Before I begin with the details of this complaint I should let you know I have made a similar complaint to the FCC and will make one out to the FDA as well. The FCC website suggested that I also report the complaint to other federal agencies because there is overlap between agencies in matters such as the one I am going to describe.
This complaint involves a radio program that I believe is involved in fraudulent misleading practices that break FTC, FCC and FDA rules and regulations meant to protect the public. The radio program in question is called Coast to Coast AM (
https://www.coasttocoastam.com), it is syndicated nation wide by Premiere Radio Networks (
https://www.premierenetworks.com) airing on over 500 radio stations with a listenership in the millions according to the program's host. Coast to Coast is a legendary radio program created by the late Art Bell that deals with the paranormal - topics include UFOs, conspiracy theories, the occult, prophecy, mediumship, astrology and other topics which fall under the rubric of 'pseudo science'. 'Expert' guests regularly appear on the program and are interviewed with listeners invited to call in to ask questions. No doubt the program's purpose is to inform and entertain. 'Coast' airs from 1AM to 5AM, I listen for the entertainment value, I believe very little of what I hear on the program, I view most of its' content as charlatanism. The program has been on the air for many years, stretching back to the mid 90's
and its' audience has aged along with it. That is why I am making the complaint, I believe the listeners to Coast are being deceived and defrauded by the program, its' current host and its' advertisers.
When Art Bell retired permanently he was replaced as the host of 'Coast' by George Noory. In recent years Noory has veered off in new directions with the program, with a new focus on 'alternative medicine', 'alternative healing' and 'nutritional medicine'. The audience trusts and is very loyal to Noory, common in relationships between long time listeners and hosts of programs like 'Coast'. Noory has claimed that he himself has paranormal abilities, to wit, not long ago he told his audience that he had 'remote viewed' the novel corona virus being leaked within the Wuhan Lab of Virology, he described he had seen a great commotion and lab workers 'scurrying' about. 'Remote viewing' is the ability to view what is happening in other locations far away and even going back in time - it is 'pseudo science' but pushed by Mr. Noory and many of his guests as scientific fact.
Here's the most pertinent part of this complaint. In the past few years two new guests began to appear on 'Coast', a veterinarian named Joel Wallach and a pharmacist named Ben Fuchs, presented by Noory and themselves as nutritional health and supplement experts. Wallach claims without proof that he advises the FDA. Together Wallach and Fuchs own and operate a nutritional supplement business called Critical Health News (
https://criticalhealthnews.com). Things have evolved where Wallach and/or Fuchs appear on 'Coast' each and every Tuesday for 3 straight hours dispensing health and nutritional advice while promoting Critical Health News. Mr. Noory helps to promote the business with frequent mentions of the name and the website address. No other 'Coast' guest appears more than 2 or 3 times a year. It is quite obvious that the weekly 3 hour Critical Health News segment is an 'infomercial', also known as 'paid programming', which the FCC requires radio and TV stations to disclose to the listening/viewing public. Mr. Noory, nor Premiere Networks, nor the radio stations airing 'Coast' air a 'paid programming disclaimer'. It is my belief that Mr. Noory and Premiere Networks are financially compensated for the 3 hours weekly appearance. Noory appears on the Critical Health Network website as a celebrity endorser (
https://criticalhealthnews.com/images/George_Noory_Recommends_headshot_m.png) and furthermore Critical Health Network on its' website discloses that it is a 'Proud Partner of Coast To Coast AM With George Noory' (
https://criticalhealthnews.com/images/chn_c2c_local.png). There can be no doubt that Mr. Noory, Coast to Coast AM, Premiere Radio Networks are involved in some financial partnership with Critical Health News and not ever disclosed to 'Coast''s vast loyal audience. The FCC does not allow 3 hour advertisements without a disclaimer. Mr. Noory, Premiere Networks and Critical Health News are exploiting 'Coast''s audience selling them very overpriced nutritional supplements of little health benefit.
Further, the majority of 'Coast''s regular advertisers are similar nutritional supplement businesses making deceptive claims to treat and heal a myriad of diseases and ailments. One such advertiser promoting a product called 'Carnivora' claims that the product can fix 'abnormal cells' while leaving normal cells alone. There is no doubt when they say 'abnormal cells' they want the audience to hear 'cancer cells'. I think most of these advertisers are running afoul of FDA regulations by making false claims of what their products can achieve.
I have no issue with Coast to Coast AM as entertainment, people can choose what they want to believe regarding the paranormal. But with regards to health and medicine, considering the size and age of its' audience, Mr. Noory and Premiere Networks are taking advantage of its' audience both financially and with respect to their health by proferring medical advice from unqualified 'experts' selling 'product'.
It is my hope that the FTC, FCC and FDA do a thorough investigation in a timely manner.
