BBC creates dept to oversee phone-ins

The BBC has created a new department to oversee all events in programmes that use phone-ins for viewer participation.

The Interactive Technical Advice and Contracts Unit will "support the work of BBC’s TV and Radio production teams, enabling the reintroduction of participation services whilst being compliant with industry regulations," the corporation said today.

ITACU has already commenced work on Strictly Come Dancing, which this year is not raising money for Children in Need because of a "new policy of having just two premium call categories - one capped at 15p for all BBC programmes and the other for any charity appeals".

Sitting within the BBC's Future Media and Technology department, ITACU will manage the relationship between a production team on a particular show and a third party telephony service provider.

"This new unit should be a huge help to BBC production teams who want to exploit the creative possibilities of interactivity in their output," said David Jordan, director of editorial policy and standards. "Programme makers must use the ITACU to arrange and contract telephony, it is mandatory to do so from today, but it will take a lot of the strain out of the process and ensure it is being done properly."