Interestingly, this only refers to ITV Play programming on ITV1, and makes no reference to the channel itself returning.
A reply I got back from Debbie King stated that all being well her show would be back on Tuesday. ITV Play have been cleared it is not known and it can be said that the article's a bit vague.
The reports I've seen say only the ITV1 strand has been cleared, not the channel itself - though presumably if Glitterball has been cleared, so has spin-off "Glitterball Extra" which airs on ITV Play in the evening.
I suspect other ITV Play programming will return in the next few days - though Play DJ / Playalong may have a few more hoops to jump through.
I think the days of the channel itself are numbered though once ITV decide to launch another channel, most likely ITV Movies. As has been said, it's the ITV Play on ITV1 slots that make the cash!
The EPG data for ITV Play changed earlier today. It had ITV Playalong being on air from 12pm to 3pm. Since then that's disappeared and the EPG now states the channel's off until at least 12:30am. Looking at the itv.com TV guide for ITV1, Glitterball is due to start at 12:30am tonight, therefore the simulcast may be back on. itv.com claims the ITV Play schedule was never interrupted at all.
I was really hoping this was the beginning of the end.
Why don't TV channels listen to their viewers anymore, virutally no one wants these channels anymore most people just want a good mixture of good drama, comedy, kids and factual.
Digital Spy reporting that "until further notice" ITV Play will only broadcast when simulcast on ITV1.
And Media Guardian reporting that finally ICSTIS have realised it's not just TV who profits from premium rate phone ins - the radio stations have been called in for tomorrow.
Just hope they get round to the press soon - after all, the latest allegations against radio - Suggs requesting your requests on air at the same time as being live on Ant and Dec on ITV1 - surfaced in the Mail on Sunday.
(The same company that part own Teletext of course, which launched Teletext Games last month!)
Its hardly surprising that most of ITV play shows has been given the all clear!! ITV want these ‘cash cows’ back on air, so even if they found dodgy stuff going on, they would have sorted it all out (without telling the media) and then announce the shows are fine after all and get ITV Play etc back on air without anyone being any the wiser!!
I DO think the Quiz bubble is about to POP! I think that at the very latest, by the end of the year, ITV Play’s channel will be closed, and only the old bit of Play's programming will remain on ITV1.
I think that the voting on programmes like x factor, big brother, dancing on ice etc etc etc will continue for many years to come, but the days of a gormless presenters faces close up on screen with a stupid quiz on screen will come to an end very soon!! Anyone agree?
I think regardless of this as soon as ITV had a new channel they wanted on Freeview the ITV Play channel was a goner anyhow.
I don't think quiz channels will disappear all together - and in a way I hope they don't as OFCOM's policy shouldn't be decided by the Mail on Sunday - but regulations need to really be tightened up.
Voting of course will continue - but although I accept companies have the right to some profit from the phone calls, there does need to be a cap - and certainly in relation to shows in aid of "charity", more than 10p from every 50p vote should go to that charity.
The main change will be clarity as to when the lines close and what charges are involved - which should be a good thing but really can appear quite condesending.
Like on Dancing on Ice on Saturday when they made it clear that viewers would be charged if they phoned after the lines closed - that's pretty obvious in my book - and the fault of the voter, not the TV company.
IVoting of course will continue - but although I accept companies have the right to some profit from the phone calls, there does need to be a cap - and certainly in relation to shows in aid of "charity", more than 10p from every 50p vote should go to that charity.
I wouldn't agree that a cap would be the way forward because this would mearly encourge more people to 'have a go' therefore continuing to accumulate costs (potentially more because it would be viewed as "cheaper") and decreasing the chance of winning. The fault in that case (as with most previous cases) lies back with the viewers/callers in not knowing when to stop which is one of the main reasons why this mess occured in the first place.
Like on Dancing on Ice on Saturday when they made it clear that viewers would be charged if they phoned after the lines closed - that's pretty obvious in my book - and the fault of the voter, not the TV company.
Surely it is the fault of the TV company to continue to accept phone calls after "the lines are closed" is announced. Sounds like a faulty system to me.
I was really hoping this was the beginning of the end.