Hooray!! – “TV Phone-in prize shows may be forced off air by gambling laws”

Victors_Bruvver

At long last somebody, other than Ofcom, has taken an interest in taking to task and possibly regulating these obnoxious TV “Quiz” shows that seem to be invading the digital TV channels.

I have long thought that it was immoral to have these type of shows where the caller is paying a premium rate of 60 – 75p a minute and then having no guarantee of entering the quiz, just a recording to say “bad luck, try again”. The Times today has more details that a change in the gambling law to prohibit these programmes. It also confirms my cynical view back in April this year that it was going to be a money spinner for ITV who were losing advertising revenue fast.

Quote from the Times article;

“ITV Play has proved a financial lifeline for the network since its launch on April 19. According to results this month, ITV Play produced £27 million of revenue and £9 million of profits in its first four months” I wonder where the 18 million went; it seems to be a huge amount to cover operation costs.

Like everything that has a Regulator involved, any possible changes may only come into place in a year’s time, so I can expect that there will be a lot more of these so called quizzes appearing on the “commercial” (does anyone still call them that?) channels in the meantime. I for one found it a little nauseating that when I lived in the ITV Central area there were the occasional prize offered on the local Central News programme where you had to call a premium line number. What got up my nose was the probability of never getting through as with ITV Play and the fact that the prize was more than likely donated by a local supplier/manufacturer as part of PR & advertising campaign.

For the full Times article read here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2332385,00.html

Oh and BTW when ITV Play was being launched, I thought was all about a channel devoted to plays; thespians and all that!

hollydays

I do find this fascinating though.Trying to figure out WHY anyone would ring these shows.

Sallys_Savings

What surprises me too is that people ring up with the same answer that has been said before.

Surely if you're going to spend that money calling you could at least listen to the other answers to make sure they haven't been said?

Sometimes the same answer is phoned in 3 or 4 times!!

We have watched a couple of these shows but we "play" as a family lol

divadee

those channels drive me mad!!! mr divadee was most upset that men and motors on freeview got taken off for that rubbish itv play!!!!!

i hate them with a passion, they are a big rip off, the puzzles are just stupid and last fair fair to long, i watched 1 ages ago when these channels first appeared and it went on for over 2 hours for 1 puzzle :eek: :mad:

sooner they are gone the better!!!!!

HeaddyMX

I got caught up in one of these some time ago, when it was all new. I think what makes them so appealing to call in is the number of people who do get through and give stupid answers (probably actors).

I do agree that they're a waste of time and money, because even if it is genuine the odds of winning are extremely slim. (I think in one instance, if you won one game then you had to play another, where you had to guess a specific date - day, month AND year - to get anything.) Bring back Men and Motors!

Astaroth

Think saying they are going to be forces off air is a little sensationalistic - yet more proof that The Times is becoming a tabloid.

I have never watched one of these programs other than for about 20 seconds when I first got sky installed and was flicking through the channels. They really arent my kind of entertainment but at the same time I have no issues with them broadcasting if there are people out there who do find them enjoyable to watch and either "play as a family" or choose to spend their money and call in.

The whole gambling laws are being reviewed and this may mean that shows like this will either have to close down or obtain the relevant licence - even if they did this and had to give 20% of revenues to charity they would still be making a healthy enough profit.

C_Ronaldo

personnally men and motors is better than them quiz shows

Mutton_Geoff

I find it annoying ITV devote so much of their mainstream airtime to the rubbish that is "The Mint". Perhaps you could join me in sending them an email to let them know your views too?

Unfortunately as consumers are led more to expect instant gratification, these type of programmes are going to survive as the people least able to afford it think they can get £4,000 for a 60p phone call just because they know the answer is "Rhubarb" :mad:

http://www.itv.com/page.asp?partid=5

ITV Play enquiries
You should contact ITV Play's viewer care team if you have a comment, query or complaint regarding a programme on ITV Play (including This Morning Puzzle Book, Friends Reunited: The School Run, Rovers Return Quiz Night and The Mint):

PO Box 49756
London
WC1X 8WN

Tel: 0845 014 7529
Email: [EMAIL="itvplay@itv.com"]itvplay@itv.com[/EMAIL]

Searcher

What really amazes me about these shows is the reaction to them
If you don't like them the solution is simple ... don't watch.

There are plenty of people who do watch the shows and phone in but it's their life, their money amd most important of all it's their choice.
So what if you don't like them, or don't agree with the fact that they are taking money from people and giving them the opportunity (albeit very slight) to win 1000's. I can't stand Big brother, The X factor or any of the other countless reality shows that are on the TV but I don't pick up the phone to complain or fire off an email every time the voting lines are opened.

Awful viewing they may be for most of us, but there are enough people out there watching and phoning to make this a very large cash cow for ITV and as I said earlier it's their choice if they want to phone in or not.. nobody is holding a gun to their head.

Mutton_Geoff

I don't watch them, however I do feel that our media has a modicum of social responsibility. As it is a mainstream channel, probably more so. I would care less if it were on Channel 465 somewhere but I think the main 5 channels should be more responsible in their output.

Searcher

Mutton_Geoff wrote:

I don't watch them, however I do feel that our media has a modicum of social responsibility. As it is a mainstream channel, probably more so. I would care less if it were on Channel 465 somewhere but I think the main 5 channels should be more responsible in their output.

But why?

These shows aren't exactly shown at prime time, The Mint is on anywhere between midnight and 04:00. From memory it wasn't so long ago that all ITV used to show at that time was something called nightscreen which was just a sequence of static pages of information about ITV's upcoming programmes, features and special events.

So not like it's actually keeping anything else off the air.

O and by the way I'm not an insomniac late night telly addict lol I work nights at home and the TV is on in the background