Ofcom Announces Phone-In Investigation

Ofcom has officially announced an inquiry into the use of premium-rate telecoms services (PRS) in television programmes.

The inquiry will be lead by Richard Eyre, non-executive member of the Ofcom Content Board, and will include input from ICSTIS, the premium rate phone line regulator, which is already investigating some cases (see ICSTIS Outlines Plan To Tackle Phone-In Controversy).

The current worries over premium-rate phone lines began when problems concerning the Richard and Judy quiz, You Say, We Pay, were revealed in the press (see Richard & Judy Phone Quiz Controversy Takes New Twist) and have snowballed ever since, with BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, Dancing on Ice (see Dancing On Ice Finale Misses Out On 11,500 Text Votes) and a host of other shows all implicated in what could become a major scandal.

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 (see ITV Review Clears Interactive Quizzes).

Following the review, ITV decided to axe its quiz channel ITV Play, replacing it with a time-shifted channel, ITV2+1 (see ITV Axes Quiz Channel).

Jonathan Lewis, director of ITV’s digital channels, said the decision to replace the quiz channel was “commercial”.

The Ofcom inquiry will examine consumer protection issues and audiences’ attitudes to the use of PRS in television programmes and the benefits and risks to broadcasters using PRS in programmes.

It will also look at compliance issues for broadcasters and others involved with PRS and make sure that Ofcom and ICSTIS codes are being followed.

Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, said: “Widespread concern about the use of premium rate telephone lines by broadcasters and editorial standards in those programmes has raised serious questions about trust between broadcasters and viewers.

“Ofcom has been monitoring the issue closely and has launched a number of individual investigations since the start of the year. However it is clear from the number of cases underway that a broader set of issues need to be examined as a matter of priority.

“This inquiry will seek to establish the root cause of the compliance issues which have emerged over recent weeks, and inform key decisions about protecting consumers.”

Ofcom expects Eyre to report his findings to the board by early Summer.

Ofcom: 020 7981 3040 www.ofcom.org.uk