Media
An external review of the BBC's response to premium rate phone-in problems has largely supported the corporation's actions.
The BBC asked consultant firm Deloitte to report after carrying out a wide internal investigation into the issue in March.
Deloitte's inspectors looked at six shows including entertainment, sport, daytime television and local radio and, though they found no major problems, raised several issues.
They said using text message contact in short, live shows was a problem because of the delay in the messages arriving, and recommended against it.
There were also some problems with on-screen messages. A message on one entertainment show failed to say call costs could vary with providers while text on others was too small and disappeared quickly. The consultants recommended producers set out precise and compulsory standards for messages.
On the same show the wrong phone number was given out to vote for one contestant several times. It was recommended a senior producer be given responsibility for phone-ins on each show and that thorough checks are made on lines.
It was noted two shows had no clear contract in place with the telecoms provider for the phone-in. The consultants said: "We recommend that a review is performed of all current and planned programming using [premium rate telephony services] to ensure that formal agreements defining the contractual and other responsibilities of the various parties are in place".
They also recommended that better records and documents should be kept detailing rules and outcomes of phone-ins and competitions.
None of the shows analysed were named in the report.
In nearly all areas the report praised action the BBC had already taken to improve the situation.
The BBC commented after the report was released: "Deloitte’s examination has not identified any major issues or systemic failings in BBC compliance within the programmes reviewed.
"The issues relating to the use of premium phone-lines had already been recognised and were being acted on as a result of the BBC's internal review. Deloitte's recommendations are supportive of the BBC's actions in this area."
The BBC asked consultant firm Deloitte to report after carrying out a wide internal investigation into the issue in March.
Deloitte's inspectors looked at six shows including entertainment, sport, daytime television and local radio and, though they found no major problems, raised several issues.
They said using text message contact in short, live shows was a problem because of the delay in the messages arriving, and recommended against it.
There were also some problems with on-screen messages. A message on one entertainment show failed to say call costs could vary with providers while text on others was too small and disappeared quickly. The consultants recommended producers set out precise and compulsory standards for messages.
On the same show the wrong phone number was given out to vote for one contestant several times. It was recommended a senior producer be given responsibility for phone-ins on each show and that thorough checks are made on lines.
It was noted two shows had no clear contract in place with the telecoms provider for the phone-in. The consultants said: "We recommend that a review is performed of all current and planned programming using [premium rate telephony services] to ensure that formal agreements defining the contractual and other responsibilities of the various parties are in place".
They also recommended that better records and documents should be kept detailing rules and outcomes of phone-ins and competitions.
None of the shows analysed were named in the report.
In nearly all areas the report praised action the BBC had already taken to improve the situation.
The BBC commented after the report was released: "Deloitte’s examination has not identified any major issues or systemic failings in BBC compliance within the programmes reviewed.
"The issues relating to the use of premium phone-lines had already been recognised and were being acted on as a result of the BBC's internal review. Deloitte's recommendations are supportive of the BBC's actions in this area."
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