Virgin Radio is the latest broadcaster to become embroiled in the premium rate phone row, after it emerged that listeners were invited to pay 25p to text a show that was not live.A Mail on Sunday reader complained to the paper after he texted a request to Suggs' Virgin Party Classics last October, only to see the presenter appear on live television just minutes later.
Texts to Virgin Radio's studio number, 81215, cost 25p — which is split between the station and the mobile phone operator.
A Virgin Radio spokeswoman told the Mail on Sunday that the show had been recorded on that occasion, but would not say how many texts had been received.
She said: "Suggs is extremely busy and has a number of commitments including his music career and various TV appearances.
"On this occasion the show was pre-recorded but all the texts we get go into an email inbox which will still be used at some point — it's not that those requests will go to waste."
Premier rate phone regulator Icstis has said it would investigate the complaint.
An Icstis spokeswoman told the Mail on Sunday: "You can't portray something as live if it's not. We would have to hear a transcript of the show to see what words were used."
Icstis is also investigating five TV shows over irregularities in the way premium-rate competitions are run.
1 comment:
Damn, these people act like if they pay for a text that they should "get what they paid for"....
I guess a "voicetracked" or pre-recorded show is common over here... so what that he was recorded? get over it..
Post a Comment