FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  May 15, 1990

        FTC CHARGES "INFOMERCIAL" COMPANY MISREPRESENTED
          AD AS TV SHOW AND MADE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS
        FOR BEE POLLEN; COMPANY AGREES TO SETTLE CHARGES

     The Federal Trade Commission has charged TV Inc. and its pres-
ident, William Thompson, with misrepresenting that "TV Insiders"
is an independent and objective television program, when it is
actually a paid advertisement.  The Commission has also alleged
that the respondents made false and unsubstantiated claims about
the therapeutic benefits of the bee-pollen products promoted in the
ad and in promotional materials.  TV Inc. and Thompson agreed to
settle the charges, under a consent agreement announced by the FTC
today for public comment.

     According to the FTC's complaint, "TV Insiders" is not an
independent and objective consumer or news program, but rather a
30-minute commercial for Mountain-High bee-pollen products,
including Bee-Young tablets, Mountain-High Royal Jelly, and Pollen
Energy 520 capsules.  The commerical ran on national cable networks
and local independent stations.

     The Commission complaint alleges that the ad and promotional
materials falsely claim that:

     --   consumption of any bee-pollen product cannot result in
          an allergic reaction;

     --   consumption of any bee-pollen product such as those
          advertised on "TV Insiders" has been used to successfully
          treat allergy patients;

     --   Alpine Supreme Brand Arthritis-Strength Pain Relief is
          an effective analgesic; and

     --   TV Inc. had a reasonable basis, consisting of scientific
          evidence, for making those claims.

     In addition, the complaint alleges that TV Inc. and Thompson
could not substantiate claims that consumption of bee-pollen
products can: 

     --   cure, prevent, or alleviate allergy symptoms;

     --   slow, prevent or reverse the aging process;

     --   cure or prevent impotence and sexual dysfunction;

     --   promote weight loss; and

     --   provide effective relief for pain, including arthritis,
          headache and "body pain."

     The proposed consent order prohibits the respondents from
claiming that:  consumption of any bee-pollen product cannot or
will not result in an allergic reaction; bee-pollen products such
as those advertised have been used to successfully treat allergy
patients; or that Alpine Supreme Brand Arthritis-Strength Pain
Relief or any substantially similar product is an effective anal-
gesic.  The proposed order also bars the respondents from making
any of the above claims for any product or any claim that a product
will have any effect on the user's health, unless they have compe-
tent and reliable scientific evidence to substantiate the claims. 
The respondents are also required to send to each consumer who
purchased bee pollen products a letter notifying them of the FTC
order. 

     The proposed consent order also prohibits the respondents from
making any commercial that misrepresents that it is an independent
program and not a paid commercial.  If the respondents produce any
commercial in the next 10 years that runs 15 minutes or longer,
they must display a notice informing consumers that the program is
a paid advertisement.  This disclosure must be made within the
first 30 seconds of the commercial, and also immediately before
each time ordering instructions are given for the product or
service.

     TV Inc. is based in Largo, Fla.  The investigation was handled
by the FTC's Cleveland Regional Office.

     The consent agreement is scheduled to appear in the Federal
Register May 15.  It will be subject to public comment for 60 days,
until July 16, after which the Commission will decide whether to
approve it and issue its final order. 

     Comments should be addressed to the Office of the Secretary,
FTC, 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580.

     A consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does
not constitute admission of a law violation.  When the Commission
issues a consent order on a final basis, it carries the force of
law with respect to future actions.  Each violation of such an
order may result in a civil penalty of up to $10,000.

     Copies of the agreement, the complaint, and an analysis of
the agreement are available from the FTC's Public Reference Branch,
Room 130, 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C.
20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 1-866-653-4261.

                              # # #

MEDIA CONTACT:      Susan Ticknor, Office of Public Affairs,
                    202-326-2181

STAFF CONTACT:      Mark Kindt, Cleveland Regional Office,
                    216-522-4210

(FTC File No. 902 3037)

(TV-BEE)