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GMTV hit with £2m phone-in fine GMTV hit with £2m phone-in fine
(30 minutes later)
Breakfast broadcaster GMTV has been fined £2m by media regulator Ofcom for failings with its phone-in quizzes.Breakfast broadcaster GMTV has been fined £2m by media regulator Ofcom for failings with its phone-in quizzes.
Ofcom has handed out the penalty, the highest in its history, because many viewers who entered GMTV's premium-rate competitions had no chance of winning.Ofcom has handed out the penalty, the highest in its history, because many viewers who entered GMTV's premium-rate competitions had no chance of winning.
For four years, finalists were chosen before lines closed - meaning those who rang later wasted up to £1.80 a call.For four years, finalists were chosen before lines closed - meaning those who rang later wasted up to £1.80 a call.
GMTV has been told it must broadcast a summary of Ofcom's findings on three separate occasions. In a statement GMTV said it takes "full responsibility" and have "introduced a new code" for premium rate contests.
READ THE FINDINGS Ofcom Content Sanctions Committee's ruling on GMTV breaches [102KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here On Monday the company that ran the contests was fined £250,000 by premium rate phone line regulator Icstis. READ THE FINDINGS Ofcom Content Sanctions Committee's ruling on GMTV breaches [102KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here The show must now broadcast a summary of Ofcom's findings on three separate occasions.
Ofcom said the breaches "constituted a substantial breakdown in the fundamental relationship of trust between a public service broadcaster and its viewers".
It added that the breaches were "extremely serious" as they involved "longstanding and systematic failures in the conduct of broadcast competitions."
On Monday, the company that ran the contests was fined £250,000 by premium rate phone line regulator Icstis.
Icstis chief executive George Kidd said Opera Telecom "showed a reckless disregard for the interests of callers".Icstis chief executive George Kidd said Opera Telecom "showed a reckless disregard for the interests of callers".
Opera and GMTV are already offering refunds and free prize draws to viewers who lost out. 'Gross negligence'
Four years GMTV managing director Paul Corley announced his resignation in JulyThe scandal has led to the resignations of two GMTV executives - managing director Paul Corley and director of phone-in competitions Kate Fleming.
The scandal has led to the resignations of two GMTV executives - managing director Paul Corley and director of phone-in competitions Kate Fleming.
The problems began in January 2003 and lasted until March 2007, when they were uncovered by the BBC's Panorama programme.The problems began in January 2003 and lasted until March 2007, when they were uncovered by the BBC's Panorama programme.
GMTV managing director Paul Corley announced his resignation in JulyThis year has seen a succession of revelations about competitions on TV shows. It claimed viewers lost £10m a year, as up to half of all callers never had a chance of winning. GMTV has since admitted "serious operational errors", overhauled its competition system, and terminated its contract with Opera.
These have included Richard and Judy on Channel 4, where viewers were urged to call the You Say, We Pay quiz when lines had shut. The two companies also offered refunds to viewers and set up a series of free prize draws for those affected.
Icstis imposed a £150,000 fine on Eckoh, the company which had operated the service. Ofcom noted that the financial penalty would have been higher if GMTV had not introduced an "extensive programme of reparations and remedies".
Five's Brainteaser was fined a record £300,000 for faking winners on five occasions. The regulating body added that GMTV's "disregard for the need to operate any reasonable compliance procedure" was "gross negligence".
At the BBC, children's TV series Blue Peter was found to have altered the result of a poll to name a cat, and it was fined £50,000 by Ofcom for letting a studio visitor win a quiz rather than a genuine entrant.
Several programmes at BBC digital radio station 6 Music also falsified competition results. The station's head of programmes, Ric Blaxill, has resigned.
'Serious errors'
The BBC's Panorama programme exposed failings at GMTVThe GMTV problems were first revealed in a BBC Panorama programme, which said viewers lost £10m a year. Up to half of all callers never had any chance of winning, it claimed.
GMTV has already admitted "serious operational errors in the running of its competitions".
It said "a significant number of competition entries" were not considered, mostly between June 2005 and March 2007, but also to a lesser extent in the two and a half years before this period.
The company has overhauled its competition system, offered refunds to viewers and set up a series of free prize draws for those affected.
It has also terminated its contract with Opera Telecom.