The row and scandal over GMTV’s phone in quiz provider, Opera Interactive, continues to rumble on like an unanswered phone. Despite breaching Icstis (the premium rate regulators) guidelines over 20 times since 2005 (with fines of over £206,000) GMTV bosses claimed not to be aware of the company’s reputation. Other statistics relating to the affair are even more revealing:
£75m ~ the amount Gary Corbett, the owner of Opera, is said to be worth
£40m ~ initial estimate of how much GMTV would have to pay back those swindled
£4m ~ GMTV’s anticipated fine for breaching any Icstis guidelines
SOURCE; THE TIMES:24.04.07
Clearly, these figures are staggering and at the moment Opera Interactive and GMTV are involved in a verbal spat as to who is to blame. What is missing from TV and press coverage however, is the word “police”. If GMTV have to initiate public refunds of £40m, then this is clearly a case of fraud and somebody needs to be arrested, charged and held accountable. It’s also an indication that whilst the swathe of reality TV programmes and phone in shows may be rich pickings for media companies, it is attracting a business ethos which is brining the industry into disrepute. So far GMTV are the worst example of this “phone in fraud”, but their not the biggest players in the market. I wonder whose next? If you have the answer, please phone 0870 293847, calls charged at £1 a second, min time 1 minute. Lines closed last week.
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