[Matt]

Again guys, I'm very sorry that I have to post this from my own site, but it's so juicy that i couldn't resist:

[quote]
Big Brother viewers, a.k.a. you and me, will apparently not be charged a penny for voting during this summer's series of the hit reality show.

Today's edition of The News Of The World says that bosses are trying their best to win back fans following the racism row of Celebrity Big Brother in January, and one plan is to remove premium rate tariffs from voting lines, making them free.

According to the paper, bosses believe it will TRIPLE the number of votes and win back the public following said racism row, and the recent premium rate phonelines scandal, which Channel 4 started after a cock-up on popular teatime chat show Richard and Judy's You Say We Pay segment.

A BB insider told the paper: "This is a brilliant stunt by Channel 4. There is a real fear that after all the recent scandals, viewers won't want to vote this year. If they don't have to shell out any cash, those negative feelings could change."

Votes used to cost 50p each, with the money being split between C4 and their premium rate phone lines operator after a 10p donation to charity. Participation was so low in last year's series, Big Brother 7, that Channel 4 made less than £1million from votes.

Link removed by Mark. Please stop plugging links to your site in threads. Thanks

I doubt this will happen, but if it does what a coup!

What do you think?

[dupin]

But if that's the case, how will they make a profit? And if they're not making a profit, then they're just losing loads of money.

[Matt]

That's what I thought. I got it out of today's edition of The News Of The World.

[GhettoSuperstar]

They might not lose a lot of money as it will probably cost the same as a normal phone call?
And they make a huge profit anyway...

[Chrizzle]

Definately not true.

[Matt]

Still, I've heard voting on Dancing With The Stars in America is free.... so why can't Big Brother in the UK be free?

[SiMoN!]

i hav read NOTW today and didnt see it

so what page is it on

[Captain.Remy]

Impossible, they need money in order to pay the housemates and everything !

[Chrizzle]

I hope its not true, it costing money makes it more controlled.

[x_mel_x]

I dont think thats true. Remember in BB1 voting used to cost just 10p!

[Matt]

Those wondering where it is: Page 13, top right hand corner.

[Matt]

Originally posted by x_mel_x
I dont think thats true. Remember in BB1 voting used to cost just 10p!

That's true, they could always just make it cheaper.

[Stu]

No big deal methinks. They dont make that much profit on voting anyway so if you make it free , you get WAY more votes which means things could be more unpredictable and everybody will feel like they are interacting = increase in ratings.

[Matt]

Yeah, lets hope its true for once.

[Chrizzle]

I dont want it to be true. It would be rubbish.

[andybigbro]

If thats true its rediculous People would Just Vote there Favourite Like a Million Times if there is no Limit to the Vote Cost

[Matt]

Hmm I suppose so

[Ruth*Star]

I doubt it, they won't make any money, i don't want this to be true. it would'nt make bb fair if they did that.

[Chrizzle]

Just think, one crazy person could vote over and over again for someone like Dawn, and they could end up being the winner.

It just wouldnt work AT ALL!

[Kore]

maybe theylle start doing.

'vote twice and get the 3rd vote free'

[Princess]

No way could that work!

[Stu]

Originally posted by Chrizzle
Just think, one crazy person could vote over and over again for someone like Dawn, and they could end up being the winner.

It just wouldnt work AT ALL!

You can only vote once says hi. They can just block your number after the first vote.

[Kore]

vote 10 times and get a discount on the next time you vote LOL

can you imagine?

[~Kizwiz~]

This is a major part of how BB makes their money, apart from sponsorship so I doubt that they wont charge

[Princess]

They could charge less but not free altogether because thats just insane.