BBC biggest ever Ofcom fine of £400,000 over phone-in competitions
Updated on 30 July 2008
Ofcom has fined the BBC £400,000, the biggest fine yet imposed on the corporation, for deceiving its viewers over competitions.
The fines relate to eight phone-in competitions, including Comic Relief, Sport Relief, Children in Need, and the Liz Kershaw and Russell Brand shows on BBC 6 music radio.
Production staff made up fake competition winners and even posed as contestants and, in some cases, encouraged the audience to enter competitions they had no chance of winning.
