MEF leads drive for practical guidelines in the Participation-TV debate
Hosts workshop for all major industry players to debate best practice framework for TV voting and quizzes over mobile
London, 18 May 2007 – The Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) has today announced it will publish a framework outlining best practice for Participation-TV following the recent controversy over TV text services.
The framework aims to ensure that consumers can use their mobile phone to vote or enter competitions with complete confidence. It complements the ICSTIS Code of Practice by involving all participants in the value chain (key broadcast, mobile operators, service and content providers) to discuss and agree their specific roles and responsibilities in the provision of P-TV services.
The first workshop to discuss processes for companies using P-TV and MEF’s proposed framework was chaired by MEF on Thursday 17 May at the offices of law firm Denton Wilde Sapte.
Thirty attendees came to the workshop, representing all the UK mobile operators, a number of the major UK production companies and service providers as well as independent trade bodies including the NOC, MDA and the Mobile Broadband Group.
“These services are massively popular among the public and have become an integral part of many hugely successful programmes. It is up to the industry to self-regulate and put in place practical protocols to ensure that consumers have confidence in using Participation TV services,” commented Suhail Bhat, MEF’s Policy and Initiative’s Director.
Ingrid Silver, Media Partner, Denton Wilde Sapte and MEF Global Board Member said, “Participation TV is an area which can be complex in terms of the value chain involved and consequently the way in which it can and should be regulated. It makes sense at this time to bring the industry together, under the auspices of the MEF, to evaluate viable approaches to regulation and self-regulation.”
The framework will only apply to P-TV Services operating in the UK and paid for using the mobile handset. P-TV includes all TV shows where viewers are asked to text in votes or enter Quiz-TV competitions.
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For further information please contact:
MEF International
Emma Turner
Nelson Bostock Communications
+44 20 7229 4400