The lessons from Nine’s Block of Cash giveaway scandal on The Today Show
Media outlets, entrants and viewers were quick to condemn Nine and The Today Show over allegations its ‘Block of Cash’ giveaway was a scam, however in this guest post, legal experts DVM Law explain what went wrong, and the lessons others can learn from the controversy.
The Nine Network has recently had to defend itself against allegations that its ‘Block of Cash’ giveaway is a scam, following the broadcast of a winner from their home almost immediately after they received a phone call notifying them that they had won the jackpot live on The Today Show.
Media outlets, entrants and concerned viewers were quick to condemn the Nine Network, pondering how a camera crew was readily available to film a winner who would not have won until: (a) there was a random draw; (b) the person drawn answered the phone call made to them in the correct way; (c) without notice; and (d) in real time, in order to win.
A change.org petition initiated by a viewer alleged that “20 minutes before the supposed ‘random’ call, the hosts of the show were encouraging people to call in and enter as there was supposedly still time to be in the draw. The terms and conditions on [Nine Network’s] website, state that ‘Competition days close 16:30 AEDT each Sun-Thurs up until 18/05/17. Draws at 17:00 AEDT/AEST on each competition day. Cash calls made following day Mon-Fri up until 19/05/17.’ Yet on the morning of 10/05/2017, the hosts were encouraging people to ring in and enter at a cost of $0.55 cents per call or sms, knowing that the competition for that draw had closed.”
Whenever I inadvertently wake up with this lot, or accidentally catch the cash cow segment, I feel this deep almost cataclysmic unease, particularly when they go through the perverse pantomime of phoning some poor suburban plebeian. In fact I get such a feeling of an overwhelming cringe induced dread it feels like my sphincter is trying to curl in on itself. I’m certain that unless I switch off immediately I would do myself a permanent harm.
And you’d be right. Watch it just a few more times and your sphincter one day will curl in on itself so much that you’ll turn inside out. It’s like that fog from that Simpsons episode.
Wow. That is exactly the same feeling I got reading your comment.
yeah that’s not normal mw. nor is your last sentence funny
Why does it never come to tasmania?