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TV phone-in errors prompt talks TV phone-in errors prompt talks
(about 4 hours later)
The premium-rate phone lines watchdog is to meet broadcasters and programme makers to look at ways to end the recent controversy over TV phone-ins.The premium-rate phone lines watchdog is to meet broadcasters and programme makers to look at ways to end the recent controversy over TV phone-ins.
Discussions are expected to centre on how to restore viewers' confidence in premium-rate TV quizzes and votes after a series of high-profile problems. Discussions at Icstis are expected to centre on restoring viewers' confidence in premium-rate TV quizzes and votes after a series of problems.
Icstis is investigating all the cases but says more urgent action is needed. Solutions could include a licensing system or quality mark guaranteeing that interactive services are genuine.
One suggestion has been to introduce a quality mark guaranteeing viewers that interactive services are genuine. Some MPs are urging all broadcasters to review their premium-rate services.
Earlier this week, the industry regulator's chairman Sir Alistair Graham said he thought the errors emerging in TV phone-ins were the result of "sloppiness" and "more cock-up than conspiracy". Icstis is already looking at four programmes - Richard and Judy on Channel 4, Saturday Kitchen on BBC-1, and ITV shows X-Factor and Saturday Night Takeaway.
However, he was concerned that viewers' trust was at "rock bottom". The first thing I will be asking is 'is there anything else nasty in the woodshed we should be knowing about?' Icstis chairman Sir Alistair Graham
"Achieving a fair deal for consumers is absolutely top priority. If we can't achieve that we won't be frightened of advising people not to participate in these programmes," he told BBC News. Allegations of irregularities include viewers being encouraged to enter competitions after the winners had been chosen.
He said one solution might be a "kitemark" that would guarantee callers were participating in a live programme and that they had a reasonable chance of getting through. Icstis is investigating the high-profile cases that have arisen but chairman Sir Alistair Graham said action was needed in both the short and long term to sort out the "grim mess" broadcasters had got themselves into.
On Tuesday, ITV suspended all its premium-rate phone-in competitions and votes in a move which also saw its quiz channel ITV Play taken off air. On Tuesday, ITV suspended all its premium-rate phone-in competitions and votes in a move which saw its quiz channel ITV Play taken off air.
ITV1's Saturday Night Takeaway is the latest programme to come under scrutiny, following reports that viewers were encouraged to enter a competition after the winners had been chosen. Now 12 MPs, led by the Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster, are asking other broadcasters to follow the channel's lead.
Similar claims were made about the You Say, We Pay quiz on Channel 4's Richard and Judy show. Mr Foster has tabled a Commons motion, arguing the public are "entitled to have absolute confidence" in the services.
'Ripped off'
Sir Alistair told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "These things are a matter of individual choice and they have been shown to be popular, which is why I am anxious that we sort out this pretty grim mess that the broadcast companies have got themselves into.
"We need something fairly quick to try to restore consumer confidence in this area and then perhaps a longer-term solution which may be us running some sort of licence arrangement or some kite mark.
Suggesting other problems could emerge he said: "The first thing I will be asking is 'is there anything else nasty in the woodshed we should be knowing about?' so that we can get this out on the table."
Something was needed that would reassure viewers using a premium rate telephone line in a television programme they are "not going to be ripped off", he added.
Earlier Sir Alistair said he thought the phone-in errors were the result of "sloppiness" and "more cock-up than conspiracy".
Saturday Kitchen
ITV1's Saturday Night Takeaway was the latest programme to come under scrutiny, following reports that viewers were encouraged to enter a competition after the winners had been chosen.
Similar claims had earlier made about the You Say, We Pay quiz on Channel 4's Richard and Judy show.
The BBC's Saturday Kitchen is also being examined after viewers were asked to phone in to appear on the following week's programme, despite it being filmed just minutes after the live show.The BBC's Saturday Kitchen is also being examined after viewers were asked to phone in to appear on the following week's programme, despite it being filmed just minutes after the live show.
It was also found that X Factor viewers had been overcharged a total of £200,000 when phoning in to the ITV1 talent show.It was also found that X Factor viewers had been overcharged a total of £200,000 when phoning in to the ITV1 talent show.