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TV phone services 'fail viewers' TV phone services 'fail viewers'
(about 7 hours later)
There has been a "systemic failure" in the way TV channels have run premium rate phone services, Ofcom has found.There has been a "systemic failure" in the way TV channels have run premium rate phone services, Ofcom has found.
The media regulator launched an inquiry following a number of scandals involving phone-ins in programmes.The media regulator launched an inquiry following a number of scandals involving phone-ins in programmes.
The inquiry found broadcasters were "in denial" about their responsibilities to viewers and saw phone-ins as a way to generate revenue.The inquiry found broadcasters were "in denial" about their responsibilities to viewers and saw phone-ins as a way to generate revenue.
The inquiry comes on the day the BBC's director general is meeting the Trust over recent editorial lapses. The inquiry came on the day the BBC announced it was to suspend all phone-in competitions.
'Consumer protection''Consumer protection'
These included a trailer shown to journalists for a documentary series which appeared to show the Queen storming out of a photo shoot. The BBC and the company which made the clip have both apologised. Recent scandals have included the quiz on Channel 4's Richard and Judy chat show, where viewers were still asked to ring in despite a winner already being chosen, and GMTV, which admitted "irregularities" in its phone-in quizzes.
Other recent scandals have included the quiz on the Richard and Judy chat show, where viewers were still asked to ring in despite a winner already being chosen, and GMTV, which admitted "irregularities" in its phone-in quizzes.
The BBC was recently fined £50,000 by Ofcom for faking the results of a Blue Peter competition in which children had been calling in during the live programme.The BBC was recently fined £50,000 by Ofcom for faking the results of a Blue Peter competition in which children had been calling in during the live programme.
The Ofcom inquiry, which was led by Richard Ayre, concluded that broadcasters must be made directly responsible for using premium rate phonelines despite services often being handled by outside companies.The Ofcom inquiry, which was led by Richard Ayre, concluded that broadcasters must be made directly responsible for using premium rate phonelines despite services often being handled by outside companies.
Mr Ayre said: "Phoning a TV show isn't like ordering pizza.Mr Ayre said: "Phoning a TV show isn't like ordering pizza.
"When you put the phone down nothing arrives: you just have to trust that your call was counted. If broadcasters want audiences to go on spending millions calling in, they need to show they take consumer protection as seriously as programme content.""When you put the phone down nothing arrives: you just have to trust that your call was counted. If broadcasters want audiences to go on spending millions calling in, they need to show they take consumer protection as seriously as programme content."
'Unacceptable' Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "This inquiry shows the extent to which there has been a systemic failure of compliance.
The BBC Trust, which represents licence payers, is meeting to discuss the Blue Peter fine and other incidents which have come to light, including the Queen photo shoot incident. "Ofcom takes these issues extremely seriously and will continue to take action against broadcasters found to break the rules in this area."
Director general Mark Thompson will give his account of both incidents, and the Trust is expected to outline its response.
He has said he will set out how he intends to minimise the risk of anything like these "totally unacceptable incidents ever happening again".
Mr Thompson had urged BBC programme-makers to report other occasions where audiences may have been deceived.
He told staff: "We cannot allow even a small number of lapses, whether intentional or as a result of sloppiness, to undermine our reputation and the confidence of the public."