Crackdown on TV quiz shows

According to This Is Money, controversial television quiz shows could be curbed drastically after broadcasting and gambling watchdogs launched investigations into the programmes that make millions for major broadcasters at the expense of viewers.

Ofcom will launch a full inquiry following an outcry sparked by Financial Mail's reports on the money-spinning programmes.

The media regulator started preparatory work a week ago and aims to report by the end of the year. Recommendations will come into effect early in 2007. The Gambling Commission is already looking into the shows.

Programmes such as ITV's The Mint rely on audiences calling in on premium-rate phone lines to answer simple questions. ITV expects to make about £20m profit from the shows, with most of the money coming from callers who failed to get through to the studio.

Channel 4 and Five run similar programmes and C4 last week apologised for using staff to pose as prizewinners on its Quiz Call show. Another firm, Big Game TV, is waiting to hear whether it will be prosecuted for fraud, which it strongly denies.

An Ofcom source said: 'We have noticed a significant increase in complaints.' Ofcom has had 500 complaints about quiz channels since April and believes the number will double by the end of the year.

The inquiry could force quiz show hosts to come clean about the odds of winning a game and how many phone calls it takes to get through to the show, say Ofcom sources.

You can read the whole article at http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=413193&in_page_id=2&ito=1565.