Press the button marked ‘Exploitation’
Today’s post could easily have been named ‘I Love the Germans, Part Drei’, and I mention this because each time that headline gets used, a certain someone in a number 13 shirt tends to do the business for Chelsea. So for the sake of superstition, and Bolton at home, I’ll crowbar it in once more. Let’s face it, we need all the help we can get.
I don’t know how up to speed with the energy switching scene Herr Ballack actually is, but I’m sure he’s (somewhat reluctantly) been subjected to meet and greets with E.ON company bigwigs at this season’s FA Cup fixtures. The 2007/8 English FA Cup is sponsored by E.ON, and will be contested by a team from Wales, and a rudderless gaggle of journeymen from a shack on the south coast.
Having heard on the grapevine fuel prices are set to rise again this summer due to skyrocketing crude oil costs, adverse weather and strike action, it got me wondering; how much does it cost E.ON to sponsor the FA Cup?
Well, here are my findings, with a few extra gems thrown in for good measure:
FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Cost of Sponsorship: £32 Million
Annual aid payment by E.ON to the elderly: £4.4 Million
2009 Ashes Series sponsored by npower
Cost of Sponsorship: £11 Million
Percentage of vulnerable customers on an npower social tariff: 0.02%
EDF Energy Cup, Rugby Union
Cost of Sponsorship: £8.5 Million
Percentage of annual turnover spent on elderly customers: 0.1%
Scottish and Southern, sponsors of Scottish Rugby
Cost of Sponsorship: £6 Million
Number of customers plunged into fuel poverty by last price rise: 620,000
The statistics speak for themselves and need little interpretation from me. The bottom line is this money frittered away on sponsorship and corporate jollies should be given to those in fuel poverty. End of story.
One question I will ask, does the advertising make the supplier seem more attractive to you? Does it even work?
It doesn’t affect me at all. As much as I love Association Football, I wouldn’t choose E.ON purely on the strength it sponsors the FA Cup; it’s just not part of my criteria.
Has anyone been swayed by a clever advertising campaign?
Olivia Buck Needs Debt Help - Day 6
Interesting idea, but have you got your numbers right? How many people live in fuel poverty and what is the cost of fixing it?
Marketing is a reality of the capitalist system, it does not excuse fuel poverty, but this is something that should be sponsored and led by the government (and implemented by energy companies).
Whilst a harsh view, the economics of this country determine that companies answer to the share holders.
Michael’s back will be first against the wall when the revolution comes.
I wouldn’t want to be in Alistair Darling’s shoes when the revolution comes either.
I think my maths probably are a little iffy, but the statistics are not. How can a company justify spending £11 million sponsoring a cricket event while 0.02% (less than £750,000) of its turnover is given over to helping vulnerable customers? The disparity between these figures kills me.
According to Energywatch, each time an energy bill rises by 1%, 40,000 more people are plunged into fuel poverty.