History Main / CableSatelliteMudslinging

* An ad for Time Warner cable in the summer of 2014 featured a woman who got home to find her husband had purchased not only the couch they were needing to buy, but a whole living room of tables, chairs, and lamps. The husband claims he needed to buy everything shown in the room to get the best deal on the couch leaving his wife to fathom WHY somebody would want to do that when they only need one thing. Cue the announcer who walks in saying Time Warner DOES provide such a deal--if all you want to buy is internet you can buy it and pay for it cheap without needing to buy extra things you don't want.

* Through most of 2009, Canadians got to witness a variation of this where cable carriers and over-the-air broadcasters were in a propaganda war over [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fee-for-carriage proposed new government regulations]] changing the relationship between OTA broadcasters and cable. Broadcasters, trying to convince the public that the new fees cable companies would have to pay could be used to fund "local TV" and without it smaller centres would lose their affiliates, started a "Save Local TV" ad campaign. Cable companies, insisting that they would pass this cost onto their consumers at the behest of government policy (this is less scary, of course, when you remember the entire industry is highly regulated) started a "Stop the TV tax" ad campaign. For most of the year, this was the majority of the ads aired on television. The ad campaign only died when the government tabled the decision.

In the great [=DirecTV=] vs Viacom dispute of Summer 2012, several different channels that were dropped temporarily on =[DirecTV=], (all 26 were run by Viacom) took to air waves and internet space to warn the viewers on other broadcasters that [=DirecTV=] was taking their channels away. When the block did go into effect, several advised switching at the end of these advertisements. All of these commercials were made by Viacom and pinned the blame for the drop directly on [=DirecTV=].\\

On a cable company, you'll see commercials about how satellite dishes go out when it rains. On a satellite company, you'll see commercials about how cable has limited availability, costs too much, and gives you strange contracts. And if you happen to have [=FiOS=] or something like it, you'll see [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs both]]. Either way, you'll see [[TooIncompetentToOperateABlanket people so stupid that they shouldn't be allowed to have any technology more complicated than a dull spoon]] trying to use them.

Incidentally, these commercials are usually seen as amateur and filled with bad acting, even though they come from big-name companies such as Comcast or Time Warner Cable that should be able to afford better production values. An example is a Time Warner commercial that showed pictures of a cheetah, rabbit and snail and told you to "pick the fast one". Apparently, rabbits are faster than cheetahs. (At least at [[AnimalStereotypes doing one thing]].)

The recent development of "triple-play" -- phone, TV and data in a cable connection -- might turn the tables on this practice sooner or later. Satellite has historically been far more expensive and less efficient for data and phone than wired services, at least in urban areas. Something else that has also begun to change the playing field is online viewing through services such as Hulu, Amazon Instant Video / Prime, and Netflix, leading many to ditch either cable or satellite entirely. Of course, this may just mean that the cable / satellite providers pursue the remaining market all the more aggressively.

Even the two major satellite companies, [=DirecTV=] and Dish Network, originally tended not to target each other. Perhaps they figured that as long as there are people who still have cable, those are the ones that they should pursue. Another possibility is that they figured that those who are already with a particular satellite company had their reasons for not signing up for the other. The two companies have even considered merging at least twice, but both times plans have fallen through. In 2010, though, Dish declared open season on [=DirecTV=], declaring that Dish is the cheaper satellite company, [=DirecTV=] has responded with ads claiming better channels in their basic package and more HD. Of course, this does not go over well with cable or broadcast viewers, who may or may not have a cheaper service already...

Note: if you live in an area which is not serviced by ''any'' cable company (such as a rural area), seeing the anti-satellite ads on your satellite TV can get really annoying. The anti-cable ads annoy people who cannot use satellite because they're renting from a landlord who doesn't allow satellite dishes or have no clear view of the southern sky (the latter can be caused by trees or, in mountainous or hilly areas, high land blocking the view).

Another problem is HD, and channel coverage. You may want to get HD, but find that in order to get this with satellite, they require special drilling in order to cover a new dish which your landlord won't allow if you're renting. Or the provider you want may simply not carry certain networks, making it less palatable to choose them. Some also offer special features that aren't available with other providers, such as "On Demand" services or the ability to record in multiple rooms from one box.

* In Canada, Bell and Rogers both claim to have the most HD content. Rogers had an {{egregious}} ad in which the satellite company's picture for a hockey game is shown as far blurrier and more stretched (to fit a wide screen) than standard definition channels. So Bell doesn't have hockey in HD (which usually runs on major HD channels available in both services), and/or their HD is much worse than whatever definition the viewer is watching the ad in. In reality, the two services are quite similar for HD content.

* Just about any cable company runs commercials for itself on its own cable system. You could see the point if the commercials were aimed at those who only have the basic package trying to get them to upgrade to digital/HD. But in many cases, the commercials are either the ones they show on terrestrial TV stations aimed at getting people to subscribe or ones that seem to be intended to get satellite subscribers to go back to cable. In either case, this effort is wasted because the targets of either set of commercials can't see them ''because they don't have cable.'' Another thing cable companies can be guilty of: Sending out cards in the mail encouraging people to subscribe to cable TV. However, they don't single out those who don't have cable, so the majority of those cards are sent to people who are already subscribing to cable.

** And some guy put up a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2z3pqFDzIA&feature=related "completely awesome version"]] on Website/YouTube where the awesome Verizon installer guy [[YourHeadAsplode blows up.]]

* Even TheWeatherChannel has gotten involved in channel bashing. In 2013, TheWeatherChannel decided to raise the per-subscriber rate it charges the cable or satellite operator from about 13 cents to 14 cents, while [=DirecTV=] felt that TWC was only worth 10 cents, so [=DirecTV=] decided to drop it in favor of [=WeatherNation=], a competing TV weather service that does not charge subscriber fees. So The Weather Channel started running ads (on itself, of course, it doesn't want to pay competing stations to run ads) bashing [=DirecTV=] either parodying [=DirecTV=]'s ad campaign bashing cable companies, or complaining about how [=DirecTV=] has taken it off despite the fact that ''Nobody on [=DirecTV=] can see the ads because their channel isn't on [=DirecTV=].''

* A trend is for cable companies to trash phone companies which want to provide TV services. Suddenlink Communications ran one in which "customers" knock the phone company for wishing to provide TV service while pointing out how allegedly poor they are at providing Internet service. Without any irony whatsoever, the commercial then points out that Suddenlink is providing phone service just moments after asking viewers why one would ever want TV from a phone company.
** A lot of these used to focus on that the phone company wasn't actually the one providing the service. Instead, the phone company is usually partnering with a satellite provider to give the TV service. We also used to see the back-and-forth about "dedicated connections" vs. "availability" and "speed." Satellite/phone/DSL bundles would claim that they provided "dedicated connections" to customers, while the cable companies' customers had "shared connections." Of course, they didn't mention that these "dedicated connections" are not to each home, but (at best) to each street. The cable companies have responded with the fact that DSL's highest speeds aren't even available to most phone customers. They happen to be right about that, but they've made some fairly over-the-top commercials regarding download speeds. Cox Communications advertises their "[=PowerBoost=]" technology vs. the ability to take "power naps" during DSL downloads.

* A trend is for cable companies to trash phone companies which want to provide TV services. Suddenlink Communications is running one in which "customers" knock the phone company for wishing to provide TV service while pointing out how allegedly poor they are at providing Internet service. Without any irony whatsoever, the commercial then points out that Suddenlink is providing phone service just moments after asking viewers why one would ever want TV from a phone company. A lot of these used to focus on that the phone company wasn't actually the one providing the service. Instead, the phone company is usually partnering with a satellite provider to give the TV service. We also used to see the back-and-forth about "dedicated connections" vs. "availability" and "speed." Satellite/phone/DSL bundles would claim that they provided "dedicated connections" to customers, while the cable companies' customers had "shared connections." Of course, they didn't mention that these "dedicated connections" are not to each home, but (at best) to each street. The cable companies have responded with the fact that DSL's highest speeds aren't even available to most phone customers. They happen to be right about that, but they've made some fairly over-the-top commercials regarding download speeds. Cox Communications advertises their "[=PowerBoost=]" technology vs. the ability to take "power naps" during DSL downloads.

* At one point in TheNineties, a local UK branch of Comcast basically had a slot in their channel line-up for the then emerging Sky 2 channel, but all you got was a message saying that they couldn't show it because they couldn't shell out for the high fees Sky required to show it on their service. Which was very annoying if, for example, you were wanting to see XenaWarriorPrincess but couldn't, as it was only being shown on Sky 2 at the time. This somewhat foreshadowed the Sky vs. Virgin Media spat described below.

One of the things Americans don't notice, of course, is that cable companies don't go after each other. That's because cable companies will not wire an area if there's an existing cable operator, almost like a [[TheMafia mob]] staying out of another's territory. This is why the City of Los Angeles has 11 companies licensed to provide service anywhere in the city, but ''none of them'' operates in any area where there already is a cable company operating. So why step on the toes of someone who isn't actually a competitor? (The bigger cities have some compeition, but the "overbuilders" are much smaller companies.)

* Comcast does the same thing, recasting Clean-Cut Verizon Guy as a whiny, intrusive pest who harasses customers with breaking-and-entering, disturbingly-specific personal information ("I'll just start signing your name here, Doris...") and, of course, Verizon's BlatantLies about the Comcast Master Race. In one recent ad, Clean-Cut Verizon Guy is caught clutching the paw of a basset hound with pen in hand. ("I'm afraid the dog signed the contract, ma'am.")
* Comcast runs a series of ads in which DSL customers (who happen to be turtles, named [[MeaningfulName the Slowskys]]) constantly talk about how great their slow speeds are, since it gives them time to relax and unwind. A recent commercial shows one of the turtles having a "nightmare" in which a hot blond cable executive got him to switch to cable.

** A recent run of radio ads repeatedly compare Comcast's "blindingly fast speeds with Xfinity" to the "slow, plodding service" provided by "the phone company" and how largely unnamed national studies prove that the Comcast service is faster. You're lucky if the term "DSL" is directly mentioned in anything but the fast-speak at the end, since that's what it's ACTUALLY being compared to, despite the unstated implication being a direct Xfinity-to-FIOS comparison.
** Comcast now constantly mentions "DSL" in their commercials, but only ever as "slow DSL" It's repeated so often as to be a bald-faced attempt to link the two words together in public consciousness.
* Comcast and AT&T go after each other all the time. AT&T U-verse talks about how it doesn't bundle like cable and you can record four shows at once on the DVR. Comcast says Uverse is too slow and is now touting its watch-anywhere-in-the-house portable equipment.

** Just about any cable company runs commercials for itself on its own cable system. You could see the point if the commercials were aimed at those who only have the basic package trying to get them to upgrade to digital/HD. But in many cases, the commercials are either the ones they show on terrestrial TV stations aimed at getting people to subscribe or ones that seem to be intended to get satellite subscribers to go back to cable. In either case, this effort is wasted because the targets of either set of commercials can't see them ''because they don't have cable.''
** Another thing cable companies can be guilty of: Sending out cards in the mail encouraging people to subscribe to cable TV. However, they don't single out those who don't have cable, so the majority of those cards are sent to people who are already subscribing to cable.
** [[UnfortunateNames I don't think anyone could take a company named Cox seriously anyway.]]
** They don't just own cable systems; they also own many major market TV and radio stations, as well as newspapers; their flagships are the WSB cluster in Atlanta, as well as the 'Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' (where they're headquartered).
* [=DirecTV=] has a series of ads with celebs describing amazing sports moments, just to have the screen black out - "you missed it, because you have cable". This despite the fact that that people could catch them over and over in a less time-consuming distillation on ESPN's Sportscenter... at 9pm, 10pm, 11pm, 12am, 1am, 2am... That's what NFL Network is for. Combined with the basic cable channels, '''all''' of the games every week are easily accessible.
** In the great [=DirecTV=] vs Viacom dispute of Summer 2012, several different channels that were dropped temporarily on =[DirecTV=], (all 26 were run by Viacom) took to air waves and internet space to warn the viewers on other broadcasters that [=DirecTV=] was taking their channels away. When the block did go into effect, several advised switching at the end of these advertisements. All of these commercials were made by Viacom and pinned the blame for the drop directly on [=DirecTV=].
* [=DirecTV=] somewhat subverts the trope, with a series of commercials where B-list or better professional actors such as Danny [=DeVito=] lend (somewhat [[LargeHam hammy]]) energy to actual [=DirecTV=] customer letters. However, it has the actors reading it in a featureless studio without so much as a chair to sit in. All their budget went to the actor, it seems.
** Sadly, they've completely jumped on the bandwagon, and now have a series of commercials starring [[CorruptCorporateExecutive corrupt Cable Company executives]] plotting (quite badly) about how they're going to lie about their inferior product. In one of these ads, a group of cable executives sits around, trying to brainstorm for ideas. One says that they can raise their rates and get people with disposable income-- people who "wouldn't know HD if it sat in their lap and called them mama." They also have a series of TV and radio commercials that feature people commenting on how Satellite has things like digital signal, and HD channels, in such a way to imply that Cable doesn't even have these basic elements.
*** It's gotten worse. They're now portraying the executives as complete morons.
*** See the item about TheWeatherChannel below on how they're bashing [=DirecTV=] in a parody of its own commercials for dropping TWC for an alternative TV Weather provider.
** Recently, [=DirecTV=] has been doing ads that involve famous horror movies with some actors faces badly photoshopped so that he/she talks about how much better the service is to cable.
*** Which says nothing of what {{Website/CollegeHumor}} did here: in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pKKQ8u5d1U this video]], TV commercials are advertised with the use of scenes from ''{{Se7en}}, ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'', and ''ReqiuemForADream''.
** Just about any movie from any genre you can think of, along with TV shows and even sports - they once had Peyton Manning (when he was on the hot streak that lead to him winning the Super Bowl) talk about the virtues of [=DirecTV=] in the middle of a game. Of course, being on his hotstreak, he could afford a little time in the middle of a game.
*** And parodied by ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' in a skit featuring a [=DirecTV=] ad wedged into the DownerEnding of ''Million Dollar Baby''.
** The satellite wars have intensified, with [=DirecTV=] running ads attacking cable and Dish Network ''at the same time'', using the format of ''ToTellTheTruth''. Dish Network has apparently responded with ads claiming that they have more HD channels, which only works if On Demand feeds of single movies count as "channels". [=DirecTV=] responded by noting that these aren't really "channels" and that many of Dish Network's other HD channels are only HD part of the time. They are also now airing ads noting that they have exclusive commercial-free broadcasts of programs such as ''FridayNightLights'' and ''{{Series/Damages}}'' that Dish Network does not.
** [=DirecTV=] is running a series of SlipperySlopeFallacy commercials in which, because you have cable, one bad thing after another triggers a cascade failure of ridiculous proportions. Like how your cable goes out, so you start watching the neighborhood, you see a crime take place, you have to run and hide your identity, and fake your own death to keep the mafia from finding you. "So don't do that, switch to [=DirecTV=]."

** Another new ad has a woman who is upset about her shows not being able to record on cable because they're conflicting with her boyfriend or husband's shows and says that it feels like the cable is seeing her naked. The commercial urges viewers to ditch "cable's conflict box" and switch to [=DirecTV=], which lets you record up to five shows at once.

* Mexico has the SKY vs. cable ads. Since SKY has a virtual monopoly over satellite TV in Mexico after ''purchasing'' [=DirecTV=], the cable companies play on the satellite TV's ridiculously high prices, while SKY plays on the cable's limited availability and their lack of blacked-out soccer matches. Recently, the triple-play technologies are giving the cable companies the upper hand.

* Time Warner Cable has a series of ads where the clean-cut, good looking cable guy happens to run into the satellite guy, whose service just got cancelled. The customer occasionally stands between the two and compares their services. They've recently upgraded to the satellite guy ''stalking'' the TWC guy.
** They've gotten worse as of late. Now there is a guy that just sits in a room, or on his couch, saying cute little metaphors about the difference between cable and satellite. Also "you don't love puppies if you pick satellite or DSL."
* A more recent Time Warner TV spot featured Mike O'Malley holding a small puppy, saying that since cable cost less than satellite, the money could be used to buy things like, oh I don't know, dog food, and that puppies ''love'' dog food, so that the simple conclusion ''must'' be that [[InsaneTrollLogic satellite ''hates'' puppies!]] Kind of silly... but hey, it ''was'' a cute puppy.
** The ad execs themselves seem to have realized such strawman tactics were crossing some sort of line, as one hardly if ever sees this particular commercial any more.
*** This advertisement has resurfaced. It was originally targeted at DirecTV and is now targeted at AT&T [=UVerse=], which is the TV/phone/DSL bundle package for [[strike:DirecTV]] AT&T.
* Recently this type of commercial has come to The Netherlands, where UPC and Ziggo control over 90% of the market when it comes to cable. They've been knocking KPN / [=TELE2=] for the quality of their digital TV offering and DSL in general for their lack of speed. Of course, KPN (who owns the telecom network) is currently building a fiber-optic network to get better speeds so soon enough the ads will be going the other direction.

** Also with Virgin, they used to run adverts claiming that their internet connections were better than ADSL, despite their network having huge issues with latency and overselling of capacity, and the 50mbit service they advertised having very low national availability. The Advertising Standards Agency recently told them they can not run the adverts again in the same form.

* A recent trend is now for cable companies to trash phone companies which want to provide TV services. Suddenlink Communications is running one in which "customers" knock the phone company for wishing to provide TV service while pointing out how allegedly poor they are at providing Internet service. Without any irony whatsoever, the commercial then points out that Suddenlink is now providing phone service just moments after asking viewers why one would ever want TV from a phone company.
** A lot of these used to focus on the fact that the phone company wasn't actually the one providing the service. Instead, the phone company is usually partnering with a satellite provider to give the TV service. We also used to see the back-and-forth about "dedicated connections" vs. "availability" and "speed." Satellite/phone/DSL bundles would claim that they provided "dedicated connections" to customers, while the cable companies' customers had "shared connections." Of course, they didn't mention that these "dedicated connections" are not to each home, but (at best) to each street. The cable companies have responded with the fact that DSL's highest speeds aren't even available to most phone customers. They happen to be right about that, but they've made some fairly over-the-top commercials regarding download speeds. Cox Communications advertises their "[=PowerBoost=]" technology vs. the ability to take "power naps" during DSL downloads.
* Recently this has shifted to fighting internet-based services like Netflix. If a movie is offered pay-per-view, the satellite or cable company must remind you every other sentence exactly how many days earlier you can watch it with them instead of seeing it on Netflix. Sometimes they might also mention Redbox, which offers DVD/Blu-ray through vending machines.

* Recently this has shifted to fighting internet-based services like Netflix. If a movie is offered pay-per-view, the satellite or cable company must remind you every other sentence exactly how many days earlier you can watch it with them instead of seeing it on Netflix.

* A recent trend is now for cable companies to trash phone companies which want to provide TV services. Suddenlink Communications is running one in which "customers" knock the phone company for wishing to provide TV service while pointing out how allegedly poor they are at providing Internet service. Without any irony whatsoever, the commercial then points out that Suddenlink is now providing phone service just moments after asking viewers why one would ever want TV from a phone company.
** A lot of these used to focus on the fact that the phone company wasn't actually the one providing the service. Instead, the phone company is usually partnering with a satellite provider to give the TV service. We also used to see the back-and-forth about "dedicated connections" vs. "availability" and "speed." Satellite/phone/DSL bundles would claim that they provided "dedicated connections" to customers, while the cable companies' customers had "shared connections." Of course, they didn't mention that these "dedicated connections" are not to each home, but (at best) to each street. The cable companies have responded with the fact that DSL's highest speeds aren't even available to most phone customers. They happen to be right about that, but they've made some fairly over-the-top commercials regarding download speeds. Cox Communications advertises their "[=PowerBoost=]" technology vs. the ability to take "power naps" during DSL downloads.

* A more recent Time Warner TV spot featured Mike O'Malley holding a small puppy, saying that since cable cost less than satellite, the money could be used to buy things like, oh I don't know, dog food, and that puppies ''love'' dog food, so that the simple conclusion ''must'' be that [[InsaneTrollLogic satellite ''hates'' puppies!]] Kind of silly... but hey, it ''was'' a cute puppy.
** The ad execs themselves seem to have realized such strawman tactics were crossing some sort of line, as one hardly if ever sees this particular commercial any more.
*** This advertisement has resurfaced. It was originally targeted at DirecTV and is now targeted at AT&T [=UVerse=], which is the TV/phone/DSL bundle package for [[strike:DirecTV]] AT&T.
* [=DirecTV=] somewhat subverts the trope, with a series of commercials where B-list or better professional actors such as Danny [=DeVito=] lend (somewhat [[LargeHam hammy]]) energy to actual [=DirecTV=] customer letters. However, it has the actors reading it in a featureless studio without so much as a chair to sit in. All their budget went to the actor, it seems.
** Sadly, they've completely jumped on the bandwagon, and now have a series of commercials starring [[CorruptCorporateExecutive corrupt Cable Company executives]] plotting (quite badly) about how they're going to lie about their inferior product. In one of these ads, a group of cable executives sits around, trying to brainstorm for ideas. One says that they can raise their rates and get people with disposable income-- people who "wouldn't know HD if it sat in their lap and called them mama." They also have a series of TV and radio commercials that feature people commenting on how Satellite has things like digital signal, and HD channels, in such a way to imply that Cable doesn't even have these basic elements.
*** It's gotten worse. They're now portraying the executives as complete morons.
*** See the item about TheWeatherChannel below on how they're bashing [=DirecTV=] in a parody of its own commercials for dropping TWC for an alternative TV Weather provider.
** Recently, [=DirecTV=] has been doing ads that involve famous horror movies with some actors faces badly photoshopped so that he/she talks about how much better the service is to cable.
*** Which says nothing of what {{Website/CollegeHumor}} did here: in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pKKQ8u5d1U this video]], TV commercials are advertised with the use of scenes from ''{{Se7en}}, ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'', and ''ReqiuemForADream''.
** Just about any movie from any genre you can think of, along with TV shows and even sports - they once had Peyton Manning (when he was on the hot streak that lead to him winning the Super Bowl) talk about the virtues of [=DirecTV=] in the middle of a game. Of course, being on his hotstreak, he could afford a little time in the middle of a game.
*** And parodied by ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' in a skit featuring a [=DirecTV=] ad wedged into the DownerEnding of ''Million Dollar Baby''.
** The satellite wars have intensified, with [=DirecTV=] running ads attacking cable and Dish Network ''at the same time'', using the format of ''ToTellTheTruth''. Dish Network has apparently responded with ads claiming that they have more HD channels, which only works if On Demand feeds of single movies count as "channels". [=DirecTV=] responded by noting that these aren't really "channels" and that many of Dish Network's other HD channels are only HD part of the time. They are also now airing ads noting that they have exclusive commercial-free broadcasts of programs such as ''FridayNightLights'' and ''{{Series/Damages}}'' that Dish Network does not.
** [=DirecTV=] is running a series of SlipperySlopeFallacy commercials in which, because you have cable, one bad thing after another triggers a cascade failure of ridiculous proportions. Like how your cable goes out, so you start watching the neighborhood, you see a crime take place, you have to run and hide your identity, and fake your own death to keep the mafia from finding you. "So don't do that, switch to [=DirecTV=]."
--> "[[InsaneTrollLogic Don't attend your funeral]] [[MakesJustAsMuchSenseInContext as a guy named Phil Shiffley.]] Call 1-800 [=DirecTV=].
** Another new ad has a woman who is upset about her shows not being able to record on cable because they're conflicting with her boyfriend or husband's shows and says that it feels like the cable is seeing her naked. The commercial urges viewers to ditch "cable's conflict box" and switch to [=DirecTV=], which lets you record up to five shows at once.
* Mexico has the SKY vs. cable ads. Since SKY has a virtual monopoly over satellite TV in Mexico after ''purchasing'' [=DirecTV=], the cable companies play on the satellite TV's ridiculously high prices, while SKY plays on the cable's limited availability and their lack of blacked-out soccer matches. Recently, the triple-play technologies are giving the cable companies the upper hand.
** It has evolved nowadays in an all-out bashing campaign from '''yoo''' (a Triple-Play service) against everyone[[note]]their main target is Telmex, Mexico's largest phone and internet provider, which can't offer cable TV services due to strange legal circumstances,[[/note]] except Sky (since both have deals with the same company), which backfired spectacularly for the same reasons as the ''I'm A Mac'' ads. They learned from that mistake, however their ads are still disliked but due to the fact the main networks [[SpamAttack spam them in every commercial break.]]

* Prime example of the IdiotBall trope, commercial where there are a red team and a blue team competing on a TV GameShow called "You Might Think [=DirecTV=] Has More HD Than Comcast But You're Wrong". Despite being ''the name of the game show they're in'', when the red team is asked which has more HD programming in some city (and a voice over announcer repeating ''sotto voce'' the fact that they should know this), they still get it wrong!
* Verizon [=FiOS=] has inverted this. While they do tell you about how their main competitor Comcast is inferior, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiHsxQJ9ZOo one commercial]] has Creator/MichaelBay parodying himself and his over-the-top standards for special effects, claiming throughout the commercial that he needs things to be 'awesome,' and ending with him talking to the awesome Verizon installer guy. This could have easily been played straight with Bay saying how Comcast wasn't awesome.
** And some guy put up a [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2z3pqFDzIA&feature=related "completely awesome version"]] on Website/YouTube where the awesome Verizon installer guy [[YourHeadAsplode blows up.]]
** Verizon has been heavily bashing cable in general in their ads by having a good looking guy help new customers with their [=FiOS=] equipment while a not so good looking cable guy is either trying to prove his service is better or trying to show the Verizon guy that cable is all he needs.
* Time Warner Cable has a series of ads where the clean-cut, good looking cable guy happens to run into the satellite guy, whose service just got cancelled. The customer occasionally stands between the two and compares their services. They've recently upgraded to the satellite guy ''stalking'' the TWC guy.
** They've gotten worse as of late. Now there is a guy that just sits in a room, or on his couch, saying cute little metaphors about the difference between cable and satellite. Also "you don't love puppies if you pick satellite or DSL."
* Comcast does the same thing, recasting Clean-Cut Verizon Guy as a whiny, intrusive pest who harasses customers with breaking-and-entering, disturbingly-specific personal information ("I'll just start signing your name here, Doris...") and, of course, Verizon's BlatantLies about the Comcast Master Race. In one recent ad, Clean-Cut Verizon Guy is caught clutching the paw of a basset hound with pen in hand. ("I'm afraid the dog signed the contract, ma'am.")
* In the UK, there was a brief but bitter war between Virgin Media and Sky, after a falling out meant that Sky withdrew some of their channels that had previously been available on Virgin. So instead of saying "You can watch this on our service", Sky's ads for the next few months all said "You can't watch this on their service". ie- their ''Series/{{Lost}}'' poster read "Answers are coming... but not to Virgin Media".
** Meanwhile the EPG spaces where their channels used to be were replaced with {{Pun}}s on the actual channel names.
** Also with Virgin, they used to run adverts claiming that their internet connections were better than ADSL, despite their network having huge issues with latency and overselling of capacity, and the 50mbit service they advertised having very low national availability. The Advertising Standards Agency recently told them they can not run the adverts again in the same form.

* Recently this type of commercial has come to The Netherlands, where UPC and Ziggo control over 90% of the market when it comes to cable. They've been knocking KPN / [=TELE2=] for the quality of their digital TV offering and DSL in general for their lack of speed. Of course, KPN (who owns the telecom network) is currently building a fiber-optic network to get better speeds so soon enough the ads will be going the other direction.

* A cable TV company in the Northeast US ran a series of direct mail ads that had Santa Claus telling two small children "Santa can't land on your house because you have a satellite dish".
* The local Cox Communications (cable/phone/internet) runs continuous replays of a local news program on one of their channels. This channel is also overloaded with ads for Cox Communications, badmouthing rivals Qwest Communications and [=DirecTV=]. Excuse me, but the only way to ''see this channel'' is to have Cox service already, so what's the point?
** Just about any cable company runs commercials for itself on its own cable system. You could see the point if the commercials were aimed at those who only have the basic package trying to get them to upgrade to digital/HD. But in many cases, the commercials are either the ones they show on terrestrial TV stations aimed at getting people to subscribe or ones that seem to be intended to get satellite subscribers to go back to cable. In either case, this effort is wasted because the targets of either set of commercials can't see them ''because they don't have cable.''
** Another thing cable companies can be guilty of: Sending out cards in the mail encouraging people to subscribe to cable TV. However, they don't single out those who don't have cable, so the majority of those cards are sent to people who are already subscribing to cable.
** [[UnfortunateNames I don't think anyone could take a company named Cox seriously anyway.]]
** They don't just own cable systems; they also own many major market TV and radio stations, as well as newspapers; their flagships are the WSB cluster in Atlanta, as well as the 'Atlanta Journal-Constitution'' (where they're headquartered).
* Through most of 2009, Canadians got to witness a variation of this where cable carriers and over-the-air broadcasters were in a propaganda war over [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fee-for-carriage proposed new government regulations]] changing the relationship between OTA broadcasters and cable. Broadcasters, trying to convince the public that the new fees cable companies would have to pay could be used to fund "local TV" and without it smaller centres would lose their affiliates, started a "Save Local TV" ad campaign. Cable companies, insisting that they would pass this cost onto their consumers at the behest of government policy (this is less scary, of course, when you remember the entire industry is highly regulated) started a "Stop the TV tax" ad campaign. For most of the year, this was the majority of the ads aired on television. The ad campaign only died when the government tabled the decision.
* Recently this has shifted to fighting internet-based services like Netflix. If a movie is offered pay-per-view, the satellite or cable company must remind you every other sentence exactly how many days earlier you can watch it with them instead of seeing it on Netflix.
* SkyOne LOVED to point out in promos for their series that they would show up years before coming to terrestrial, most notably in one for ''Series/LawAndOrder'' which specifically mentioned the series' FTA home ChannelFive; this one was narrated by Steven Zirnkilton... who, for those who don't know, is the fellow who provides the opening voiceover for all the ''L&O'' shows.

* As of October 2011, Buckeye Cable of NW Ohio ([[AndZoidberg and parts of S Michigan]]) is currently running two different commercial campaigns. The first one involves a pair of Dish Network salesmen trying and failing to sell existing Buckeye customers satellite TV. The second one involves talking computers that are so happy with Buckeye's internet speed because of how quickly they can load up games or hit shopping websites (the latter includes a trio of computers that all sound like [[SassyBlackWoman Sassy Black Women]]). A couple other campaigns were less subtle about decrying the problems of satellite TV and included such things as a list of dish complaints set to 'March of the Toreadors' and [[MundaneMadeAwesome a man's plight with rain and his dish]] set to OminousLatinChanting.
* Comcast and AT&T go after each other all the time. AT&T U-verse talks about how it doesn't bundle like cable and you can record four shows at once on the DVR. Comcast says Uverse is too slow and is now touting its watch-anywhere-in-the-house portable equipment.

** They've also taken to flooding their own Facebook page with posts asking followers to petition [=DirecTV=] to bring back The Weather Channel.

Even the two major satellite companies, DirecTV and DishNetwork, originally tended not to target each other. Perhaps they figured that as long as there are people who still have cable, those are the ones that they should pursue. Another possibility is that they figured that those who are already with a particular satellite company had their reasons for not signing up for the other. The two companies have even considered merging at least twice, but both times plans have fallen through. In 2010, though, Dish declared open season on [=DirecTV=], declaring that Dish is the cheaper satellite company, [=DirecTV=] has responded with ads claiming better channels in their basic package and more HD. Of course, this does not go over well with cable or broadcast viewers, who may or may not have a cheaper service already...

** A lot of these used to focus on the fact that the phone company wasn't actually the one providing the service. Instead, the phone company is usually partnering with a satellite provider to give the TV service. We also used to see the back-and-forth about "dedicated connections" vs. "availability" and "speed." Satellite/phone/DSL bundles would claim that they provided "dedicated connections" to customers, while the cable companies' customers had "shared connections." Of course, they didn't mention that these "dedicated connections" are not to each home, but (at best) to each street. The cable companies have responded with the fact that DSL's highest speeds aren't even available to most phone customers. They happen to be right about that, but they've made some fairly over-the-top commercials regarding download speeds. Cox Communications advertises their "Power Boost" technology vs. the ability to take "power naps" during DSL downloads.

*** This advertisement has resurfaced. It was originally targeted at DirecTV and is now targeted at ATT [=UVerse=], which is the phone/DSL bundle package for [[strike:DirecTV]] AT&T.

*** See the item about TheWeatherChannel below on how they're bashing Direct TV in a parody of its own commercials for dropping TWC for an alternative TV Weather provider.

** Just about any movie from any genre you can think of, along with TV shows and even sports - they once had Peyton Manning (when he was on the hot streak that lead to him winning the Super Bowl) talk about the virtues of DirecTV in the middle of a game. Of course, being on his hotstreak, he could afford a little time in the middle of a game.

** The satellite wars have intensified, with [=DirecTV=] running ads attacking cable and Dish Network ''at the same time'', using the format to ''ToTellTheTruth''. Dish Network has apparently responded with ads claiming that they have more HD channels, which only works if On Demand feeds of single movies count as "channels". [=DirecTV=] responded by noting that these aren't really "channels" and that many of Dish Network's other HD channels are only HD part of the time. They are also now airing ads noting that they have exclusive commercial-free broadcasts of programs such as ''FridayNightLights'' and ''{{Series/Damages}}'' that Dish Network does not.

* Comcast does the same thing, recasting Clean-Cut Verizon Guy as a whiny, intrusive pest who harasses customers with breaking-and-entering, disturbingly-specific personal information ("I'll just start signing your name here, Doris...") and, of course, Verizon's BlatantLies about the Comcast Cable Master Race. In one recent ad, Clean-Cut Verizon Guy is caught clutching the paw of a basset hound with pen in hand. ("I'm afraid the dog signed the contract, ma'am.")

* DirecTV has a series of ads with celebs describing amazing sports moments, just to have the screen black out - "you missed it, because you have cable". This despite the fact that that people could catch them over and over in a less time-consuming distillation on ESPN's Sportscenter... at 9pm, 10pm, 11pm, 12am, 1am, 2am... That's what NFL Network is for. Combined with the basic cable channels, '''all''' of the games every week are easily accessible.
** In the great DirecTV vs Viacom dispute of Summer 2012, several different providers and channels that were dropped temporarily on Directv,(26 run by Viacom) took to air waves and internet space to warn the viewers on other broadcasters that Directv was taking their channels away. when the block did go into effect, several advised switching at the end of these advertisements. all of these commercials were made by viacom and pinned the blame for the drop directly on Direct.

* News 12 Long Island, an all-news channel in New York on Cablevision Channel 12, uses the phrase "Never on [=FiOS=], Never on Satellite" after every traffic and weather report and has commercials where people arrive late for work or get caught in the rain because they couldn't watch News 12.

* Even TheWeatherChannel has gotten involved in channel bashing. In 2013, TheWeatherChannel decided to raise the per-subscriber rate it charges the cable or satellite operator from about 13c to 14c, while Direct TV felt that TWC was only worth 10c, so Direct TV decided to drop it in favor of [=WeatherNation=], a competing TV Weather service that does not charge subscriber fees. So The Weather Channel started running ads (on itself, of course, it doesn't want to pay competing stations to run ads) bashing Direct TV either parodying Direct TV's ad campaign bashing cable companies, or complaining about how Direct TV has taken it off despite the fact that ''Nobody on Direct TV can see the ads because their channel isn't on Direct TV.''
** They've also taken to flooding their own Facebook page with posts asking followers to petition Direct TV to bring back The Weather Channel.

* Even TheWeatherChannel has gotten involved in channel bashing. In 2013, TheWeatherChannel decided to raise the per-subscriber rate it charges the cable or satellite operator from about 13c to 14c, while Direct TV felt that TWC was only worth 10c, so Direct TV decided to drop it in favor of [=WeatherNation=], a competing TV Weather service that does not charge subscriber fees. So The Weather Channel started running ads (on itself, of course, it doesn't want to pay competing stations to run ads) bashing Direct TV either parodying Direct TV's ad campaign bashing cable companies, or complaining about how Direct TV has taken it off despite the fact that ''Nobody on Direct TV can see the ads because their channel isn't on Direct TV.''

** Sadly, they've completely jumped on the bandwagon, and now have a series of commercials starring corrupt Cable Company executives plotting (quite badly) about how they're going to lie about their inferior product. In one of these ads, a group of cable executives sits around, trying to brainstorm for ideas. One says that they can raise their rates and get people with disposable income-- people who "wouldn't know HD if it sat in their lap and called them mama." They also have a series of TV and radio commercials that feature people commenting on how Satellite has things like digital signal, and HD channels, in such a way to imply that Cable doesn't even have these basic elements.

* Even TheWeatherChannel has gotten involved in channel bashing. In 2013, TheWeatherChannel decided to raise the per-subscriber rate it charges the cable or satellite operator from about 13c to 14c, while Direct TV felt that TWC was only worth 10c, so Direct TV decided to drop it in favor of [=WeatherNation=], a competing TV Weather service that does not charge subscriber fees. So The Weather Channel started running ads bashing Direct TV either parodying Direct TV's ad campaign bashing cable companies, or complaining about how Direct TV has taken it off despite the fact that ''Nobody on Direct TV can see the ads because their channel isn't on Direct TV.''

----

On a cable company, you'll see commercials about how satellite dishes go out when it rains. On a satellite company, you'll see commercials about how cable has limited availability, costs too much, and gives you strange contracts. And if you happen to have =[FiOS]= or something like it, you'll see [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs both]]. Either way, you'll see [[TooIncompetentToOperateABlanket people so stupid that they shouldn't be allowed to have any technology more complicated than a dull spoon]] trying to use them.

On a cable company, you'll see commercials about how satellite dishes go out when it rains. On a satellite company, you'll see commercials about how cable has limited availability, costs too much, and gives you strange contracts. And if you happen to have ={{FiOS}}= or something like it, you'll see [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs both]]. Either way, you'll see [[TooIncompetentToOperateABlanket people so stupid that they shouldn't be allowed to have any technology more complicated than a dull spoon]] trying to use them.

On a cable company, you'll see commercials about how satellite dishes go out when it rains. On a satellite company, you'll see commercials about how cable has limited availability, costs too much, and gives you strange contracts. And if you happen to have FiOS or something like it, you'll see [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs both]]. Either way, you'll see [[TooIncompetentToOperateABlanket people so stupid that they shouldn't be allowed to have any technology more complicated than a dull spoon]] trying to use them.

On a cable company, you'll see commercials about how satellite dishes go out when it rains. On a satellite company, you'll see commercials about how cable has limited availability, costs too much, and gives you strange contracts. Either way, you'll see [[TooIncompetentToOperateABlanket people so stupid that they shouldn't be allowed to have any technology more complicated than a dull spoon]] trying to use them.

** The satellite wars have intensified, with [=DirecTV=] running ads attacking cable and Dish Network ''at the same time'', using the format to ''ToTellTheTruth''. Dish Network has apparently responded with ads claiming that they have more HD channels, which only works if On Demand feeds of single movies count as "channels". [=DirecTV=] responded by noting that these aren't really "channels" and that many of Dish Network's other HD channels are only HD part of the time. They are also now airing ads noting that they have exclusive commercial-free broadcasts of programs such as ''FridayNightLights'' and ''{{Damages}}'' that Dish Network does not.

* In the UK, there was a brief but bitter war between Virgin Media and Sky, after a falling out meant that Sky withdrew some of their channels that had previously been available on Virgin. So instead of saying "You can watch this on our service", Sky's ads for the next few months all said "You can't watch this on their service". ie- their ''Series/{{Lost}}'' poster read "Answers are coming... but not to Virgin Media"

** A recent run of radio ads repeatedly compare Comcast's "blindingly fast speeds with XFinity" to the "slow, plodding service" provided by "the phone company" and how largely unnamed national studies prove that the Comcast service is faster. You're lucky if the term "DSL" is directly mentioned in anything but the fast-speak at the end, since that's what it's ACTUALLY being compared to, despite the unstated implication being a direct XFinity-to-FIOS comparison.

The recent development of "triple-play" -- phone, TV and data in a cable connection -- might turn the tables on this practice sooner or later. Satellite has historically been far more expensive and less efficient for data and phone than wired services, at least in urban areas. Something else that has also begun to change the playing field is online viewing through services such as Hulu, Amazon Instant Video / Prime, and Netflix, leading many to ditch either cable or satellite entirely. Of course, this may just means that the cable / satellite providers pursue the remaining market all the more aggressively.

* SkyOne LOVES to point out in promos for their series that they show up years before coming to terrestrial, most notably in one for ''Series/LawAndOrder'' which specifically mentioned the series' FTA home ChannelFive; this one was narrated by Steven Zirnkilton... who, for those who don't know, is the fellow who provides the opening voiceover for all the L&O shows.

** The satellite wars have intensified, with [=DirecTV=] running ads attacking cable and Dish Network ''at the same time'', using the format to ''ToTellTheTruth''. Dish Network has apparently responded with ads claiming that they have more HD channels, which only works if On Demand feeds of single movies count as "channels". [=DirectTV=] responded by noting that these aren't really "channels" and that many of Dish Network's other HD channels are only HD part of the time. They are also now airing ads noting that they have exclusive commercial-free broadcasts of programs such as ''FridayNightLights'' and ''{{Damages}}'' that Dish Network does not.
** [=DirectTV=] is running a series of SlipperySlopeFallacy commercials in which, because you have cable, one bad thing after another triggers a cascade failure of ridiculous proportions. Like how your cable goes out, so you start watching the neighborhood, you see a crime take place, you have to run and hide your identity, and fake your own death to keep the mafia from finding you. "So don't do that, switch to [=DirectTV=]."

* Prime example of the IdiotBall trope, commercial where there are a red team and a blue team competing on a TV GameShow called "You Might Think [=DirectTV=] Has More HD Than Comcast But You're Wrong". Despite being ''the name of the game show they're in'', when the red team is asked which has more HD programming in some city (and a voice over announcer repeating ''sotto voce'' the fact that they should know this), they still get it wrong!

* News 12 Long Island, an all-news channel in New York on Cablevision Channel 12, uses the phrase "Never on [=FiOs=], Never on Satellite" after every traffic and weather report and has commercials where people arrive late for work or get caught in the rain because they couldn't watch News 12.