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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Richard and Judy quiz scrutinised | Richard and Judy quiz scrutinised |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Channel 4 is investigating claims that viewers were asked to ring a £1-a-time quiz on its Richard and Judy show, even though callers had already been chosen. | Channel 4 is investigating claims that viewers were asked to ring a £1-a-time quiz on its Richard and Judy show, even though callers had already been chosen. |
| E-mails leaked to the Mail on Sunday alleged that the You Say, We Pay contest was being promoted on-air even after a winner had been selected. | E-mails leaked to the Mail on Sunday alleged that the You Say, We Pay contest was being promoted on-air even after a winner had been selected. |
| The competition was dropped from Friday's edition of the teatime show. | The competition was dropped from Friday's edition of the teatime show. |
| Channel 4 said "something had obviously gone awry", and added it was committed to acting "fairly and transparently". | Channel 4 said "something had obviously gone awry", and added it was committed to acting "fairly and transparently". |
| "We reject any suggestion that we would knowingly mislead viewers in any way," a statement from the broadcaster said. | "We reject any suggestion that we would knowingly mislead viewers in any way," a statement from the broadcaster said. |
| It makes no material difference to the channel whether the eventual winner is selected the moment the phone lines open or just before they close Channel 4 statement | It makes no material difference to the channel whether the eventual winner is selected the moment the phone lines open or just before they close Channel 4 statement |
| "Our contract with the service provider clearly states they must comply fully with the codes that govern competitions of this nature drawn up by [watchdog] Icstis." | "Our contract with the service provider clearly states they must comply fully with the codes that govern competitions of this nature drawn up by [watchdog] Icstis." |
| The programme's producers, Cactus TV, also took the need to follow broadcasting codes "very seriously", Channel 4 added. | The programme's producers, Cactus TV, also took the need to follow broadcasting codes "very seriously", Channel 4 added. |
| The premium-rate lines are run by service provider Eckoh, which uses a computer to pick 24 potential winners from the callers who ring within the first few minutes of the show going on-air. | The premium-rate lines are run by service provider Eckoh, which uses a computer to pick 24 potential winners from the callers who ring within the first few minutes of the show going on-air. |
| Big Brother got into trouble for its "golden ticket" contest last yearThe Mail on Sunday claimed it had obtained a copy of a message sent by Eckoh to Cactus TV timed at 1709 GMT last Wednesday, listing 24 names and numbers. | Big Brother got into trouble for its "golden ticket" contest last yearThe Mail on Sunday claimed it had obtained a copy of a message sent by Eckoh to Cactus TV timed at 1709 GMT last Wednesday, listing 24 names and numbers. |
| However, 10 minutes later, the programme once again invited callers to try their luck on the quiz. | However, 10 minutes later, the programme once again invited callers to try their luck on the quiz. |
| Channel 4 denied it was making money from this process, saying that the overall costs of running the competition were fixed. | Channel 4 denied it was making money from this process, saying that the overall costs of running the competition were fixed. |
| "It makes no material difference to the channel whether the eventual winner is selected the moment the phone lines open or just before they close," its statement said. | "It makes no material difference to the channel whether the eventual winner is selected the moment the phone lines open or just before they close," its statement said. |
| Neither Cactus TV nor Eckoh could be reached for comment. | Neither Cactus TV nor Eckoh could be reached for comment. |
| Big Brother | Big Brother |
| It is not the first time that Channel 4 has faced scrutiny over its competitions. | It is not the first time that Channel 4 has faced scrutiny over its competitions. |
| Last year, Icstis ruled the network had breached guidelines during a telephone vote on reality show Big Brother. | Last year, Icstis ruled the network had breached guidelines during a telephone vote on reality show Big Brother. |
| Channel 4 has stressed that its on-air activities must be "transparent"Channel 4 invited viewers to select one of the evicted contestants to return to the programme. | Channel 4 has stressed that its on-air activities must be "transparent"Channel 4 invited viewers to select one of the evicted contestants to return to the programme. |
| But this prompted about 3,000 complaints from people who felt they had been misled when they paid to eliminate the housemates in the first place. | But this prompted about 3,000 complaints from people who felt they had been misled when they paid to eliminate the housemates in the first place. |
| Channel 4 was not fined but it had to pay about £50,000 in administrative costs. | Channel 4 was not fined but it had to pay about £50,000 in administrative costs. |
| The broadcaster was also criticised by the Advertising Standards Agency twice in a month in 2006 for its "golden ticket" contest on the same series. | The broadcaster was also criticised by the Advertising Standards Agency twice in a month in 2006 for its "golden ticket" contest on the same series. |
| Anyone finding a golden ticket in a KitKat chocolate bar won the right to enter the draw to be a Big Brother housemate. | |
| The watchdog said terms and conditions were not clear enough on marketing material, and an independent observer should have been present when the winner was picked. | The watchdog said terms and conditions were not clear enough on marketing material, and an independent observer should have been present when the winner was picked. |