The miscalculation came to light as part of ITV's regular financial reporting process for interactive activity. It identified that incorrect payments were collected through red button applications on the Sky platform during the last series of the 'X Factor'.
In the programmes broadcast between October 12 and December 16 2006, viewers had the opportunity to participate in the show through the red button in two ways, either by taking part in a prize competition, costing £1 an entry, or by voting in the show, costing 35p an entry.
Because of what ITV described as "a data inputting error" on the part of ITV, red button competition entrants had been charged 35p an entry instead of £1, an undercharge of 65p an entry. Red-button voters were charged 50p a vote instead of 35p, an overcharge of 15p a vote.
Incorrect payments only affected red button activity on the Sky platform. Landline, mobile and text entries were unaffected.
The mistake came to light last week when the broadcaster received the latest red button revenue statement from Sky for the operation of the last series of 'X Factor'. This statement showed a surplus to ITV of £200,000.
In rectifying the mistake, the broadcaster said it would repay the 15p collected from every vote to any viewer affected who wished to claim it back.
In addition, ITV is making a donation of £200,000 to Childline, the NSPCC's 24-hour helpline for children.
An ITV spokesperson said: "We very much regret that a mistake was made in the red button payment systems during the last series of the 'X Factor' and we apologise to all those viewers affected. ITV operates a robust audit system, which closely monitors interactive revenues, and this system picked up the incorrect pricing at the first available opportunity.
"This was an isolated incident of human error and, since this incident, ITV has undertaken a thorough review of the operation of its interactive services and systems. We are confident that we have a fair and transparent system that works and delivers a good service to viewers.
Viewers wishing to claim the 15p a vote overpayment can do so by contacting ITV on freephone 08000 63 62 63 or through its
ITV has notified ICSTIS, the premium rate services regulator of the incident.
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