Charter Cable should be positively ashamed of their current ad campaign. You know the one: "What did people do before TV? Sit around and watch gravel for six hours?”
What? How about, “We read books! We had conversations! We spent time with our kids!”
In this day and age of obesity and less and less physical activity, this is just irresponsible advertising.
The ad ends with, "If you don't watch TV, oh well! More for me.” Has Charter figured out a way to change the laws of physics to ensure a finite amount of airwaves? That is just silly.
I hope Charter ran these ads because it is losing customers daily, because our community is far too active and busy enjoying this beautiful mountain town to sit around and watch TV for six hours a day. As a parent, my reaction to these ads is the exact opposite of what they were trying to accomplish. They caused me to think, "Hey, Charter! Thanks for reminding me that I don't want my kids to be the ones who, at age 10, have to shop in the adult plus-size section because all they do is sit in front of the television!"
The sad fact is, a lot of people will take these commercials at face value and use them as a justification for letting their kids (or themselves) do nothing but watch television all day, further promoting the health problems that millions of Americans already face. A far better campaign would [promote] a balance of entertainment, physical activity and time with the family.
I for one canceled my Charter account this morning. I hope other Ashevilleans will respond accordingly. This is just bad corporate citizenship and a terrible show of service to our community. I am off to go hike, ride my bike or walk around downtown.
— Meredith Hope
Asheville
The one thing I can always count on (besides death and taxes) are glossy junk mail fliers from Charter in my mailbox. Congrats to Charter for de-foresting a rain forest somewhere as well as another failed ad campaign that won’t result in my buying their services. I prefer to stare at gravel.
Meredith, kids are fat because they eat mac and cheese for lunch and have no decent place to play.
I for one canceled my Charter account this morning.
Do yourself a bigger faver – cancel TV.
I didn’t realize owning a TV was mandatory. Also, what boatrocker said.
Latest sign of the Apocalypse:
[i]Also, what boatrocker said. [/i]
The commercial was meant to be facetious. As was the claim that those not watching TV would produce a surplus of TV watching that could be distributed amongst these adamant aficionados of a long-condemned, yet popular pastime. It was supposed to be silly. The only thing worse than obese people is fit people with no sense of humor.
Do yourself a bigger faver – cancel TV.
Wipeout on ABC is pretty funny.
Good Evening Meredith,
My name is Witten Henderson and I’m a Social Media Communications Specialist with Charter. I noticed your blog and wanted to stop in to let you know that we care what people think about our advertisements. We are making sure that all feedback on the “TV Is Awesome” commercial makes it to our marketing department for review. The commercial was intended to be lighthearted in nature and I apologize if it offended you to the point of canceling service. If there is anything we can do to help you, please send us an email at Umatter2Charter@chartercom.com and we will be happy to lend a hand.
Witten Henderson
Charter Social Media Communications Specialist
http://www.charter.com/Umatter2Charter