£2 Million Fine for GMTV

LONDON, September 26: British morning show GMTV has received a £2-million fine from Ofcom for Broadcasting Code breaches in relation to its premium-rate phone competitions.

The fine follows an investigation by Ofcom into allegations that staff at Opera Telecom, the phone-service provider for the competitions, had selected finalists before lines had closed. Opera received a £250,000 fine by the premium-rate phone regulator Icstis earlier this week.

Ofcom said the breaches "constituted a substantial breakdown in the fundamental relationship of trust between a public-service broadcaster and its viewers.”

GMTV said on its website that it “accepts Ofcom’s judgment and, as broadcaster, we take full responsibility for the breaches of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code.”

The morning show axed its premium-rate services this summer and has been offering refunds to contestants; to date almost 130,000 viewers have contacted the refund helpline. GMTV also made a £250,000 donation to the charity ChildLine.

GMTV has announced a new code for premium rate competitions but they will not be implemented until it is “absolutely sure that the right compliance procedures are in place to enable our viewers to continue to enjoy the competitions knowing they are run fairly and honestly.”