The boss of the UK's premium phone line watchdog says broadcasters have been, and I quote, "sloppy" in the way they manage interactive programme features involving premium line phone ins. Observing that the previously reported cases where viewers were over charged or encouraged to call in for non-existent competitions were "more cock-up than conspiracy" (which is a great expression I plan to use more often), Alistair Graham of Icstis told the BBC: "I suspect there has been a great deal of sloppiness around. Perhaps junior staff have been allowed to take responsibility for these phone-ins, because it all seems to be part of the mechanics of making the programme, rather than an essential issue of trust between the programme-maker and viewer. Given the recent spate of incidents consumer trust in these programmes must be at rock bottom... Achieving a fair deal for consumers is absolutely top priority. If we can't achieve that we won't be frightened of advising people not to participate in these programmes".
Mar 7, 2007
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1 min read
Phone regulator says TV firms have been 'sloppy'
Alistair Graham of premium phone line watchdog Icstis says broadcasters have been sloppy in managing interactive phone-in features, eroding viewer trust.