Originally Posted by LisaC:
“This seems like a complete load of rubbish. How can the number of calls possibly benefit their competitors, surely it would be the same for any competitor providing lines at the same cost?
I don't see how they are allowed to withhold this information when they are charging the public for the calls.
Obviously I accept that you are correct in what you say, I just think the ruling is bizarre, illogical and unfounded.”
The ruling was made because if a competitor knew how many calls were being made, they would know how much money BT was making as a result of those calls and would, therefore, have an unfair advantage in being able to bid for the contract - or something like that. I'm going on memory from a long long time ago when the decision was first made.
There is no "profit" from these calls, the cost of the call is transparent and the public know how much it will cost them to phone in. However, there will be additional costs of actually providing the service which will be unique to BT and it is that element which was felt to be commercially sensitive information.
The cost of the call is a standard non network premium call charge, there is now nothing added onto it for charity. Any money which goes to the calls outside of voting hours etc, is donated to BBC charities at the end of the year so BT isn't making a profit either.
Originally Posted by Ellie1967:
“ At the moment, there are still loads of people who, when someone goes out, say 'oh well, it's only fair as they got the lowest public vote' - not realising people can be in the DO with a higher vote than several others on the board.”
However, that's actually irrelevant when people know that the phone vote is only half of the element which goes into a couple remaining on the show - the judges' vote also counts too.