BBC Worldwide Likely To Shut Audience Interaction Unit Audiocall

BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith has proposed closing its Audiocall division that facilitates interactive audience participation for TV shows and other media brands, after it became mired in last year’s premium-rate phone-ins scandal. Audiocall accidentally pocketed £106,000 in pay-TV votes that was destined to go to charity. “Following the recent BBC Trust report on the findings from a PwC review of Audiocall, BBC Worldwide has undertaken a strategic review of the future of the business and, having considered all the options, is now proposing to close it down,” a spokesperson told Guardian.co.uk. Audiocall handles web and TV red-button contributions, plus reader feedback for BBC Magazines, as well as TV votes.