Why was there no text voting last time?

[AlexBigBrother]

it was on in bb7, i much prefered it!

[*mazedsalv**]

Not sure, but thats why BB8 had low voting figures, I always used to text vote.

[Spike]

I think it was because some operators can't get the votes in quick enough and after all the voting troubles last year Big Brother didn't want to get into anymore trouble after the race row

[Matt]

The excuse they gave was that mobile operators could not process votes fast enough (even though they could before BB8).

[liam_bigbrother]

i used to text vote alll the time, its easier and cheaper. Hope they do it in bb9

[Rob]

it was because of the whole telephone scams unveiled

[Spike]

I hope the text voting is back this year

[Rob]

me too

[*mazedsalv**]

Me too :tongue:

[Spike]

I didn't vote as much last year because there was no text voting, I would think that there was probably not that many votes cast last year.

[Brekkie]

It wasn't just Big Brother, all programmes have stopped using text votes.

The reason is that operator can't guarantee that a text sent before the closing time will be received before the closing time - think of New Year's Eve when loads of texts are sent after midnight, but you might not receive it until quite some time after.


Personally I think a very simple disclaimer saying that all votes "made OR received" after the closing line won't count but may be charged would cover them - and it's up to the voter to get their votes in on time.

After all, if you're sending something by post you don't blame the receiver if it arrives late, so why should they be blamed for texts?

[*mazedsalv**]

Originally posted by Brekkie
It wasn't just Big Brother, all programmes have stopped using text votes.

The reason is that operator can't guarantee that a text sent before the closing time will be received before the closing time - think of New Year's Eve when loads of texts are sent after midnight, but you might not receive it until quite some time after.


Personally I think a very simple disclaimer saying that all votes "made OR received" after the closing line won't count but may be charged would cover them - and it's up to the voter to get their votes in on time.

After all, if you're sending something by post you don't blame the receiver if it arrives late, so why should they be blamed for texts?

You have a good point. On New Years Eve, the message I wanted to send at 12 couldnt send until 1:45am.

[rhombus92]

the actual real reason is because that year there was scandakl over text voting not being counted properly, and they thought they might be accused of cheating, like dancing on ice the texts were not counted. in such reality programs where the viewer votes this could cause scandal

[Nurse57]

"After all, if you're sending something by post you don't blame the receiver if it arrives late, so why should they be blamed for texts?"

If the person receiving your letter by post was making money from you for receiving your letter then they would have a duty of care to you..

[Fom]

They could always close the text line earlier than the phone line... then give texts an extra 2 hours to be received. So close the lines but still count anything afterwards for an extra hour or 2.

[Barbie]

i always text voted if i really wanted to vote and this was only when my favourite was up (to save them by voting them to stay or the other to go ),or on the final if my favourite was still there

[*mazedsalv**]

Originally posted by Barbie-big-bro
i always text voted if i really wanted to vote and this was only when my favourite was up (to save them by voting them to stay or the other to go ),or on the final if my favourite was still there

Same. I got too carried away in BBCH because I know that every vote will count because less people were voting, so I voted probably 50 times during the whole of BBCH.

[Brekkie]

Originally posted by Fom
They could always close the text line earlier than the phone line... then give texts an extra 2 hours to be received. So close the lines but still count anything afterwards for an extra hour or 2.


Big Brother generally did - I think they stayed open a bit longer during BB6/7 but during the first couple of years of text voting text lines always closed at the beginning of the programme.


I don't think there was any specific issue with BB voting itself, it was more that issues had been raised with other, mainly ITV, programmes, specifically The X Factor.

[Tom]

Originally posted by Brekkie
It wasn't just Big Brother, all programmes have stopped using text votes.

The reason is that operator can't guarantee that a text sent before the closing time will be received before the closing time - think of New Year's Eve when loads of texts are sent after midnight, but you might not receive it until quite some time after.


Personally I think a very simple disclaimer saying that all votes "made OR received" after the closing line won't count but may be charged would cover them - and it's up to the voter to get their votes in on time.

After all, if you're sending something by post you don't blame the receiver if it arrives late, so why should they be blamed for texts?

I agree with that, but there is also no reason why they couldn't close the text voting at the end of Thursdays highlights show meaning unreceived texts still have another day to get there, and along with the disclaimer I don't think there would be any problems.