Radio Station Sued for Contest Deception

Cumulus CHR Hot 102 (WLTO-FM) in Lexington, KY is being sued by a listener who says she was deceived about a prize she won. DJ Slick told listeners he'd be giving away "100 grand." After the listener won, the station manager informed her that she won a Nestle's 100 Grand candy bar and not the money. When she complained, he offered her $5,000.

Nice.

> Cumulus CHR Hot 102 (WLTO-FM) in Lexington, KY is being sued
> by a listener who says she was deceived about a prize she
> won. DJ Slick told listeners he'd be giving away "100
> grand." After the listener won, the station manager
> informed her that she won a Nestle's 100 Grand candy bar and
> not the money. When she complained, he offered her $5,000.
>
> Nice.
>

Ah hell, we did that in Tupelo years ago. It was an April Fool's gag. We said that the first 50 people to come by the station would get 100 Grand. People showed up in droves, and most of them were skeptical. Nobody got upset, and we not only gave them the 100 Grand candy bars, we fed them sausage and biscuits, and registered everyone for $106 that we gave away.

Some people just get their friggin' panties in a wad.

MC
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Chatham5150 on 06/25/05 02:27 PM.</FONT></P>

>
> Ah hell, we did that in Tupelo years ago. It was an April
> Fool's gag. We said that the first 50 people to come by the
> station would get 100 Grand. People showed up in droves, and
> most of them were skeptical. Nobody got upset, and we not
> only gave them the 100 Grand candy bars, we fed them sausage
> and biscuits, and registered everyone for $106 that we gave
> away.
>
> Some people just get their friggin' panties in a wad.
>
> MC
>

I couldn't disagree more. This contest made people watch American Idol then be a certain caller to answer a question. It had a big buildup and had no tongue-in-cheek elements. I hope she gets the 100 grand (cash)...I believe she will. I can't believe in this day and age a jock would be so stupid as to try this. Management didn't know he was doing it. If anything, he should lose the money for being so un-original.

> I couldn't disagree more. This contest made people watch
> American Idol then be a certain caller to answer a question.
> It had a big buildup and had no tongue-in-cheek elements. I
> hope she gets the 100 grand (cash)...I believe she will. I
> can't believe in this day and age a jock would be so stupid
> as to try this. Management didn't know he was doing it. If
> anything, he should lose the money for being so un-original.
>
Agreed. Not only is it an OLD, lame bit...the "talent" failed to
word it correctly: you have to be careful to NOT actually mention
words like "spend" and "cash". The Kentucky board has all the
stupid details (he kept a blog). This is just sad.
<P ID="signature">______________
you're not a lawyer, are you?</P>

I'll bet the DJ did it wrong and actually indicated along the way that the "100 Grand" was some monetary value. If you're going to do the "100 Grand" prank, you can't ever even hint at it being remotely close to money.


> Cumulus CHR Hot 102 (WLTO-FM) in Lexington, KY is being sued
> by a listener who says she was deceived about a prize she
> won. DJ Slick told listeners he'd be giving away "100
> grand." After the listener won, the station manager
> informed her that she won a Nestle's 100 Grand candy bar and
> not the money. When she complained, he offered her $5,000.
>
> Nice.
>

> Ah hell, we did that in Tupelo years ago. It was an April
> Fool's gag. We said that the first 50 people to come by the
> station would get 100 Grand. People showed up in droves, and
> most of them were skeptical. Nobody got upset, and we not
> only gave them the 100 Grand candy bars, we fed them sausage
> and biscuits, and registered everyone for $106 that we gave
> away.

>Some people just get their friggin' panties in a wad.

If I thought I'd won $100,000 and it turned out to be a candy bar, my panties would definitely be in a wad.

A giveaway of 100 grand on April Fools Day to 50 people; I'm sure most people would realize it was a joke.

The issue here, in my opinion, is whether the station really misled its listeners. If it did, I think the woman suing would win. And since the station has offered her $5,000, I'm guessing the station thinks it's in the wrong. The smartest thing for the station to do would be to settle out of court. It could probably make the woman happy with far less than $100,000.

> > Ah hell, we did that in Tupelo years ago. It was an April
> > Fool's gag. We said that the first 50 people to come by
> the
> > station would get 100 Grand. People showed up in droves,
> and
> > most of them were skeptical. Nobody got upset, and we not
> > only gave them the 100 Grand candy bars, we fed them
> sausage
> > and biscuits, and registered everyone for $106 that we
> gave
> > away.
>
> >Some people just get their friggin' panties in a wad.
>
> If I thought I'd won $100,000 and it turned out to be a
> candy bar, my panties would definitely be in a wad.
>
> A giveaway of 100 grand on April Fools Day to 50 people; I'm
> sure most people would realize it was a joke.
>
> The issue here, in my opinion, is whether the station really
> misled its listeners. If it did, I think the woman suing
> would win. And since the station has offered her $5,000,
> I'm guessing the station thinks it's in the wrong. The
> smartest thing for the station to do would be to settle out
> of court. It could probably make the woman happy with far
> less than $100,000.
>

My problem with the whole thing is that there are people out there who base their financial wellbeing on radio contests. If I were calling in to win such a large sum, I'd be suspect about it. Now, when this woman actually won the contest, if he said something like "you're set for life now" or "where are you going to spend that money," then, she has a case. Other than that, it seems to me that she's just a pissed off vicim of a radio prank, albeit a stupid one.

MC

This reminds me of the story about a Hooters waitress in Florida a couple years ago who sued teh company, and got a new car.

She particptated in a contest in which the winner would get a Toy-yoda. Not a Toyota. The blindfolded her, and brought her out to the parking lot....they removed the blindfold, and there he was....a TOY YODA doll in it's original packaging!!!

She sued (or complained) about it, and Hooters eventually let her pick out a new TOYOTA...

I wonder if she kept the toy Yoda? =)


<P ID="signature">______________
Don't sweat the petty stuff, and don't pet the sweaty stuff.</P>

> This reminds me of the story about a Hooters waitress in
> Florida a couple years ago who sued teh company, and got a
> new car.
>
> She particptated in a contest in which the winner would get
> a Toy-yoda. Not a Toyota. The blindfolded her, and brought
> her out to the parking lot....they removed the blindfold,
> and there he was....a TOY YODA doll in it's original
> packaging!!!
>
> She sued (or complained) about it, and Hooters eventually
> let her pick out a new TOYOTA...
>
> I wonder if she kept the toy Yoda? =)
>

I remember that. I'd love to have been a sales guy at the dealership where she got to pick out the car. I'd say "oh, a Camry you seek." "Leather interior and sunroof it has." "Rush not into this selection, for to the dark side it leads."

MC