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

jamescredmond

Searcher wrote:

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.

Which, of course, ignores the fact that as a subsciber/licence payer I shouldn't have to turn off/switch over, but I must if my blood pressure is to stay stable.
these productions seek to extract cash from the desperate or gullible and makes bad tv for the rest of us.
none of these posts is going to make a difference but the OP chose the correct board to complain - this is the vent board, right? he/she can moan about anything they like.

thecremeegg

Victors_Bruvver wrote:

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.

Erm, as far as I'm aware a vast amount of that £18million was given out in prizes - it is a quiz show after all

Wig

Astaroth wrote:

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.

I don't think you realise how dishonest these shows are, and how some people are so stupid they shouldn't be allowed telephones, but we can't stop them having telephones so we have to stop the companies who would prey on these stupid people.

And these shows are to all intents and purposes unlicensed gambling dens. We are supposed to have strict laws in this country governing gambling, it's a disgrace nothing has been done about these shows sooner.

deanos

Sallys_Savings wrote:

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

People channel surf all the time, unless you watch the puzzle from the start its easy to guess the same answer

nomoneytoday

Victors_Bruvver wrote:

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.

Cameras, staff, wages, lighting, broadcasting costs add up over 4 hours a night, and then the prizes on top..

wantmemoney

Did anybody read this

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35990

AN ELDERLY woman who ran up a £190 phone bill mostly by calling ITV Play's The Mint show has sparked an inquest into TV quiz phone charges.

Her son-in-law just so happens to be the new incumbent as chairman of ICSTIS – the premium rate telephony enforcer.

Sir Alistair Graham told the FT that his mother-in-law "had a shock" after trying to compete in the TV quiz show.

Consequently he's summoned the key providers – Endemol (Big Brother), Freemantle Media (Pop Idol) and ITV Play (The Mint) for talks over their charges.

Why didn't Sir Ali G complain when other elderly relatives "had a shock" at huge phone bills?

nomoneytoday

wantmemoney wrote:

Did anybody read this

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35990

Why didn't Sir Ali G complain when other elderly relatives "had a shock" at huge phone bills?

Regardless of the person's age, WHY WOULD ANYONE RING UP A LINE 190 TIMES???!?
IMHO the inquest should look at her greed and stupidity.

unicornmagicsue

I personally have never rang 1 of these numbers - though I have entered on line which is free in most of these cases (you can enter deal or no deal free on line I've yet to win though lol perhaps its because it is free to enter an I am not giving them any of my money just hoping to take theirs)

BFG_2

I believe it would be OK to have these things if they were forced to show in big letters the approximate odds of winning (based on presious events) eg Richard & judy's muppet quiz (ie give away money) must be entered by 10's of thousands of people every day (and make a profit for the show?)??

jat100

I have actually won money (usually £25-£50) on these shows - but the afternoon ones which have lower monetary prizes but there is a better chance of getting though. It is very, very hard to get through which is why I have never wasted money on using the telephone. Legally, all these types of shows must have a free web entry and so all my entries have been from using this method.