Is it right for the BBC to invite viewers to phone in to give their views or vote on shows?

Question

Does the BBC use advertising or not or does BT own a major stake in the corparation, nearly every programme has a phone in vote or No to contact them on. I thought BT was now a private company so is not voting on progs such as "Strictly Come Dancing" making profit for a private company and againgst the BBC charter of No advertisising. Also is there somewhere I can find out how much BT make from such programmes?

Oops sorry I forgot to include all the mobile networks:-)

Answer 1

they should do a vote on who wants to pay for their stupid licence! they make thousands then

Answer 2

The BBC has as much right as any other broadcasting company to have phone in votes.

However, you ask a very good question.
I feel there are too many programmes on television that ask people to vote on this or that, and also asking people to text them with their views.
Somebody somewhere is making lots of money out of this, otherwise it would not be happening.

I feel there is a need for some sort of regulation on this issue.

The cost of some of these calls are astronomical, and there is no guarantee your vote will be registered.

I would advise anyone not to vote via television programme requests, unless they know where there hard earned cash is going to.

Further to your question, there are many more telephone companies than British Telecom that are making money out of these voting lines.

Maybe television companies should only be allowed to give a freephone number, that would make them think!

Hope my ideas are of help.

Answer 3

Yes it is!
No they don't
No they don't
Yes it is
No it's not
None of your business

Finally, you are a complete loser who does not check facts. I would not blame BT for burning you at the Stake for completely disregarding the fact that there there are many other operators out there who make money as well

Why not have a pop at the Post Office for all the money it made from postal votes for OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS in the 1960's and 70's? At least that was a monopoly and did not share the revenue, which fulfils your whinging moans requirements much more accurately

Answer 4

fact is, TV phone ins including game shows are what i call subscription calls, you will see premium calls [ or similar ] on your phone bill. in other words the BBC has a licence so that each time you call in, they charge you e.g.£1 for your call, the cost of the call maybe 20p goes to BT, 80p goes to the BBC, which they use to pay for new programmes [allegedly] same goes for those "dial a date", competition lines, etc. even shopping channels!!!. so think carefully before you phone them, cos at the end of the day, all your doing is putting money in their pockets. the biggest con of all are the TV competition progs, they give you an easy question, you know the answer, phone in and they tell you you weren't successful this time ...keep trying, that'll be one pound please! as only 1 in 500 callers actually get through you can see why they can afford to pay out big cash sums. for every £1000.00 they pay out , they can take up to £5000.00. wish i'd thought of it

Answer 5

No, and it's not just the BBC. The ITV use of vox pop is just cringe-worthy. When a tornado hit North London dislodging roof tiles (item no.1 on a slow news day) they had an old codger rambling on about a car alarm that had woken him, we then heard his wife in the back ground saying 'tell them about the window! Tell them about the window!' I've seen schoolchildren produce more professional television.

Answer 6

Yes and Yes,go to the share market,if u r a share holder in B.T u have a right to see were the money comes from.
Sorry knock at the door,must be,Agghhhhhhhh----------

Answer 7

That's a great idea! Wish they'd do that here!! ;-)=

Answer 8

as above

Answer 9

no, they should get enough from the license fee!

Answer 10

if all of the greenpeace activists ring in and get top gear cancelled i'll be pissed