ITV could be hit with a large fine

As the media regulator Ofcom winds up their inquiry into the phone fiasco that ITV created, when it was found that many of the expensive phone calls for competitions and vote lines were a waste of the viewer’s money, simply because the winner had already been chosen, the prospect of a large fine looms for the channel.

In one particular show, Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, it has been estimated that as much as £8 million could have wasted by viewers over a three year period.

Other shows on ITV which had similar issues are: Game Show Marathon, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here, The X Factor, Dancing On Ice and Soap Star Superstar. This left nearly nine million viewers who were eligible for refunds.

As for the size of the fine, it is more than likely going to be between £2 and £4 million, but could be at the higher end of the scale.

However this is likely to cause a problem, because their current highest fine stands at £2 million.

This was against GMTV for their phone problems that cost viewers nearly £40 million!

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