Blue Peter sunk by Ofcom quiz report
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Ofcom has confirmed today that the BBC broke decades of trust by young viewers by faking a competition on the Blue Peter programme.
In handing down the first ever fine by Ofcom on the BBC, both the live quiz on 27 November last year and the repeat on the digital CBBC channel, Ofcom has found Auntie in breach of two important rules.
The fine, of 50,000 is for breaking these rules:
Rule 2.11 - "Competitions should be conducted fairly......"; and
Rule 1.26 - "Due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under eighteen who take part or are otherwise involved in programmes...."
The CBBC repeat was captioned as a "closed competition" but "the telephone number was still visible and the lines were still open" - another breach of Rule 2.11.
The full Adjudication is available.