Court TV hands out the money
Marianne Kelly has added a comment to My Save My Husband post, a copy of the mail that went out to the winners.
I was really surprised - and touched - by the amount of interest in my husband’s disappearance and by all the support I received. Over 30,000 people tried to help me and my son Max and 6,013 actually solved the mystery all the way through. I am working on sending out the reward money.
As you can see, the numbers registered look pretty good and so, unfortunately, do the numbers of winners. That’s 6013 people sharing $25k. That’s $4.15 each. And each winner has to sign an affidavit and sent it back before they get the money - wonder how much the company’s budgeted for postage. That’s not much at all it may not even be worth cashing that cheque.
But even more interesting is the last line:
I hope you got something out of it, too - beyond just receiving a reward. And don’t go too far. I have a sneaking suspicion that things are still not right, what with Sonia’s disappearance and all, and next time things could get a lot more complicated.
Which gives every indication they are planning to do another one. As so many people seemed to enjoy this game, I hope they do and they do a great job this time, putting into place all the lessons learnt from this game. So keep watching for the next big ride.
Tags: courttv, saveemyhusbandRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Alternate Reality Experience, Buzz Marketing, Fun and Games
6 opinions for Court TV hands out the money
Marianne Kelly
Jun 26, 2007 at 11:02 pm
I wanted to make a note saying I posted the letter I got, but there was nowhere to state it, sorry lol. Yeah, I think they want this episode done with, and are working on a much more exciting, difficult game regarding Sonia. Which I can’t wait for., I had alot of fun playing the last game, I didn’t care about the money, I was too involved in waiting for the next puzzles. I think they are on to something fun, it’s more interactive then watching tv reality shows, all you do in those shows are text in your answers hopiong to win, but the odds are so far against you, that it’s like playing the lotto, who wants to even try.. there is no point, all you do is get a huge phone bill.. but atleast with the computer, they put peoples intellect and skill, and cleverness to the test.. and that is fun, and it is free… plus it makes for good marketing. I am so looking forward to see how creative Deep focus will be, and how the next game will be. as far as the 4.15cents. that will lower my fuel bill .20 cents on my next tank of gas lol.
Rachel
Jun 26, 2007 at 11:10 pm
I think you are right here - for many it’s not about the money, it’s about the game and the fun. For some, the money is the focus, but I’m guessing that many who got attracted by that in the first place had a great time playing the game and will look for more. I’m looking forward to the next one - I may actually get to play a bit more of it if I’m not overwhelmed with other things.
Maria
Jul 2, 2007 at 4:26 pm
Actually, CourtTV is NOT handing out the money. At least, not to everyone who deserves it.
Untold hundreds (maybe thousands) of people who entered the correct answer — myself included — never received a winning email. I’ve complained to CourtTV because this looks like some kind of fraud or breach of contract. There were almost 30,000 hits to Sonia’s blog alone, and all the answers were made available on the Unfiction forum. It’s extremely unlikely that only 6,013 people were winners. Typos would probably not have disqualified, given that people who entered contradictory answers won. (Some people who entered “Curvessand Street” won, as did people who entered “Cherry Street”.)
Rachel, everyone can wax on about how fun it all was and how money wasn’t “the point,” but at the end of the day, when a corporation breaks a contract, it opens them up to legal activity. In this case, if there isn’t a class action lawsuit, it can definitely open them to other kinds of legal problems, just from the mishandling of the winners list to suit their finances.
Seeing as how a great many of us were left off the winning list, it seems Deep Focus decided to whittle down the numbers for what’s most likely budgetary reasons. They screwed up the game and made it too easy to win. At the very least, they should own up to their errors and acknowledge everyone who won.
Renne Harrington
Jul 7, 2007 at 9:04 pm
I never received confirmation I had solved the SaveMyHusband mystery correctly. I had that Grant was the kidnapper and 8 North Cherry St was where he was being held. How do I write Deep Focus to tell them I never received an email saying I won? Renne Harrington
Maria
Jul 7, 2007 at 10:56 pm
Renee, don’t complain to DF. Go to the CourtTV website and find the comments and complaints page. The sponsors need to know.
Court TV, Suzuki + Applebee’s Walk Into A Bar… « Agency Spy
Jul 9, 2007 at 1:18 pm
[…] to say, the backlash is intense: -”The ending is a disaster…” - Winners receive $4.15. -”I can’t seem to bring up the savemyhusband site (sic) it reads system error.” […]
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