Basic Trope: Two companies (usually telecommunications companies) that provide the same service in different ways each try to get consumers on their side by discrediting the other.
- Straight: WireTV Cable Co. goes on about how SpaceTV Satellite goes out when it rains, has fewer channels in its Basic package, and has a much slower and less reliable Internet connection. Meanwhile, SpaceTV goes on about how WireTV's customer service is terrible (and has been outsourced to another country), and how they only let you record one or two shows at a time on their DVR box. And how they're more expensive.
- Exaggerated:
- Each company says that their rival has Ruined Telecommunications Forever!
- Telephony Inc. asks the viewer why he/she would want to receive TV from a phone company...and then goes on to mention that they provide TV and/or Internet service through a partnership with SpaceTV. (As many phone companies now do, in a bid to compete with cable and/or satellite providers, who also generally offer phone service.)
- Not once does each company even casually explain why they're the better choice.
- Downplayed: WireTV and SpaceTV have on their websites tables or charts that outline the pros and cons of each kind of service.
- Justified: If WireTV can get people to see the disadvantages of SpaceTV, then they'll get more customers, who might have otherwise gone with SpaceTV, or canceled their service in favor of SpaceTV (or cutting the cord).
- Inverted:
- WireTV goes on about how awesome SpaceTV is, and vice versa.
- Our Product Sucks
- Subverted:
- An ad for WireTV says, "Sure, you could go with satellite TV..." (Without specifically naming the company.)
- An ad for SpaceTV mentions a cool new upgrade to their service (which is similar to a service that WireeTV has provided for a while)
- Double Subverted:
- Then goes on to say, "But why would you, when we can provide a faster and more reliable Internet connection, and more channels?"
- And mentions that they're charging half of what WireTV is charging for it. (Which is true, for the first year. After that, it's about the same.)
- Parodied: A sketch comedy mocks the ads with LiarTV making outrageous slander about WasteTV and visa versa. such as being made with slave labor, WasteTV counters by accusing [LiarTv] of murdering Kennedy. More blatantly impossible slander ensues and a fist fight results. In the end they reconcile and decide to focus on what really matters - ripping off their customers.
- Zig Zagged: Some ads are aimed at discrediting the rival, others are aimed at playing up the company's own positive qualities or their new services to returning customers who might potentially upgrade their service.
- Averted:
- The companies don't try to discredit each other.
- They're small telecommunications companies that rely primarily on word-of-mouth advertising.
- Enforced: Admen think potential customers won't care about or understand technical details about each service, and will respond better to the mudslinging and general claims like "We're 20% More Awesome."
- Lampshaded: "In other news, Cable Bigwig WireTV has launched a new ad campaign against its longtime rival SpaceTV..."
- Invoked: Customers are leaving WireTV in favor of SpaceTV, because the latter has lower costs and better customer service. Meanwhile, other customers are leaving SpaceTV in favor of WireTV because WireTV provides more reliable service.
- Exploited: "We need to get potential new customers on our side and keep the ones we have, in order to make Money, Dear Boy."
- Defied: Each company decides to only play up its good points, hoping that customers will focus on that, instead of using the Accentuate the Negative ploy.
- Discussed: "Which TV service do you think is better: Wire or Space?"
- Conversed: "They both have their advantages and disadvantages. They want you on their side, so they go on about the other's disadvantages more than their own advantages."
Back to Cable/Satellite Mudslinging
