The Guardian
trending topics
Close Box

Our news

Yes, it’s true: We are joining GigaOM...


ITV Suspends SMS, iTV Interactivity; Brings In-House; Takes A $36 Million Hit

  • Comments Comments (View)
  • Text Size: A A

From our sister site paidContent:UK: As the UK’s call-TV scandal rolls on, ITV (LSE: ITV) has suspended viewers’ SMS and red-button interactive-TV participation in its live programmes after a Deloitte review in to its premium-rate activities found “serious editorial issues” in three shows. Deloitte said procedures, controls and relationships between producers and vendors were inconsistent, while “supporting technology, in the most part supplied by third party suppliers, lacks the reliability and resilience consistently to deliver the required level of service”.

SEE ALSO: @ Mipcom: Interview: Edward Boddington, CEO, Harvest Media Group: Call-TV Loses £200 Million

Executive chairman Michael Grade, in a regulatory statement, said ITV is bringing all telephony provision in-house for productions made by the network itself, and is working with BT (NYSE: BT) to develop a solution that will allow it to manage all interactive services itself, reducing reliance on third-party suppliers in a move that is likely to see some of their contracts dry up. Call charges totaling £7.8 million ($15.88 million), paid by viewers for uncounted votes or competition entries, will be reimbursed or donated to charity and ITV will incur an £18 million ($36 million) exceptional charge in full-year earnings.More on PCUK...

Oct 18, 2007 5:17 AM ET

Posted In: Media & Publishing, Countries, Europe, UK

(Page 1 of 1)


The Bestsellers

From iTunes and YouTube to Facebook and Kindle, the most popular content on the web, free and paid.

iTunes TV Shows iTunes TV Shows
1. Dangerous Liasons
2. All You Need Is Love
3. Me? Jealous?
4. The Spanish Teacher
5. Perception
See The Other Bestsellers »

Jobs RSS Job Listings

Social Standing

Which media brands are getting a lift from Tweeters and bloggers right now -- and which are getting panned?

"Sentiment" Scores for All the Companies »

Sponsors

Staff