Lleyton Hewitt has joined a number of AFL players in signing up for a mobile text message service known as Text A Star. Hewitt has signed up so that fans who want to find out the name of his baby have to join the SMS service, which costs $2 a text.
People who sign up to this program are promised: “Real Messages from Real Stars in Real Time.” It says the user will “be the first to gain a unique insight into your favourite footballer’s life, both on, and off the field”.
In the case of Hewitt, and the number of AFL players part of this service, who cares? Who is really going to pay money to be first to hear what Hewitt has named his new daughter? Or what Adam Goodes was up to last night?
Probably more than I would think. People will pay for anything.
But this just seems to be a blatant scam.
Some of the revealing and unique insights you can get if you pay for this text service are the following:
Dane Swan is giving a running update of their Aussie tour in Ireland. A little extract from his message: “Everyone has bonded well and have some good stories…”
Luke Hodge told his subscribers a few days ago that he was at Nobu with his wife. It was their first wedding anniversary….
Andrew Swallow updating his followers through his travels in Europe: “It’s snowing in Austria today. It’s so beautiful. Been through Slovinea and now in the heart of Austria. I’m rugged up.”
Dale Thomas had dinner at Richmond seafood tavern the other night, a great feed, was good to catch up with the family after being overseas for a while…
So sports fans are going to pay $2 to hear that Dale Thomas had a great seafood dinner recently? Are we that stupid?
Forget the spin by Text A Star that is designed to take away media distortion, this is just a blatant money-making exercise for the athletes. Sports fans already stump up for everything – for tickets to games, pay TV to watch matches, for their team or player’s shirt, flag, club paraphernalia, membership etc.
This is going too far. If a player is concerned about the media not reporting their message accurately they should run their own Twitter, Facebook or YouTube page, or blog.
They don’t need to charge people for it, this is just pure greed.
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