National Advertising Division Recommends DIRECTV Modify or Discontinue Two Sports Central Claims

New York, NY – November 2, 2023 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by the National Football League (NFL), the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that, for DIRECTV Sports Central, DIRECTV, LLC either:

  • Discontinue the “gives you access to every game…” and “With access to every pro football game on DIRECTV, some guests might overstay their welcome” claims, or 
  • Modify the claims to clearly and conspicuously disclose that additional subscriptions beyond a DIRECTV subscription are required to watch every pro football game.

 

Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited process designed for single-issue advertising cases brought to NAD. The challenged claims appeared in television advertising, a social media video, and on DIRECTV’s website. 

DIRECTV now offers its subscribers DIRECTV Sports Central, an integrated interface available through the DIRECTV Gemini device. Using the Sports Central interface, DIRECTV customers can view a directory of sporting events in a single menu, including any live NFL games broadcast on channels that come with a DIRECTV subscription or those which require a third-party subscription.

At issue for NAD was whether the challenged claims convey the unsupported message that DIRECTV customers can watch every pro football game simply by virtue of subscribing to DIRECTV, without the need to purchase an additional streaming package or third-party subscription. 

NAD determined that DIRECTV’s advertising is not clear as to what sports programming is and is not available for viewing with the advertised service. 

While DIRECTV Sports Central allows DIRECTV customers to more easily access the games that come with their subscriptions, it does not allow them to watch pro football games for which they have not otherwise purchased a subscription.

Although NAD recommended that DIRECTV modify or discontinue the above claims, NAD noted that nothing in its decision precludes DIRECTV from making truthful and non-misleading claims about the benefits of DIRECTV Sports Central.

In its advertiser statement, DIRECTV stated that it “is pleased NAD recognized that the DIRECTV Sports Central experience provides unique value to consumers” and that it “will comply with NAD’s decision.” 

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. Per NAD/NARB procedures, this release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

Latest Decisions

Decision

National Advertising Division Recommends Royal Oak Modify or Discontinue Certain Claims for its Super Size Briquets

New York, NY – November 30, 2023 – In a challenge brought by Kingsford Products Company, the National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that Royal Oak modify or discontinue certain comparative claims for its Super Size Briquets.

Read the Decision Summary
Decision

National Advertising Division Finds Certain Xfinity Home Internet Claims Supported; Recommends Comcast Modify or Discontinue Others

New York, NY – November 30, 2023 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) determined that Comcast provided a reasonable basis for its Xfinity home internet claim but recommended that Comcast modify or discontinue certain other claims about Verizon’s 5G Home Internet.


 

Read the Decision Summary
Decision

National Advertising Division Recommends Cariuma Disclose Material Connection Between Cariuma Sneakers and Publisher of Social Media Posts

New York, NY – November 29, 2023 – The National Advertising Division (NAD) inquired about social media posts for Cariuma sneakers, and recommended that Cariuma clearly and conspicuously disclose its material connection to the endorser and publisher of the posts.

Read the Decision Summary
Decision

National Advertising Division Recommends Charter Modify or Discontinue Certain Comparative Claims for Spectrum Home Internet Service

New York, NY – November 28, 2023 – In a challenge brought by T-Mobile, the National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended that Charter modify or discontinue certain Spectrum home internet service claims including those that distinguish Spectrum from T-Mobile’s wireless home internet services.

Read the Decision Summary