Ofcom has imposed a multimillion pound fine on ITV plc for serious breaches in the regulator’s Broadcasting Code on premium rate services. A report into Granada Television’s Soapstar Superstar singled out senior production staff.
The total fine of £5,675,000 is the highest ever imposed by the regulator and it includes a £1.2 million penalty for Granada Television Ltd. This relates to Soapstar Superstar in January last year.
The 26 page report into Soapstar Superstar says that Executive and Series Producers of the January 2007 series had shown an “arrogant disdain” for the viewer’s votes. In addition, they had “deliberately and knowingly” finalised the votes early.
Junior members of the team had raised concerns but ITV admitted they had been “firmly sat upon” by the programme’s Producers.
Granada Television Ltd
In one show, programme makers ignored the viewers’ vote and finished the results before the phone lines had closed. This meant that the wrong participants were put forward for eviction.
Ofcom also said that on a number of occasions the production team overrode the song choices voted for by viewers and on these occasions a proportion of viewers had not got what they paid for.
In addition to the fine, ITV1 must broadcast a summary of the regulator’s findings on two occasions.
Ofcom considered information voluntarily supplied by ITV plc from its review by auditors Deloitte and also material obtained by Ofcom during its own investigations. Something to add? Then leave a comment below or email us now.
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