'I nearly collapsed': The moment an unemployed Today show viewer misses out on a $40,000 cash prize because of a technical glitch
- The Today show's Mega-Cash-a-Roo Giveaway awards viewers with cash prizes
- Jenny Baker, 55, missed out on winning $40,000 due to a bad phone connection
- The Mackay resident is currently on a carer's pension of just $120 a fortnight
- 'I nearly collapsed, I was bawling my head off,' she confessed
- Channel Nine said Jenny is unable to receive the money due to the strict terms and conditions
An unemployed woman on a carer's pension has missed out on the Today show's $40,000 cash prize because of an unfortunate technical glitch.
To win Today's Mega-Cash-a-Roo Giveaway, viewers must call or text in a daily code word and then wait for a live on-air call from the show's hosts.
If the lucky recipient answers the phone within three rings and says, 'I wake up with Today', they win the prize money - which was a whopping $40,000 this week.
Talk about unlucky! An unemployed woman on a carer's pension has missed out on the Today show's $40,000 cash prize because of an unfortunate technical glitch
After hearing her name read out on screen on Thursday morning, Mackay resident Jenny Baker received a call on her mobile phone and promptly answered and recited the winning phrase.
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However, due to a technical issue with the connection, her words were inaudible and her call was quickly disconnected by producers.
'No, unfortunately it wasn't the words we needed,' said co-anchor Georgie Gardner as the call was cut off. 'So close but so far!'
Cash prize: To win Today's Mega-Cash-a-Roo Giveaway, viewers must call or text in a daily code word and then wait for a live on-air call from the show's hosts. Pictured: Tom Steinfort
Speaking to News.com.au on Friday, Jenny, 55, said she was left 'bawling' after missing out on the money.
'I nearly collapsed, I was bawling my head off,' she admitted.
'I was a mess all day,' she continued. 'Forty-thousand dollars. I don't work, I get $120 a fortnight to look after my mum as a carer, my husband was made redundant two years ago… Forty grand to me is huge.'
'So close but so far!' Due to a technical issue with the phone connection, Jenny Baker was inaudible and subsequently disconnected, leaving her $40,000 out of pocket. Pictured: Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner
'I nearly collapsed, I was bawling my head off': The 55-year-old Mackay resident told News.com.au that she's living on a carer's pension and desperately needed the money. Pictured: Tony Jones
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a Channel Nine spokesperson explained that despite the unfortunate glitch, Jenny was still ineligible for the cash prize due to the strict terms and conditions of the competition.
'We hope our viewers win each and every day and we know they are all deserving of the prize, but to ensure a fair competition we have to abide by the terms and conditions each time,' said the spokesperson.
'Viewers have three dial rings to answer and must clearly say the words "I wake up with Today." The hosts hear what the control room hears - if there is a slightly ropey phone connection and we don't hear the words "I wake up with Today" then we cannot award the money.
'The hosts heard a word sadly - that's it. Had they heard the [whole] sentence we would have loved Jenny to win the money.'
Bad luck: A Nine spokesperson explained that despite the unfortunate glitch, Jenny was still ineligible for the cash prize due to the strict terms and conditions of the competition
