Regulator investigates BB phonelines after complaints

LONDON - Premium-rate service providers affiliated to Channel 4's reality show 'Big Brother' will be subject to a formal investigation by phone regulator Icstis.

The regulator has received almost 2,700 complaints relating to the voting system on the show since it was announced that contestants who had previously been evicted were being given the chance to return to the house with the possibility of winning the final cash prize.

The investigation will now centre on paragraph 4.3.1a of the Icstis code of practice, which states that: "Services and promotional material must not mislead, or be likely to mislead, by inaccuracy, ambiguity, exaggeration, omission or otherwise."

Icstis said the majority of the complaints it had received were from viewers who felt they had been misled, as they were under the impression that they had voted to evict the contestants permanently.

The regulator said it was investigating "an alleged breach of this paragraph with the two premium-rate service providers concerned".

The regulator will investigate Minick Ltd, which is providing the mobile shortcode text vote facility, and ITouch UK, which provides the 090 telephone voting system.

The regulator insisted it was not investigating Channel 4 or Endemol as they are not the premium-rate service providers.

Earlier this month, media regulator Ofcom received more than 600 complaints from 'Big Brother' viewers over Channel 4's decision to re-introduce previously evicted housemates.

The decision by Channel 4 to allow an evicted contestant, who will be eligible for the show's £100,000 cash prize, back into the house sparked a flood of calls and emails to Ofcom from viewers who have spent money on premium rate calls to evict unpopular housemates.

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