Tags: BBC, Britain, media, News Media, Ofcom, Office of Communications, Television, UK

BBC fined for fake phone-in contests

UK’s Office of Communications (Ofcom) has fined BBC for misleading its audiences with several instances of faked phone-in contests.

The fine is worth around $793,000.

Ofcom said in a statement on this development: “The BBC deceived its audience by faking winners of competitions and deliberately conducting competitions unfairly.”

The shows which were found to have these discrepancies include:

Liz Kershaw Show
Jo Whiley Show
TMi
The Comic Relief charity telethon
The Sport Relief charity telethon
The Children in Need charity telethon
Russell Brand
Clare McDonnell Show

Ofcom added: “In some cases, the production team had taken premeditated decisions to broadcast competitions and encourage listeners to enter in the full knowledge that the audience stood no chance of winning.”

Checkout: Ofcom