Parents Up in Arms Over Costly New Wiggles Website
Posted by Amber Robinson at 11:15 AM on April 27, 2009
My son is not a particularly big Wiggles fan, yet a visitor to our home would find a Wiggles toy drum, a Wiggles CD and a Wiggles drink bottle. If you have a toddler, the Wiggles will invade your world.
Already Australia’s highest paid entertainers, the Wiggles are once again asking parents to shell out, this time so their pre-schoolers can access their new website Wiggletime.com.
How much would you expect to pay to be able to access Wiggles-branded games, videos, information and special offers? Nothing? $29.95 a year? Try EIGHTY DOLLARS for a yearly subscription or $7.95 a month.
(There is some content which may be accessed for free, such as ‘limited’ game play and two videos. Wow, so generous.)
As you would expect, fans are not overjoyed at the new pricing structure, especially as the previous Wiggles fan site was completely free. As the SMH reports:
Since the Wiggles put the word out they would be charging for the new service, irate fans have been bombarding their website expressing dismay that the once free fan club site, especially the message board, would cost.
Many parents have used the message board for years and built strong ties with Wiggles parents across the world.
One fan club member, florabelle2004, wrote a few weeks back: “I don’t think that people are important any more. Money has taken over. I won’t be using the new one if we are going to have to pay for it. Goodbye everyone. I have already unsubscribed to the Wiggles club so that is it.”
Some complaints have been taken on board – for example, it is once more free for parents to post on the Wiggles fan forum.
All in all it seems like an odd venture to launch in this economic environment, when there are so many kids TV sites offering free games and learning tools.
Will you be subscribing to Wiggletime?
Would anyone join? My middle child is over the wiggles, youngest hasn’t discovered them yet but now doubt will. There are so many wonderful kid’s sites that cost nothing – I would rather stick to them.