Who are the people who call into these TV shows on premium line numbers?

Question

ITV have just pulled their programs that rely on this, but why do people keep playing these lines? Surely we'll just end up with a gambling addiction nation if we allow TV shows to keep pumping out garbage like this?

Answer 1

sad lonely desperate people !

Answer 2

The number of TV shows that invite viewers to call in for some kind of competition (or voting line), the former usually complete with a question that a five year old could answer has mushroomed over the last few years out of all proportion. I'm sure I saw one once that had the multiple choice question "What colour is an Orange?" and then invited people to phone up at £1 a minute and jack up the TV stations profits accordingly. The thing is though, that someone somewhere must be phoning these competitions (it sure isn't me, I'm not that desperate or stupid!) so all the while audiences are dumb enough to allow their phone bill to be sent into the stratosphere, TV companies will continue to use this system as a form of income revenue. It's not exactly moral, and clearly there needs to be more transparency and openness about these votes and competitions, and some sections of society (the poorer lower and working classes predominatly) probably do need protecting from this kind of thing - there is an addiction risk here and people are getting conned.

Answer 3

You could say "people with more money than sense" but I believe there is a certain type of person who is shown a chance to win who is so desperate for money or a prize of value that they will gloss over the cost of a premium phone call in the belief that they really can win (which technically they can although the odds are stacked very heavily against them).
As for reality TV shows, these work because viewers feel they have ownership. If, for example, the crowd for a football match could vote for the starting line up who would be playing in a certain match, the individual passion and dedication to the game and the team, coupled with the sense of belonging to something would certainly drive high volumes of individuals to buy their stake in the arrangements by calling or texting to have their say. Shows like X-Factor and Dancing on Ice rely on the element of human nature which craves ownership, control and, in a sense, recognition through being part of a movement.
It seems rather cursary to label anyone who tries to play a game or register a vote as 'sad lonely desperate people' (as suggested by others on here.) Why are you sitting at your computer typing things into Yahoo Answers - is that not then, for sad lonely desperate people too? Perhaps all entertainment is for sad lonely desperate people so gangs of teenagers hang round on street corners doing nothing because it makes them cool !

Answer 4

I would say that because of the time of night these programs are on at, it would be mostly drunk people, lonely people, and gamblers that play. I think their target audience is drunk people, as they will feel like they're in with a chance of winning, and forget about the cost and keep ringing time and time again, especially if they are in groups!!
So glad the plug is being pulled on this though, as I totally agree about the resulting gambling problem with the nation if we condone this...

Answer 5

They are the same people, who sit at home all day, watching [if not appearing on] daytime shows, waiting for some fat bloke to ask if they've had an accident in the last 3 years, or were given the correct training on how to use a ladder! Honestly, I give up!

Answer 6

I dont think there should be regulation against such shows or premium lines .The state already has far too much control over our lives and freedoms.

However,I question the sanity of anyone who throws away money for such mindless purpose.My suspicions are that it is the poorer of the working class who watch these shows,perhaps they have children who could benefit more from this money.

Answer 7

this would possibly not somewhat matter form yet i examine the golf green mile series whilst i replaced into rather youthful and stated that of all his books, it somewhat is one that could desire to be made right into a action picture... and then a pair years later they did yet i nonetheless have not seen it. i'm ashamed to declare that i did not examine harry potter till once I observed the 1st action picture. now it somewhat is my maximum cherished e book, i reread each and all of the time, quite whilst i struggle by using a coarse time cuz it somewhat is often sturdy and interior of an internet site i'm absorbed and forget approximately something that is going on in my genuine existence. with lotr, i observed the 1st action picture and HATED it. then i examine the hobbit (probable not till after the 2d action picture). as quickly as I examine the hobbit, i enjoyed the flicks lots lots. i did not examine the trilogy till some year and a a million/2 in the past and that i'm chuffed i observed the flicks first because of fact i admire the books and could have been aggravated with a number of the discrepencies if the action picture hadn't been what i got here to be attentive to initially. i'm listening to the da vinci code on tape now, although i had to ascertain it till now it became a action picture i'm in simple terms now getting around to it. i did not love the action picture yet i'm liking listening to the audio e book lots. i in simple terms examine inkheart and inkspell and presently after ending them i found out that inkheart is now in preproduction to alter right into a action picture.

Answer 8

There already is a gambling addicted nation.

Tony Blair loves it, more money for his little expirements and talk shops. If we save our money, he can't tax it, if we get into debt, are forced to work overtime, pay extortionate interest etc, the more of it there is to tax.

Answer 9

Brainless morons with no money (It's not call PREMIUM rate for nothing) - who think that they are going to 'be different from the rest and win'.

Or the other type of MORON who thinks that it is SO important that they vote to 'keep their favourites in the show'.

Answer 10

Most likely , callers are network employees posing as people calling to draw others to do the same.

It wouldn`t be the first time.

Answer 11

to win prizes
i only enter a premium comp if
1)not many people are entering
2) the amount of prizes on offer
3)the value of the prizes