ITV phone-in probe set to report

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A review of ITV's premium rate interactive services will be published on Thursday.

The review by auditor Deloitte followed allegations of viewers being misled, including X Factor viewers being overcharged £200,000.

The audit of ITV's output has been examining all programmes which invited the public to participate during the past two years.

This included premium rate landline, mobile and "red button" activity.

ITV suspended all premium-rate phone-ins, interactive competitions and votes in March while the auditors conducted their six-month review.

Revenue source

Quiz channel ITV Play went off air with a message telling viewers "we hope to be back very soon".

A separate investigation was held into ITV1's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Premium rate competitions on programmes were reintroduced on an individual basis as they were cleared of breaking rules.

Last month ITV said it will not screen this year's British Comedy Awards after reportedly finding irregularities with phone voting.

Telephone competitions are a substantial source of revenue for commercial TV channels. According to ITV's latest interim report, it expected ITV Play to make a £20m profit.

The broadcaster was reported to have been facing losses of £1.5m a week because of its decision to suspend premium interactive services.