UK Broadcast: tougher rules on premium rate calls

chris

PhonepayPlus, the regulatory body for all premium rate phone-paid services in the UK (previously known as ICSTIS), is toughening up its rules.

PhonepayPlus says that service providers looking to provide premium rate services (PRS) for broadcasters must first seek its formal permission. The intention is that the new regulatory regime will protect viewers from any possible harm when participating in broadcast PRS.

Viewers in the past have been happy to use broadcast PRS - voting in a talent contest, entering a competition or otherwise interacting with a programme - in record numbers. However, during 2007 PhonepayPlus, broadcast regulator Ofcom and the broadcasters themselves were rocked by a series of scandals and fraud with a large number of instances of consumers coming to harm as a result of engaging in such services.

This resulted in a series of high-profile sanctions brought by both regulators against PRS service providers and broadcasters.

Ofcom has announced its intention to amend TV broadcasting licences to make licensees directly accountable for PRS on programmes. Services provided on radio programmes will not be affected, though this will be reviewed during 2008.

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