The authority ruled that some of the PlayTV programmes broadcast on dates between July and November last year were unfair and misleading. It upheld some complaints in part.

Members of the [...]]]> Following 10 complaints against a night-time television quiz programme broadcast on TV3, these have been upheld by the complaints committee of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

The authority ruled that some of the PlayTV programmes broadcast on dates between July and November last year were unfair and misleading. It upheld some complaints in part.

Members of the public participate in the show by calling a premium-rate telephone number in an attempt to be put through the studio to answer a quiz question.

One complainant to the BAI claimed the programme he watched on August 9th last year “beggared belief” and alleged that some calls put through to the studio were “plants”.

TV3 defended the programme and said it had been notified to all appropriate authorities and received all appropriate consents. All the appropriate terms and conditions in relation to the show were also on display for viewers to see, the broadcaster contended.

In an 80-page report on the 27 complaints considered at its January 12th meeting, the BAI said of PlayTV: “Given the format of the programme and the details available in the terms and conditions, participants are playing a game of chance for a cash prize. This fact is not conveyed to viewers and, therefore, the current format of the programme is unfair and misleading.”

The committee also upheld three complaints in relation to a discussion broadcast on The Wide Angle programme on Newstalk radio on September 13th 2009 in relation to the second Lisbon Treaty referendum.

It found the programme makers and the presenter, Karen Coleman, “did not take sufficient action to mitigate the views and opinions expressed by the panel, which was overwhelmingly for a Yes vote”.

The authority said it was incumbent on the broadcaster to ensure that “ in dealing with the Lisbon Treaty, a matter of public debate, that both side of the issue were addressed fairly”.

It found the Yes side was given prominence in the discussion.

“The broadcast treatment of the treaty in this broadcast was one-sided and not fair to all interests concerned. The complaint was upheld with regard [to] fairness, objectivity and impartiality.”

RegTel’s chairman Mr Fred Hayden expressed concern at the manner in which the Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan had introduced the Communications [...]]]> Irish consumers who may have been overcharged by premium rate telephone service providers will find it more difficult to seek redress once a new communications bill becomes law, the chairman of RegTel has announced.

RegTel’s chairman Mr Fred Hayden expressed concern at the manner in which the Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan had introduced the Communications Regulation (Premium Rate Services) Bill 2009.

The Bill proposes an end to self-regulation by the telecoms industry, and instead in the future will be supervised by ComReg. Similar to the UK premium rate phone regulator Phonepayplus, it proposes substantial fines for abuses by premium rate phone companies operators who provide such services as ringtones, wallpapers, chatlines, competitions and information services.

“It is the Minister’s prerogative to bring about a reorganisation and legislative changes. But in the process the minister has failed to listen to the board and staff of RegTel who have direct experience of regulating a difficult sector for the past 15 years,” Mr Hayden said.

He said the new Bill “does not include the power to order refunds in cases of wrongdoing, a power that RegTel now exercises, thereby providing a powerful means of deterring wrongdoing by service providers”.

He accepted that the new legislation, which enters its committee stage next week does include new powerful sanctions to deal with unauthorised telephone services. However, he pointed out that they failed to provide any redress for Irish consumers.

Mr Hayden said that in RegTel’s experience, the aggrieved consumer “wants a refund now rather than fines on offenders sometime in the future”.

Under the Bill, premium rate telephone service providers will require a licence. If the specified conditions are not met, the licence can be amended, suspended or revoked by ComReg.

Over the past few years a number of premium rate telephone service providers have been accused of taking advantage of vulnerable groups who have spent large sums of money after inadvertently subscribing to expensive mobile phone services.

Mobile subscription services continue to generate most complaints, making up 91 per cent of calls received. In the report, the regulator Pat Breen blamed some of this on a few premium rate telephone service providers acting in breach of RegTels Code of Practice, but also draws attention to consumer not checking the terms and conditions when signing up for such a premium rate telephone service.

Since 1999 €460,000 in refunds has been paid to consumers via RegTel.

The new Communications Regulations Bill will impose strict rules on telephone companies that provide premium rate telephone services, such as: ringtones, wallpapers, games and other subscription services.

The legislation aims to protect vulnerable members of society such as children [...]]]> Irish premium rate telephone companies are facing tougher regulations under new legislation presented to the Dail earlier today.

The new Communications Regulations Bill will impose strict rules on telephone companies that provide premium rate telephone services, such as: ringtones, wallpapers, games and other subscription services.

The legislation aims to protect vulnerable members of society such as children and the elderly from signing up for such expensive phone services without being fully aware of any hidden on-going charges.

Irish communications minister Eamon Ryan said the bill will tackle rogue phone operators who are currently scamming consumers.