Airbnb and critics take to TV as tensions escalate

The battle between Airbnb and its critics is heating up on the television screens of New Yorkers and Washingtonians.

Airbnb is facing a "mid-six figure" TV advertising attack launched on Tuesday by ShareBetter ( www.sharebetter.org/ ) , a campaign against the rental company.

The ads come just weeks after Airbnb launched its own advertising campaign to get New Yorkers to support it in its fight against a state bill that levies serious fines against hosts who advertise listings for illegal short-term rentals.

ShareBetter's TV and digital media buy, which so far will run in New York City and Washington D.C., claims that Airbnb has run an "elaborate tax-avoidance scheme" outside the US. The "Pay your fair share, Airbnb" campaign warns viewers that Airbnb could concoct a similar scheme stateside.