They don't have to be, although some broadcasters are not offering the quality service they should be. We've welcomed the Icstis report and hope other operators follow ITV Play's lead in providing market-leading consumer protection measures, such as in-message call warnings and regular cost of entry information. ITV has also been trialling methods of displaying "chances of connecting to the studio", for greater transparency. on believe other broadcasters will have to follow suit.
YES - Adrian English, Communications director, Carat
Part of me believes that potential quiz contestants who run up premium rate bills need their heads tested. It shouldn't take them long to calculate that their investment isn't seeing a return. However, there is something of the fairground trickster about quiz call channels. The new legislation to inform and protect consumers is a good example of the Government helping the public without nannying them.
NO - Simon Bevan, TV director, Vizeum
There have been no unlawful practices uncovered by the review and viewers are still interacting with Call TV quiz shows in significant numbers, despite the costs. The key issue for the development of this market is integrity, which the new regulations proposed by Icstis should deliver. Ultimately, with the decline of traditional advertising revenues, it is hard for broadcasters not to boost revenues via this high-margin market.
YES - Hugo Swire, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport
The high degree of luck needed and the spurious nature of the questions mean these games are closer to a lottery than a quiz. The danger is that unsuspecting callers could easily be misled into thinking just one call could get them through to take part and could consequently run up huge phone bills. We would expect the Gambling Commission to take action as a matter of urgency.
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