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Channel 4 admits new phone error Channel 4 admits new phone error
(about 3 hours later)
Channel 4 has pulled phone-ins from its coverage of Cheltenham week after discovering a problem on its horse-racing show The Morning Line. Channel 4 has pulled phone-ins from its coverage of the Cheltenham Festival after discovering a problem on its horse racing show The Morning Line.
Around 100 people were charged for calling the programme after lines closed, Chief Executive Andy Duncan told a Commons select committee. About 100 people were charged for calling a competition after lines had closed, chief executive Andy Duncan told a House of Commons committee.
The mistake was discovered by auditors appointed to review Channel 4's live phone-ins following recent problems.The mistake was discovered by auditors appointed to review Channel 4's live phone-ins following recent problems.
Duncan said Channel 4 was contacting the callers to arrange refunds. Mr Duncan said Channel 4 was contacting the callers to arrange refunds.
The error was apparently due to a computer glitch at phone service provider Eckoh.The error was apparently due to a computer glitch at phone service provider Eckoh.
The company also provides services to Richard and Judy, Saturday Kitchen and Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway - all of which are under investigation by phone line watchdog Icstis. ITV denied David Gest was wrongly evicted from I'm a Celebrity...The company also provides services to Richard and Judy, Saturday Kitchen and Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway - all of which are under investigation by phone line watchdog Icstis.
Duncan said that if competitions returned to its horse-racing coverage, Channel 4 would probably use "somebody else" to run the phone-in. Mr Duncan said if competitions returned to its horse-racing coverage, Channel 4 would probably use "somebody else" to run the phone-in.
Gest was an early favourite to win ITV's I'm A Celebrity...This comes as ITV denied reported mistakes with vote-counting on reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here. The latest phone-in problem came as ITV denied mistakes with vote-counting on reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here.
The Sun newspaper claimed David Gest was evicted from last year's series after 30,000 text votes intended to save the star were not counted. The Sun newspaper claimed David Gest was wrongly evicted from last year's series after 30,000 text votes intended to save the star were not counted.
"This accusation is completely wrong," said ITV in a statement. "On the night of David Gest's eviction all votes were counted and verified." Police involvement
Icstis says it is looking into the claims, but has not launched a formal investigation. "This accusation is completely wrong," an ITV statement said. "On the night of David Gest's eviction, all votes were counted and verified."
I don't think the importance of compliance has really sunk in ITV Chairman Michael Grade on phone-in regulations Speaking to the Commons select committee, ITV Chairman Michael Grade said he was "really surprised" the Sun had published the "very serious allegation". Eckoh, which ran the voting lines, said it was seeking legal advice over the "maliciously fabricated" claims.
Grade also defended the use of interactive votes on ITV's shows. "Eckoh and its staff have been put under intense scrutiny in recent weeks and this cannot be allowed to continue," chief executive Nik Philpot said.
"On that basis we are taking legal advice and we will be reporting the matter to the police."
I don't think the importance of compliance has really sunk in ITV boss Michael Grade on phone-in regulations Icstis said it was looking into the claims, but has not launched a formal investigation.
Speaking to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, ITV executive chairman Michael Grade said he was "really surprised" at the Sun story.
Mr Grade also defended the use of interactive votes on ITV shows.
"If you provide a service that the public enjoy and that the public is not compelled to use, it seems to me that this is a perfectly legitimate exercise, and one in which it is perfectly proper to make a margin of profit," he said."If you provide a service that the public enjoy and that the public is not compelled to use, it seems to me that this is a perfectly legitimate exercise, and one in which it is perfectly proper to make a margin of profit," he said.
However, Grade admitted that programme staff had not understood the importance of complying with phone-in regulations. Dancing on Ice returned to ITV following an independent auditBut Mr Grade admitted programme staff had not understood the importance of complying with phone-in regulations.
"In the excitement of a live gallery - which is a pretty fevered place on a big network show - I don't think the training and the importance of compliance has really sunk in," he said."In the excitement of a live gallery - which is a pretty fevered place on a big network show - I don't think the training and the importance of compliance has really sunk in," he said.
Grade also revealed that the number of votes had risen on last week's episode of Dancing on Ice, suggesting that confidence had not been affected by the current problems. He also revealed the number of votes had risen on last week's episode of Dancing on Ice, suggesting public confidence had not been affected by the current problems.
Heavy fines The committee was told premium rate phone-ins were a vital part of programming.
Last Thursday, Icstis chairman Sir Alistair Graham unveiled a series of measures designed to restore confidence in TV phone-ins after a series of allegations that callers were being ripped off. Five chief executive Jane Lighting said telephone services were "due to deliver about £8m" to the channel in 2006.
The regulator is setting up a licensing scheme designed to define who has responsibility for each part of a phone-in programme. "If you look at our children's programming, our entire production cost is around £6 million, so it is an important contributor to our funding," she said.
Other measures announced were a systematic monitoring of premium phone services and the publication of clear rules on competitions.
Sir Alistair also warned that TV shows found to be cheating viewers could face fines and be reported to the police.
Icstis is currently investigating six shows: Channel 4's Richard and Judy, the BBC's Saturday Kitchen and ITV programmes, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, The X Factor, Soapstar Superstar and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!Icstis is currently investigating six shows: Channel 4's Richard and Judy, the BBC's Saturday Kitchen and ITV programmes, Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, The X Factor, Soapstar Superstar and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!