Mrluvaluva
06-03-2007, 09:53 AM
From todays, you guessed it, Daily Star!
BIG Brother and all TV shows with premium rate phone vote lines are under threat today after a flood of “rip-off” complaints.
ITV pulled the plug on all its paid-for reader polls and suspended digital channel Play.
Channel 4, which shows Big Brother, starring the likes of Danielle Lloyd, pictured, could follow suit soon.
ITV was left facing a multi-million-pound crisis after pulling the plug on all its money-spinning phone lines.
In a shock move, network bosses suspended vote lines, interactive quizzes and phone links connecte with its programmes from today, following a series of allegations that some dial-in contests were a rip-off.
And if other channels follow suit, it could mean the end of the road for hits like Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing.
Shows instantly affected include daytime ITV1 favourites such as Loose Women and This Morning, while the money-spinning digital channel ITV Play was taken off the air.
The move could also plunge hit reality show Dancing On Ice into chaos. Millions of fans could be prevented from voting for the likes of Emily Symons, 37, and Kyran Bracken, 35, this Saturday.
ITV bosses were last night drawing up emergency plans to make sure the show could still be screened.
A source said: “It is imperative we get everything sorted by Saturday so Dancing On Ice can go ahead.”
Loss of income from premium rate lines could leave a black hole in ITV’s finances. In 2005, it earned £36million from them.
Bosses insisted suspending ITV Play would not have a “significant impact” on income – yet it raked in £26m in the first half of 2006.
They decided to act following a series of alleged rip-offs. We reported last week how ITV1 had offered to refund 1.3m X Factor fans after charging them too much for votes.
Bosses overcharged viewers by a total of £200,000 between October 14 and December 16, billing them for 50p a call instead of 35p.
ITV has now appointed auditors to probe shows such as I’m A Celebrity and Hell’s Kitchen to check that viewers were not overcharged.
ITV’s chief operating officer John Cresswell said last night: “We’ve asked the auditors to report back to us with some urgency.
“The interactive elements in each programme will be re-introduced as they are independently signed off.”
Meanwhile, Ant And Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway has also faced allegations that it conned viewers.
It has been claimed that fans were encouraged to call and text at £1 a time for the chance to enter its “Grab The Ads” contest, even after contestants had been chosen.
Regulators are already investigating Channel 4’s Richard And Judy show over allegations viewers were invited to enter the You Say We Pay contest AFTER the winner had been chosen.
And BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen has come under fire for encouraging viewers to call in, despite the fact that the show was pre-recorded. The Beeb blamed a “lack of clarity” for the problem.
* What do YOU think? Should Big Brother be scrapped? Comment NOW at Have Your Say.
Another excuse to put Danielle on the front cover?
BIG Brother and all TV shows with premium rate phone vote lines are under threat today after a flood of “rip-off” complaints.
ITV pulled the plug on all its paid-for reader polls and suspended digital channel Play.
Channel 4, which shows Big Brother, starring the likes of Danielle Lloyd, pictured, could follow suit soon.
ITV was left facing a multi-million-pound crisis after pulling the plug on all its money-spinning phone lines.
In a shock move, network bosses suspended vote lines, interactive quizzes and phone links connecte with its programmes from today, following a series of allegations that some dial-in contests were a rip-off.
And if other channels follow suit, it could mean the end of the road for hits like Big Brother and Strictly Come Dancing.
Shows instantly affected include daytime ITV1 favourites such as Loose Women and This Morning, while the money-spinning digital channel ITV Play was taken off the air.
The move could also plunge hit reality show Dancing On Ice into chaos. Millions of fans could be prevented from voting for the likes of Emily Symons, 37, and Kyran Bracken, 35, this Saturday.
ITV bosses were last night drawing up emergency plans to make sure the show could still be screened.
A source said: “It is imperative we get everything sorted by Saturday so Dancing On Ice can go ahead.”
Loss of income from premium rate lines could leave a black hole in ITV’s finances. In 2005, it earned £36million from them.
Bosses insisted suspending ITV Play would not have a “significant impact” on income – yet it raked in £26m in the first half of 2006.
They decided to act following a series of alleged rip-offs. We reported last week how ITV1 had offered to refund 1.3m X Factor fans after charging them too much for votes.
Bosses overcharged viewers by a total of £200,000 between October 14 and December 16, billing them for 50p a call instead of 35p.
ITV has now appointed auditors to probe shows such as I’m A Celebrity and Hell’s Kitchen to check that viewers were not overcharged.
ITV’s chief operating officer John Cresswell said last night: “We’ve asked the auditors to report back to us with some urgency.
“The interactive elements in each programme will be re-introduced as they are independently signed off.”
Meanwhile, Ant And Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway has also faced allegations that it conned viewers.
It has been claimed that fans were encouraged to call and text at £1 a time for the chance to enter its “Grab The Ads” contest, even after contestants had been chosen.
Regulators are already investigating Channel 4’s Richard And Judy show over allegations viewers were invited to enter the You Say We Pay contest AFTER the winner had been chosen.
And BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen has come under fire for encouraging viewers to call in, despite the fact that the show was pre-recorded. The Beeb blamed a “lack of clarity” for the problem.
* What do YOU think? Should Big Brother be scrapped? Comment NOW at Have Your Say.
Another excuse to put Danielle on the front cover?