Breach Of Broadcast Code Adds To Phone-In Scandal
Two Quiz Call Programmes on Five have been found guilty of breaching the broadcasting code by Ofcom, with the regulator expressing “serious concerns” over the rapidly expanding list of complaints regarding phone-in quiz shows.
An episode of Quiz Call in September last year was censured after a presenter described a “difficult mathematics” game as “easy”. Ofcom ruled that this would have affected whether people chose to play and ruled the episode was not conducted fairly.
Five said the use of the word “easy” in describing the quiz was “not ideal” and said that it would be holding a seminar with the programme’s staff to ensure they understand the detail of the broadcasting code.
Ofcom also ruled against the Word Association game on the Quiz Call channel, which was owned by Channel 4 at the time of the complaint in September.
Two viewers complained about the quiz in which they were asked to name “things in Australia”, with one of the answers flagged up by the presenter as “Alice something” with the word “Alice” followed by seven asterisks on the screen.
However, the answer turned out to be “Alice Springs Camel Cup” which no viewer got correct. Ofcom ruled that the correct answer was “almost impossible” for callers to have considered.
Channel 4 admitted that the clue on screen “may have suggested that a seven letter answer was required” and apologised for the error.
Ofcom said today that it had serious concerns about a growing trend in complaints relating to the conduct of some quiz TV competitions.
The regulator, which last week confirmed it would launch an official investigation into the quiz TV sector (see
Ofcom Announces Phone-In Investigation
Ofcom Announces Phone-In Investigation
Ofcom Announces Phone-In Investigation
Ofcom Announces Phone-In Investigation
Ofcom Announces Phone-In Investigation Richard & Judy Phone Quiz Controversy Takes New Twist), with the issue snowballing. BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen has been involved, as has ITV1’s Dancing on Ice and a host of other shows (see Dancing On Ice Finale Misses Out On 11,500 Text Votes).
ITV was so concerned by phone-in problems that it instructed auditor Deloitte to carry out a review of any shows which could be affected. Following the review, the broadcaster decided to axe its quiz channel ITV Play, replacing it with a time-shifted channel, ITV2+1 (see ITV Axes Quiz Channel). The X Factor was also in question after it emerged red button voters were overcharged (see ITV Joins Vote Scandal List For X Factor Overcharging).
Five suspended programming involving premium rate phone-ins earlier in the month, after Endemol UK told the channel about issues surrounding its quiz show Brainteaser (see Five Suspends Brainteaser Amidst Phone-In Controversy).
Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv