While Designing Spaces is a real TV show that people are filming in Florida, it is also running an extremely sketchy advertising program behind the scenes. While probably not technically illegal, it is eyebrow raising.
Telemarketers phone up suppliers of home improvement products on behalf of the show's producer, and offer to showcase a product on the show, like a mini-infomercial. The telemarketer's sales pitch lasts a good 45 minutes. At the end of the sales pitch, a price tag of $49,700 is revealed. For a 1 to 3 minute spot. Which will be seen by virtually no one. Their viewer numbers are not available anywhere, but a 7:00 AM home improvement show on an unpopular cable channel is likely to reach somewhere in the hundreds of viewers, possibly less.
Since this network was acquired by A&E in 2009, I am sincerely surprised that this practise is allowed to continue.
Telemarketers phone up suppliers of home improvement products on behalf of the show's producer, and offer to showcase a product on the show, like a mini-infomercial. The telemarketer's sales pitch lasts a good 45 minutes. At the end of the sales pitch, a price tag of $49,700 is revealed. For a 1 to 3 minute spot. Which will be seen by virtually no one. Their viewer numbers are not available anywhere, but a 7:00 AM home improvement show on an unpopular cable channel is likely to reach somewhere in the hundreds of viewers, possibly less.
Since this network was acquired by A&E in 2009, I am sincerely surprised that this practise is allowed to continue.