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I can't remember a recent instance in which the final amount I owed, whether it be for a hotel reservation or a concert ticket, didn't make my eyes bug out in shock. Now, a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should limit these bait-and-switch pricing tactics. The FTC has announced the Junk Fees Rule, requiring live-event ticketing and short-term lodging businesses to be transparent about the total price owed. Other companies will continue to be monitored on a case-by-case basis for deceptive pricing. The new rule, first proposed in 2023, should get rid of all those extra "resort" and "service" fees tacked on at checkout that often feel arbitrary. Companies can still technically include them, but they must be factored into the initial price shown. The required disclosure means the first amount you see on displays, advertisements and the like should also be the total amount you pay. The Junk Fees Rule also requires businesses to display that final amount "more prominently" than any other information. So, it can't say it will cost one thing in big font and then in really small print add that there's a lot of fees on top of it. People deserve to know up-front what theyre being asked to pay without worrying that theyll later be saddled with mysterious fees that they havent budgeted for and cant avoid, said FTC Chair Lina M. Khan. "I urge enforcers to continue cracking down on these unlawful fees and encourage state and federal policymakers to build on this success with legislation that bans unfair and deceptive junk fees across the economy. The FTC claims the Junk Fee Rule will save individuals up to an estimated 53 million hours each year and more than $11 billion over the next decade. The rule will go into effect 120 days after it's published in the Federal Registrar. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/ftc-bans-hidden-junk-fees-on-tickets-and-short-term-lodging-purchases-160702790.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
Apple TV+ has renewed its hit sci-fi show Silo for two more seasons. However, the show will end at that point after telling the full story of the Hugh Howey novels on which it's based. Excited to share that Silo will return for a third AND fourth season! Were thrilled to support the imagination and inspiration out of the UK as they continue to create world-class films and series, Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote on X, perhaps in an attempt to butter up the creative industry in the UK. Apple doesn't tend to share viewership data for its shows and movies. However, Nielsen said soon after the show premiered last year that Silo was a breakout hit. The series debuted as the platform's number-one drama, per Nielsen data. Viewership is said to have grown in the following weeks. (We dug it early on too.) The second season of the dystopian drama is streaming on Apple TV+ now with new episodes arriving each Friday until January 17. Silo depicts a future in which there are only 10,000 people left on the planet and they're housed in a mile-deep bunker to protect them from a seemingly toxic surface. Anyone who tries to find out when or why this silo was constructed tends to meet their demise, so clearly there's more going on than might first meet the eye.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/apple-tv-series-silo-will-run-for-two-more-seasons-153830028.html?src=rss
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
Train operator Avanti West Coast is putting a creative spin on public safety this holiday season. The company has launched Safety Thirst, a limited-edition 0.5% pale ale available on board its trains, aiming to promote responsible drinking among passengers during a time of year when alcohol-related accidents traditionally spike. Data from the Rail Safety and Standards Board reveals that accidents where intoxication was a potential factor increased by 45% during last years Christmas season from tripping down stairs to falling over a platform edge or driving home from the station while under the influence.The low-alcohol brew was created in partnership with Birmingham Brewing Company and comes in a can that draws inspiration from heritage railway wayfinding signage. Safety Thirsts launch was accompanied by an Avanti West Coast staff choir performing a safety-themed version of Jingle Bells (Keeps you steady, light and ready, full of festive cheer.) The campaign has garnered support from both the Rail Safety and Standards Board and harm-reduction charity Drinkaware, which notes that around a third of people now use low and no-alcohol options to moderate their drinking.
Category:
Marketing and Advertising
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