Controversy over Today’s $160,000 cash giveaway
<p>Today show viewers have shared their doubts after the program gave away $160,000 last week.</p>
<p>In order for viewers to win the cash giveaway, they must answer their phones with the words “I wake up with Today”.</p>
<p>However, when Pauline answered the phone, the audio cut out at the vital moment when she answered the phone and the only word which viewers could hear was a broken “Today”.</p>
<p>Hosts of the show were quick to congratulate Pauline on her win but some viewers were suspicious of the viewer’s win.</p>
<p>Some claimed they heard the word “G’day” while others said the result was “rigged” because the breakfast show was desperate to see the jackpot go off.</p>
<p>The Channel Nine show responded to the backlash by explaining that the audio had briefly cut out because they were doing an outdoor broadcast.</p>
<p>“An independent auditor was in the control room during the call and verified that Pauline successfully answered the phone with the words ‘I wake up with Today’,” a Nine spokesman told news.com.au.</p>
<p>The show also posted on its Facebook page to explain the situation.</p>
<p>“For those asking, Pauline successfully answered the phone with the words ‘I wake up with Today’, despite the audio briefly cutting out on-air from our outside broadcast in Melbourne,” the post read.</p>
<p>Some viewers remained unconvinced.</p>
<p>“Your telling me in that very small delay, around 1 second, she said ‘I wake up with today’? I’m happy for Pauline. But sorry think this has been rigged big time. As stated on the show earlier this morning, you were desperate to give the cash way and I think just let the rules slide,” posted Terry McLoy.</p>
<p>“You need to clarify the audio, there were two rings then gday or similar. No space for I wake up with. Viewers aren’t stupid,” wrote Tanya Kilner.</p>
<p>Some viewers disagreed with the critics saying that it was a fair win.</p>
<p>“It was a live cross and if you listen carefully she was saying today obviously we didn’t get to hear the whole thing but the producers did ... well done to her and the rest of you need to get over yourselves,” said Dawn Pfeiler.</p>
<p>“You are all very sad people if you listen very carefully you hear her say today at the end not gidday so disappointing that you all want to take away her excitement,” posted Tracy Hopkins.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Today’s former Block of Cash segment had trouble giving away $30,000 after the phone went unanswered 16 times.</p>
<p>Do you catch this moment on TV? Let us know if you think it was a fair win in the comments below.</p>
