Brainteaser

Five today issued the following statement following Ofcom’s adjudication on the channel’s daytime quiz series Brainteaser.

Five’s Chief Executive, Jane Lighting, said: “Five has always accepted that breaches occurred with regard to Brainteaser. However, we are disappointed with the very high level of the financial penalty imposed, especially as we believe Five took all reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure the programme complied with the Ofcom Code.

“We welcome Ofcom’s acknowledgment that: Five acted in good faith at all times; did not intend to deceive the audience and took comprehensive steps to remedy harm and that it was not Five’s intention to cause financial harm to viewers nor procure greater financial gain.

“It was Five who notified Ofcom of these issues and we have co-operated fully with the regulator since. We have also conducted our own review, as the relationship of trust between a broadcaster and its audience is absolutely paramount to us.

Five has suspended all its programming involving premium rate telephone services after Endemol UK informed the channel of issues with its daily quiz show Brainteaser, it was announced today (THURS).

As well as Brainteaser, produced by an Endemol UK subsidiary, the suspension will affect Quiz Call on Five and Five US and competitions in and around programming.

Five’s Chief Executive, Jane Lighting, said: “We are shocked and disappointed and wish to apologise unreservedly to our viewers. The production company involved has failed to meet the high standards we demand of our suppliers.

”We have decided to suspend any output which involves any premium rate services and to appoint an external auditor, though we have found no evidence of any issues involving any programmes other than Brainteaser.”

Responding to recent public concerns Five has been reviewing its premium rate services to ensure producers comply with the law and ICSTIS and Ofcom codes.