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A quiz channel (also known as a participation television channel) is a television channel that focuses on phone-in quizzes. The quizzes usually focus on puzzles, such as filling in blanks, identifying subjects, or other forms of word puzzles. The channels make money by encouraging viewer to call a toll phone number for the chance to play. The first dedicated quiz channel is considered to be Germany's 9Live, which launched on September 1, 2001. The best known example in the United Kingdom is Quiz TV (2004–2006), the first to launch in that country. Two major commercial television networks, ITV and Channel Four Television Corporation, through Ostrich Media launched ITV Play and Quiz Call respectively to capitalize on the phenomenon. There are a large amount of quiz channels, particularly on satellite television, with many clones of each other. They are most common at night, where many smaller channels close down and show the quiz channel content in return for a share of the revenue. Portugal also has a substantial amount of quiz programmes, especially on terrestrial channels (including public RTP), however in the daytime they are disguised as pimba-themed talk shows, with blatant phone-in cutaways and quiz participation. Due to a number of incidents where the fairness of quiz channels and shows came to the attention of the media and regulators in the UK, a number of broadcasters have switched to other types of participation television, focusing primarily on roulette but also bingo and other casino games〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=NetPlay TV To Buy Channel 848 ) 〕 as well as branching out into other forms of participation television, such as televised sex lines. ==Scandals in Britain== Most of the major controversies involving participatory television have occurred in the United Kingdom, where these shows have been late-night staples on some channels. Quiz channels have received large number of complaints due to use of premium-rate telephone numbers, "impossible" questions and gambling. Often it is far from clear how it is possible to reach the suggested 'right' answer. Some people who are heavily involved in the quiz industry in the UK have complained about the standard and ambiguity of the questions used on the programme. Questions in some games, as an example, ''Quizmania's'' tower games are usually very easy and open ended, often with scores of possible answers, but only a handful of which win prizes. This means that the competition becomes less of a quiz and more like a game of chance. A Culture, Media and Sports select committee report suggested that the odds of a viewer getting through to the studio is up to 8,500 to one〔(free subscription required)〕 and for an ITV Play show, 400 to one. Some estimates suggest that phone-in quizzes generate around £50 million a year for broadcasters, making them a crucial source of income at a time of increasing pressure on advertising revenue. ''The Mail on Sunday'' stated in an article that 15% of complaints made to Ofcom are from participation TV shows.〔Fluendy, Simon and Rees, Jon (TV quizzes under spotlight ) by The Mail on Sunday, published September 17, 2006, retrieved September 17, 2006.〕 Gordon Brown has criticised the participation TV shows and channels for exploiting the poor.〔 Ofcom is now considering a proposal to class participation TV channels in the same way as teleshopping channels. This would give consumers more protection against fraudulent channels.〔Swinford, Steven. (TV quiz sets callers a costly question ) by The Sunday Times, published September 24, 2006, retrieved September 24, 2006.〕 According to an article in ''The Times'', Ofcom was expected to receive an estimated 800 complaints about quiz channels in 2007, an increase from 450 in 2005.〔McLaren, Elsa. (TV quiz shows accused of misleading viewers ). Published by The Times on November 28, 2006. Accessed November 29, 2006.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Quiz channel」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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