BBC: 830,000 franc fine for manipulation in call-in broadcasts
The British broadcaster BBC must once again pay a hefty fine for manipulating call-in shows. On Wednesday, the media regulator Ofcom imposed a fine equivalent to 830,000 Swiss francs on the broadcaster.
The British broadcaster BBC has to pay another heavy fine for manipulating call-in broadcasts. The media regulator Ofcom imposed a fine of 400,000 pounds, the equivalent of around 830,000 francs, on the broadcaster on Wednesday. According to SDA, the BBC had "misled" its audience by deliberately presenting false winners and "unfairly" presenting programs. The broadcaster has never had to pay such a high fine before. In several television and radio shows, the BBC is said to have asked viewers or listeners to take part in competitions even though the candidates had already been decided.
Other shows were pre-recorded and winners selected in advance so that no one could win live. The accusation concerns well-known programs in the UK from previous years such as "Comic Relief", "Sport Relief" and "Children in Need". The BBC accepted the penalty and regretted the "serious breaches".
Just last year, the BBC had to pay a fine of 50,000 pounds (103,500 francs). In this case, winners were presented in prize shows in which viewers could call in who had not actually called in.
Other shows were pre-recorded and winners selected in advance so that no one could win live. The accusation concerns well-known programs in the UK from previous years such as "Comic Relief", "Sport Relief" and "Children in Need". The BBC accepted the penalty and regretted the "serious breaches".
Just last year, the BBC had to pay a fine of 50,000 pounds (103,500 francs). In this case, winners were presented in prize shows in which viewers could call in who had not actually called in.
