Dear Channel Ten,
Your stock response to everyone on Facebook (including myself) who complained about your false / misleading ad campaign regarding the airing of Modern Family indicated that I could watch the episode on your website.
I’ve just spent over 15 minutes trying to get one of the segments to load. Instead I get constant barrages of advertisements which freeze at the 20 second point. When they finally do keep playing another ad comes on, and then the clip starts.
But it’s not the clip I selected, so I had to start again. This happened three times at which point I decided to give up.
According to the ACCC website, before I can put my complaint to them about your false / misleading advertising, I must contact you directly. So I am.
Explain the problem: you advertised for a week on your station, in emails, on twitter & even here on Facebook that Modern Family would be shown at 8pm Tuesday 9 August.
At 6:31pm yesterday, you announced the time would change on Facebook and Twitter. You didn’t change the time on the Foxtel or Digital Channel Guides. I, and countless others missed seeing this episode.
While you say I can watch it online there are two problems: firstly it appears that I can’t. Your website doesn’t work. Secondly, you are a tv station. I watch TV. I don’t want to watch TV on my computer, I want to watch it on my TV.
Explain the outcome you want: I would like you to replay the episode at any time you wish - please just advertise the time for a week beforehand so that all of us who missed the episode can see it.
Also, should you pull this obviously poorly planned stunt again to trick people into watching a different (and rather awful) television show, can you please update the Foxtel and Digital Channel Guides in time for PVRs to change their recording times?
Outline the steps you will take if you and the seller cannot resolve the problem. I will keep posting on your Facebook page requesting that you reply the episode. Constantly.
I will also put this complaint to the ACCC. I know they’ll probably reject it (whilst laughing), but I’ll also CC in Media Watch, ACA and Today Tonight.
Ask for a response within a reasonable time—for example two weeks or 10 business days. Please let me & the rest of the people who have complained your decision on this within the next 2 weeks by running ads for the repeat on your television station, or replying on Facebook.
I hope the proposed boycott of Channel Ten does not go ahead, as it will dramatically reduce your advertising revenue, and reduce you to not only a laughing stock in the eyes of Australians (and marketing students), but a broke laughing stock in the eyes of Australians (and marketing students).
Regards,
Stephen Scott
(once a fan of your station, but {quoteth the Raven}, nevermore)
