I cried all the way to the bank - Liberace
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OFCOM fines 30 radio stations
UK BROADCASTING authority OFCOM has fined Gcap Media's One Network of 30 local radio stations £1,110,000 ($2,187,322) for unfair practices in their Secret Sound listener competition.
In total, it's the largest fine amount ever levied by OFCOM for breaches of the Broadcasting Code.
OFCOM's investigation found that the broadcasters deliberately aired texts with incorrect answers in order to prevent the prize from being won "too soon." Therefore, listeners who had paid to compete on those occasions had no chance whatsoever of winning the prize.
Each of the offending local radio stations must also broadcast two acknowledgements of OFCOM's finding and regulatory action at separate times. µ
L'Inq
Gcap
(pdf)
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When you pay to enter a competition, you pay for the chance to win. Whether this is through direct money or through charging (such as phone and text messages). Since the listeners weren't receiving what they paid for, and the company was profiteering from this, every victim has the right to claim reimbursement for their money. I do not believe in suing, but I do believe reimbursement is a fair outcome. It would also be much more effective punishment. Does the fine cover the profits cheated from callers? I think not!
GCAP Media are scumbag drones, so I am glad it's happened to them, serves them right for ditching Planet Rock :-(