Has anyone ever requested information from the BBC about voting figures under the FOI Act (http://www.bbc.co.uk/foi/index.shtml.) From what I understand they cannot refuse any request for data, they are allowed upto 20 days to release it though. Would clear up any confusion about tonight's dance off. Has anyone ever tried to access info from the BBC using this method?
Last edited by amy2705598 : 10-12-2006 at 03:17

No, but I do think that someone ought to try and get the voting figures for today's show, especially the dance off.

I'm not sure they would do that while the show is going on. Maybe after it has finished.

It would ruin the competition completely if we got the voting figures before the series finished. We would perhaps see that Matt get 10 times more votes than anyone else. No point in the others even turning up.

I would like to see them!

I doubt we'd see the original figures! There was a strong smell of fish last night

I've emailed and asked if it's possible to see them no reply yet.

good for you!

They can refuse your request on a variety of grounds, listed on this webpage:

http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/yourRights/exemptions.htm

The information may or may not fit under these categories, and any decision can be appealed, but it seems like an awful lot of hassle. Also, they can charge you a "reasonable fee" for the information, so be wary. But if you want to give it a go, go for it! Can't hurt, right?

(Huh, all that time revising for public law wasn't such a waste at all!)

ETA: "the Act does not apply to information held for the purposes of creating the BBC’s output (TV, radio, online etc), or information that supports and is closely associated with these activities." I bet voting figures fall under that...
Last edited by allybee88 : 10-12-2006 at 10:39

Just had my reply from the bbc.
It says that voting figures aren't covered by the foi and they therefore don't have to revel them.

Hmm....

So SCD voting figures are "journalism, art or literature"? Which one, I wonder?

I think it's worth an appeal, if you have time. There must be a strong argument that voting figures, as representing the democratic process, should surely be as transparent as possible to avoid suspicion of fraud?

Why don't they want to give them out.....hmmmmmm....

I think it comes under literature because the figures seem to be a work of fiction

I think it's worth an appeal too. I've actually received an FOI request in my line of work, for which we initially refused to provide the data requested. But the persistant so and so appealed and we were told by the info commissioner that we had to provide it.

But I just don't understand the rationale behind not providing the figures, unless they have something to hide

hmmmmmmmm maybe!

It's not necessarily that they've got something to hide. As another FM said further up this thread, and as has been said on other threads, releasing the voting figures during the series would bring a lot of negatives with it.

If one couple miles ahead of the others, people might stop voting because they think there's no point.

There could be unfair added pressure on the couples taking part. For example, Emma and Darren know they are the lowest in the public vote. Do they really need to know just how far behind they are? Especially if they're behind by miles.

What about the possibility that if a couple is miles ahead, they lose the incentive to keep trying; their competitors lose the incentive to try to catch up.

All in all, it seems like a recipe to ruin the show.

I'd agree with an argument that the figures could be released after the show finishes. Personally, I would prefer to see them expressed in percentages rather than hard numbers, as a way to protect the contestants' feelings.

Thing is if they have nothing to hide then surely there is no problem with people seeing them.

I think part of the show is the mystery that you dont know how well a couple is doing, but i would like to see them after the series has finished.

In the pre-release blurb for goughies new book on how to dance (yes, thats right folks) it boasted that 3 millon
voted for him in the final. I think the total votes were around 4.5 million. But of course, it doesn't reveal how that information was obtained!

Or possibly art...


Yes, it may well be that the Beeb routinely refuse most requests, and that the Information Commissioner needs to enforce the law.

If the Commissioner did force them, it'd be a heck of a precedent of course - all the other reality shows would have to follow suit.


Good point. Wonder if it's worth asking for the voting figures for S1 - S3 then? They'd still be of interest, and there's clearly no ongoing commercial conflicts with those... Persistence, that's the key.

Well done for trying, I haven't even had a reply from the BBC yet, although I'm not expecting anything different from what you got . Think it's definitely worth persisting with though.
I wonder how many complaints they got about Saturday's show, I have read so many reports on here about people sending official complaints. I wonder if they will be making an official response, not that it would tell us anything vaguely interesting though I'm sure

i would like to see the figures, its a bit suspicious that they dont want to give them out! well done all for trying!

x

If anyone really thinks the voting was fixed I suggest writing to Ofcom etc.

If it was found that the voting or competition was rigged I believe the Beeb would be prosecuted as the public is paying money for voting.

Not really. If everyone knew the voting figures each week then it would harm the show - you'd know who was getting the votes and who wasn't. The great unknown of the public vote is what makes the tension.

I remember with one of the American Idols that the producer said afterwards he was glad they hadn't released the public vote figures during the show because it would've have shown how far ahead one person was an no one would bother watching.

If you really think there's something dodgy going on, make a formal complaint. When there's money changing hands there has to be strict rules and I'm sure the independent adjudicators can put your mind at ease.

I wouldn't say this is suspicious. It would damage the show if they were to let it out, so it doesn't surprise me. If they're under no obligation then why should they. I'm just seeing this from their point of view.

I can understand why they don't release the figures during the show, but I see no harm in it after the series has finished.

As the voting ultimately is for charity, it would be interesting to know just how much was raised.