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Press Releases
Stringent new policies on premium rate phone calls precede a phased return of 91Èȱ¬ competitions
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The 91Èȱ¬ is to introduce a new policy this week to bring greater clarity to audiences in the way programmes which use premium rate phone calls are priced.
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From this week, calls to 91Èȱ¬ programmes using premium rate telephony are to be capped at 15 pence.
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The only exception to this will be in programmes directly related to a charity appeal, such as Comic Relief, 91Èȱ¬ Children in Need or Restoration.
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In these cases, as now, the audience will be given a clear indication that this is happening.
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The new policy of having just two premium call categories – one capped at 15p for all 91Èȱ¬ programmes and the other for any charity appeals – will make it even clearer to audiences what to expect when they interact with 91Èȱ¬ programmes in competitions or votes.
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At the moment a number of 91Èȱ¬ programmes not directly related to a charitable appeal, such as Strictly Come Dancing, take the opportunity to raise a small additional sum for the charities by increasing the call price, usually by 10 pence. This will no longer happen under the new policy.
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91Èȱ¬ Director-General Mark Thompson said: "91Èȱ¬ programmes do not make money from premium rate calls and we've always told viewers and listeners the costs of calling to enter competitions or to vote. But I want this to be even clearer.
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"In future, audiences can be clear that these calls will be capped at 15 pence unless they are directly related to a charity appeal.
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"I do understand that this will mean that slightly less money will go to the charities as a result of the new policy, but we're already talking to them about other ways of supporting their work."
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The new policy is part of a range of measures the Corporation, with the approval of the 91Èȱ¬ Trust, is to take prior to the return of competitions on the 91Èȱ¬.
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A new Code of Conduct (bbc.co.uk/competitionspolicy) was announced last month.
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The code is the 91Èȱ¬'s undertaking to its audiences on the running of competitions and voting, and will be widely publicised to the general public.
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Forty-five per cent (7,200) of applicable 91Èȱ¬ staff have already attended the mandatory training course Safeguarding Trust which was launched in November following concerns over competitions and editorial breaches.
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A limited number of competitions will return to the 91Èȱ¬ in a phased manner from January 2008, beginning with Goal Of The Month on Match Of The Day on 91Èȱ¬ One and Pop Master on the Ken Bruce show on 91Èȱ¬ Radio 2.
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A range of measures have been put in place prior to the return of competitions.
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These include:
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 All staff involved in the running of a competition must have attended the 91Èȱ¬'s Safeguarding Trust training and the additional training this programme offers in running competitions and voting
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A reduction in the number of competitions to be held on 91Èȱ¬ programmes
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Any proposed competition must have very senior level prior approval
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The competition must be supervised by an appropriate editorial figure, and this arrangement must be approved in advance
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A senior executive in each 91Èȱ¬ Division will advise on any potential issues that may arise from competitions and how approval processes are being bedded down in their division
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All use of premium rate phone lines must have the prior approval of the 91Èȱ¬'s Editorial Policy Department
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91Èȱ¬ programmes are to make audiences aware of the new Code of Conduct on air.
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Mark Thompson said: "The public pay for the 91Èȱ¬, indeed they own the 91Èȱ¬, and quite rightly they have higher expectations of us than of any other broadcaster.
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"Trust in our integrity, our determination to deal fairly and honestly with our audiences, is the most precious thing the 91Èȱ¬ possesses.
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"The 91Èȱ¬ has followed a policy of confronting problems, disclosing everything and giving the public a clear explanation of what we are doing to get things right.
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"Early indications are that our audiences approve of what we've done. After an understandable dip, our ratings for trust are recovering."
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91Èȱ¬ Press Office
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