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General Discussion => The Buzz => Topic started by: Simon on July 30, 2008, 12:24

Title: Record fine over BBC's phone-ins
Post by: Simon on July 30, 2008, 12:24
The BBC has been fined £400,000 by media watchdog Ofcom for misleading its audiences by "faking" phone-ins.

The Comic Relief, Children in Need and Sport Relief TV shows were caught up in the scandal, along with Liz Kershaw on 6 Music and Jo Whiley's Radio 1 show.

The regulator's £400,000 penalty is a record for the corporation.

"The BBC deceived its audience by faking winners of competitions and deliberately conducting competitions unfairly," Ofcom said.

Viewers were urged to call some BBC programmes after contestants had already been chosen.

Other shows had been pre-recorded, so nobody could win apparently "live" competitions.

The affected shows were fined individually, totalling £400,000. They were:

Comic Relief (BBC One, March 2007) - £45,000

Sport Relief (BBC One, July 2006) - £45,000

Children in Need (BBC One Scotland, November 2005) - £35,000

TMi (BBC Two and CBBC, September 2006) - £50,000

Liz Kershaw Show (BBC 6 Music, May 2005 to January 2006) - £115,000

Jo Whiley Show (BBC Radio 1, 20 April to 12 May 2006) - £75,000

Russell Brand (BBC 6 Music, April 2006) - £17,500

Clare McDonnell Show (BBC 6 Music, from September 2006) - £17,500

Full Story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7497168.stm)
Title: Re: Record fine over BBC's phone-ins
Post by: David on July 30, 2008, 12:54
Silly question who wll uktimatly pay this fine I wonder ?
Its reallt about time to outlaw all phone in competitions....SAE is the safest way.

I would never phone in for a competition its a mugs game but a lot of people really believe they might win,wonder how many of the same play the lottery every week.

Even if these phon competions were not rigged the chances of you winning is so small.
Punish the BBC and we the viewers will pay one way or another :woot: