ITV escape fine over X Factor vote scandal

ITV has been given a slap on the wrists by the premium-rate phone regulator after viewers of The X Factor were overcharged by £200,000 for voting on the show.

But the broadcaster escaped a fine, which could have been as high as £250,000, over the vote scandal that came to light in February this year.

The X Factor was one of several TV shows to become embroiled in the furore over TV phone-ins, which erupted when it emerged viewers were asked to call premium rate lines on Richard and Judy's You Say, We Pay competition after the competition had closed.

After uncovering the blunder earlier this year ITV donated the extra revenue - made by charging X Factor viewers who pressed the red button on their remote controls 50p instead of 30p - to charity Childline, and also promised to refund any viewer who could prove they had been overcharged.

Regulator Icstis said it was imposing a formal reprimand instead of a fine as an incentive for broadcasters to come forward when they found errors.

It added that ITV admitted the breach, which affected Sky Digital users, and took immediate steps to remedy it.

Icstis pointed out that ITV had approached the regulator of its own accord once the problem was discovered, that there were no public complaints and there was no financial gain from the breach because of the donation to charity.

ITV had also examined its premium rate procedures and made changes to prevent future mistakes, it said.

Icstis said it would be seeking confirmation that ITV had made its donation to charity.

Several broadcasters have been tarnished by the phone quiz scandal.

Five admitted some of its competition winners were faked on the daily lunchtime show Brainteaser, and Icstis is also investigating Richard and Judy, the BBC's Saturday Kitchen, and allegations against Vernon Kay's Gameshow Marathon.

The watchdog could call in the police if its investigation into the TV shows shows any evidence of criminal activity.