Premium Rate Phone-in Competitions

There has been a lot in the news these past few weeks about the legitimacy of various phone-in competitions on TV shows. As usual the media portray the issue as black and white with the TV stations clearly in the wrong and, as usual, the reality is more complex. I am, however, glad that the issue has been raised and the television providers have been forced to look into their practices. If and where abuses have taken place, it is vital that these are put right. Further failings must not be allowed to take place and I do hope that the television channels and the regulator will work together with government to ensure this is the case.