BBC Reintroduces Premium Phone-Ins

The BBC is going to reintroduce premium rate phone-in competitions gradually during January, following the suspension of the service in July.

A limited number will be reinstated during January, starting with Goal of the Month on Match of the Day and Popmaster on Radio Two.

All phone-ins were suspended in July following an inquiry that unearthed several faked phone-ins.

BBC’s director general, Mark Thompson, has introduced a cap of 15 pence on all premium rate calls, except for charity appeal shows such as Comic Relief. He believes that the new capping policy will make the cost of calls clearer to the public.

However, he admits that the fixed rate would mean charities will now receive “slightly less money” as a result and that the BBC are now in talks with charities “about other ways of supporting their work”.

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