TV Phone In Probe Threatens Dancing On Ice
It started with the revelation that Richard And Judy’s Phone in Quiz every day was not being entirely truthful with viewers and potential contestants. It leaked out that even after a viewer was chosen at random to be the on air contestant for that particular day, the phonelines were kept open and the number repeatedly plugged on air. Not good, and it brought a doorstepping for the famous married presenter couple before they denied having any knowledge of the alleged scam.
Then, as a consequence, new ITV channel chief Michael Grade ordered a huge probe to ensure the broadcaster is “whiter than whiteâ€? with all it’s TV phone-ins. Great, and a good idea to show you’re above board and not ripping anyone off. Except of course that while the independant investigation is going on, programmes that rely on phone voting and audience participation can’t logistically carry on broadcasting. The celebrity ice skating reality show ‘Dancing On Ice’ , presented by Torvill And Dean could be the first casualty of this ruling, unless auditors Deloitte complete their in-depth probe in time.
Saturday is scheduled to be a semi final, starring Emmerdale’s Emily Symons, but there are now serious doubts as to whether this will air or be pushed back in the schedules. The probe will see quiz channel ITV Play halted immediately, along with late-night ITV1 contest Glitterball.
John Cresswell, ITV plc’s chief operating officer, said last night: “This is a concern across the whole industry.
Millions of people enjoy interacting with ITV by voting in entertainment shows or taking part in competitions.
It is critical viewers have absolute confidence in our services.�
The review will cover premium rate, landline, mobile and red button services and look at programming from the past two years. This includes the massively popular X Factor series presented by Simon Cowell and won by Leona Lewis.
Phone In Probe, Dancing On Ice, Torvill And Dean, Richard And Judy, ITV, Michael Grade, Deloitte, John Cresswell, X Factor, Leona Lewis
November 2nd, 2007 at 2:13 pm
[...] and Judy were also caught up in the premium rate phone in scandal earlier this year when it transpired their You Say, We Pay game had continued to take callers even when there was no [...]