Singapore Youth Olmypic Games: Pole Dancing

8/3/2010

0 Comments

 
Singapore.  (3 August 2010.  1630 hrs).  Yahoo News carried a report today on the Opening Ceremony of the Youth Olympics in Singapore.  (http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/08/03/sneak-peek-at-yog-opening-ceremony/) 

The report was factual and provided the view of some of the spectators.  Included in the report is a video clip of a pole-dancing routine.  The report did not generate much comments, but one reader commented that pole-dancing was inappropriate as it makes "Singapore look cheap."

It will be interesting to see if the pole dancing routine will degenerate into a crisis.  Based on the video clip, there was nothing suggestive and the pole was used more as a prop for a dance routine.  I'm not sure if the leotards the dancer wore is the actual costume, but my assessment is that even if it is, this is unlikely to degenerate into a crisis communication situation.

However, as I always advocate, the PR Dept of the YOG should be timely in responding to this situation.  A timely response will allow the YOG to "frame" the situation correctly before it gets out of hand.
0 Comments

Singtel, now's not the time to boast (Day 1)

8/1/2010

0 Comments

 
Singapore.  (2 August 2010.  1040 hrs).  YahooNews today reported on the poor quality of Singtel's MIO free movie service over the weekend (http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/08/02/singtel-please-fix-teething-issues-quickly/.)  The reporter equated the free movie to watching a pirated movie with the poor audio and start-stop images.  The reporter went on the comment on MIO's track record of poor quality and poor service citing its $50,000 fine by the Media Development Authority of Singapore and the poor quality of the recent World Cup coverage.

It will be interesting to watch how Singtel's PR Department will respond to this current attack on the quality of its MIO service.  As there is clearly a trend of poor service and poor quality, the usual PR lines of "this is an isolated incident' is unlikely to hold.

As a Crisis Communicator, my stakeholder analysis would identify two key stakeholders - potential customers and existing customers.  The former's main concern/ issue would be feeling "cheated" over not receiving the quality of movies they have paid for, while the latter's concern/ issue would be hesitation to sign-up as they would not want to be "cheated".

My advise to Singtel would be to be open and upfront on issues, and acknowledge the challenges of rolling out new and advance technology.  Singtel should also state the specific actions they are taking to address the problems and the timeline for it to be resolved.  To address stakeholders' concern of being "cheated", Singtel should unilterally offer their customers "compensations" in the form of discounts or free movie credits to affected subscribers until the technical issues are solved.
0 Comments