Field Reports
Trudeau Found in Contempt by
Federal Court Judge
By Thomas Haire ( thaire@questex.com)
CHICAGO — On Nov. 19, famous
infomercial host and marketer Kevin
Trudeau was found in contempt of a
federal court order barring him from
misrepresenting the contents of his
popular books in a television ad. The
Chicago Tribune reports that U.S.
District Court Judge
Robert Gettleman concurred with the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC)
that Trudeau was guilty of
deceiving viewers of the
long-form DRTV ad for
“The Weight-Loss Cure
‘They’ Don’t Want You to
Know About.”
In the show, Trudeau
calls the diet plan
described in his book as
“the easiest method
known on planet Earth.”
He also contends that if
readers follow the diet
plan, they will be able to eat “anything
you want.” However, the FTC contended — and Gettleman agreed —
that the diet plan was anything but
simple and did not allow readers to eat
“anything,” putting Trudeau squarely at
odds with an order prohibiting him
from misrepresenting the contents of a
publication in a DRTV ad.
The book’s weight-loss program
requires colonics, forbids eating in
chain restaurants and limits dieters to
as few as 500 calories per day during
stretches. While banning other items,
such as meat, poultry and artificial
sweeteners, the diet also
called for readers to take
injections of a hormonal
product not approved by
the U.S. government for
weight loss.
“Kevin Trudeau is one
heck of a salesman,” the
judge’s opinion opens,
according to the Tribune.
“He is also a prolific
author, self-described
consumer advocate and
‘exposer of corporate and
government corruption.’
He is also an ex-felon
and … [in contempt] of
this court’s orders.”
While Trudeau’s legal team argued
that the FTC was attacking his free
speech rights, the judge disagreed. A
hearing date to decide on the Trudeau’s
punishment for the contempt finding
is expected to be announced soon.
The book’s not the problem
— it’s Kevin Trudeau’s statements in the ad promoting
the book, says the FTC.
Jack Myers: Broadcast and Cable Network
Upfront Costs Up 8 Percent
NEW YORK — The Jack Myers Research Report is estimating that costs-per-thousand
(CPM) from 2007-08 broadcast and cable upfront sales are up about 8 percent — a
major turnaround from the 2006-07 season’s 1-percent decline. However, the Myers Report
says that while the increase is “inflationary,” it remains a “bargain” compared to current
scatter market pricing.
The report also contends slackening ratings for the broadcast networks are pushing
more ad dollars into the cable, syndication, out-of-home and emerging broadband video
markets. Because the market transitioned this year to account for the “TiVo effect” (
ratings once based on live airings are now based on the live+3-day ratings), the Myers
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