A PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report, commissioned in one of several attempts to resolve PRS problems at the BBC, has revealed the national broadcaster withheld £106,000 in proceeds from premium rate phone features in its shows which should have gone to charity.
Audiocall, the division of BBC Worldwide responsible for PRS, operated a policy of keeping money from calls made after phone lines had officially closed, even when the proceeds from the phone-in were meant to go to charity, digital spy reports.
The PwC report found the practice went on between October 2005 and September 2007, affecting services linked to several programmes, including the phone vote for Eurovision: Making Your Mind Up 2007.
The BBC has paid the money, with interest, to the charities involved and the BBC Trust has also decided to make an on-air apology to viewers and the charities.
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