SHINE CALLS FOR FAIRER TV VOTING SYSTEM
Published Wednesday, 17 October, 2007 at 01:02 PM
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland
The Honourable Kerry Shine
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Kerry Shine has called for television voting structures to be overhauled to allow viewers the chance to vote for free.
“I have read with interest in recent weeks concerns that results on the television program Australian Idol are being influenced by alleged block voting by members of church groups.
“Block voting is an in-built problem with shows of this nature and similar allegations have been raised in the past about block voting for contestants on Big Brother.
“As Minister for Fair Trading it is this voting process where the public can only vote either by phone or through SMS which causes me some concern.
“The companies producing these programmes charge the public for each vote and this means that some members of the community are excluded from voting because they cannot afford it.”
Mr Shine said a sensible solution to this problem would be for these programs to allow viewers alternative and free avenues to vote, such as online voting, so members of the public who want to cast a vote without having to pay can do so.
“This would allow a more accurate reflection of the viewing population to be represented in results.”
“I am also concerned that many of those viewers who are voting are teenagers who may not be able to afford the associated costs.
“Television networks make millions of dollars through advertising shown while these programs are being televised.
“Surely they can provide a FREE voting alternative for those people who cannot afford it.
“If the producers of these television programs want the best reflection of viewer sentiment they would allow voting for as many people as possible.
“I am sure many parents would also appreciate not seeing 55 cents or more charged for each vote on the phone bill,” Mr Shine said.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400, 0488 799 273
“I have read with interest in recent weeks concerns that results on the television program Australian Idol are being influenced by alleged block voting by members of church groups.
“Block voting is an in-built problem with shows of this nature and similar allegations have been raised in the past about block voting for contestants on Big Brother.
“As Minister for Fair Trading it is this voting process where the public can only vote either by phone or through SMS which causes me some concern.
“The companies producing these programmes charge the public for each vote and this means that some members of the community are excluded from voting because they cannot afford it.”
Mr Shine said a sensible solution to this problem would be for these programs to allow viewers alternative and free avenues to vote, such as online voting, so members of the public who want to cast a vote without having to pay can do so.
“This would allow a more accurate reflection of the viewing population to be represented in results.”
“I am also concerned that many of those viewers who are voting are teenagers who may not be able to afford the associated costs.
“Television networks make millions of dollars through advertising shown while these programs are being televised.
“Surely they can provide a FREE voting alternative for those people who cannot afford it.
“If the producers of these television programs want the best reflection of viewer sentiment they would allow voting for as many people as possible.
“I am sure many parents would also appreciate not seeing 55 cents or more charged for each vote on the phone bill,” Mr Shine said.
Media Contact: Troy Davies 3239 6400, 0488 799 273