GMTV acts after phone-in row

Category internet, people, TV, Mobile | Permalink | 24. April 2007

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GMTV has terminated its contract with the company which provided its phone-in competition service.

The broadcaster said it had taken the decision following “irregularities” in the system Opera Interactive Technology was operating.

GMTV has been forced to deny claims that tens of thousands of people who made calls or sent texts to its competitions had no chance of winning.

According to a documentary, phone operator Opera Interactive Technology allegedly finalised shortlists of potential winners “long before” the breakfast television show’s lines closed, meaning millions of viewers were fleeced out of money.

Panorama claims the amount of money spent over the past four years by those trying to enter GMTV competitions is an estimated £45,000 a day or £10 million a year.

In a statement read out on air by presenters Andrew Castle and Fiona Phillips, GMTV said it “knew nothing” of apparent irregularities by Opera in the past and was “shocked” to hear of the allegations.

The statement said: “Just over a month ago GMTV instructed the city accountancy firm Deloitte to carry out a full, independent review of GMTV and Opera’s current interactive systems and processes.

“The review has now been completed and we are confident, on the basis of Deloitte’s findings and our own research, that our competitions are being operated fully in accordance with the codes - and that no finalists are being selected before lines have closed.”

It added: “We are investigating further but do anticipate bringing back our competitions as soon as possible.”

Source and More : http://www.itv.com

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