service, rain or shine.”

DirecTV challenged the spot with The National Advertising Division (NAD) is the advertising industry’s self-regulatory body administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus., arguing that claims in the commercial imply that weather-related disruptions to its satellite TV service are routine and lengthy when that is not the case. NAD agreed and recommended that Comcast drop the unsupported claims, which also included, “When there’s snow or high winds, or even hail … kiss your shows goodbye.” Comcast agreed to abide by the decision.

This is just the latest in a series of spats between the two companies handled by NAD. Previously, NAD ruled in favor of Comcast, which challenged several cable superiority claims in DirecTV commercials that featured an alter-ego Rob Lowe character.

Also, the FTC sued the DirecTV alleging it misled consumers on the costs of its satellite TV service. DirecTV has reached a partial settlement with the agency on these issues.

Find more of our coverage on cable here.


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