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23/04/2007
GMTV viewers defrauded in competitions, documentary claims
Millions of people who attempted to enter premium-rate phone competitions on GMTV have been defrauded out of money, according to a BBC documentary.
According to the 'Panorama' programme, GMTV's phone operator Opera had been finalising shortlists of potential winners "long before" phone lines closed, over the past four years.
This meant that any subsequent callers would not have had any chance of winning the competition.
The documentary said that viewers had spent an estimated £10 million a year over the past four years trying to enter the competition.
Panorama also alleged that Opera's sales director has discovered what was going on and had ordered staff not to reveal what was happening to GMTV.
Opera has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that there is "not a shred of truth" in any of the allegations.
GMTV has suspended all phone-in quizzes. In a statement, the broadcaster said that Panorama's investigation claimed "to have revealed some irregularities in the past in the way GMTV's telecoms provider Opera Telecom selected finalists for our competitions".
The statement said: "GMTV knew nothing of this and is shocked to hear of these allegations.
"Just over a month ago GMTV instructed the city accountancy firm Deloitte to carry out a full independent review of GMTV and Opera's current interactive systems and processes.
"The review has now been completed and we are confident on the basis of Deloitte's findings and our own research that our competitions are being operated fully in accordance with the codes - and that no finalists are being selected before lines have closed.
"We are investigating further but do anticipate bringing our competitions back as soon as possible."
Panorama also said that media regulator Ofcom had launched a formal investigation following a complaint against GMTV and Opera, but Ofcom has not confirmed if it is related to the same issue.
Panorama: TV's Dirty Secrets will be shown on BBC On at 8:30pm on Monday, April 23.
(KMcA/JM)
According to the 'Panorama' programme, GMTV's phone operator Opera had been finalising shortlists of potential winners "long before" phone lines closed, over the past four years.
This meant that any subsequent callers would not have had any chance of winning the competition.
The documentary said that viewers had spent an estimated £10 million a year over the past four years trying to enter the competition.
Panorama also alleged that Opera's sales director has discovered what was going on and had ordered staff not to reveal what was happening to GMTV.
Opera has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that there is "not a shred of truth" in any of the allegations.
GMTV has suspended all phone-in quizzes. In a statement, the broadcaster said that Panorama's investigation claimed "to have revealed some irregularities in the past in the way GMTV's telecoms provider Opera Telecom selected finalists for our competitions".
The statement said: "GMTV knew nothing of this and is shocked to hear of these allegations.
"Just over a month ago GMTV instructed the city accountancy firm Deloitte to carry out a full independent review of GMTV and Opera's current interactive systems and processes.
"The review has now been completed and we are confident on the basis of Deloitte's findings and our own research that our competitions are being operated fully in accordance with the codes - and that no finalists are being selected before lines have closed.
"We are investigating further but do anticipate bringing our competitions back as soon as possible."
Panorama also said that media regulator Ofcom had launched a formal investigation following a complaint against GMTV and Opera, but Ofcom has not confirmed if it is related to the same issue.
Panorama: TV's Dirty Secrets will be shown on BBC On at 8:30pm on Monday, April 23.
(KMcA/JM)
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