17/06/2010

World Cup Complaints Soar At Ofcom

The UK's communications regulator has now received over 750 complaints regarding a broadcasting glitch that saw 1.5 million fans miss England's goal in the World Cup match against the USA on Saturday.

Ofcom reported that the total number of complaints to ITV has reached almost 6,000.

The incident saw an advertisement aired just as Steven Gerrard scored a goal during ITV's HD broadcast. ITV have put it down to "human error" at transmission supplier Technicolor.

Ofcom are currently assessing the complaints in relation to a breach of the broadcasting code.

Questions have also been raised as to the act being carried out deliberately. Book-makers Paddy Power had taken "less than a dozen" bets at 8/1 that ITV would show an advert during any World Cup match. However no major winners from the incident have been announced. A spokesman for ITV said that this had not yet been ruled out.

(BMcN)

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