December 09 Round up

Knowledge & Networking News

 SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM THE AIME TEAM!            

Members & Colleagues,

As 2010 speeds towards us with rather more certainty than Eurostar, we have just enough time to squeeze out a K&N Round Up for December, and most importantly take this as an opportunity to thank members for all your support over the last year. Many of you have turned up to an unprecedented number of member meetings, contributing valuable time and energy to drive forward major projects and initiatives; and also ensuring AIME tackles key industry issues and consultations with a voice that best represents your business.

I think these monthly round ups speak for themselves with how busy the Executive Team have been, and I would like to thank my colleagues for their unstinting attention to the task in hand and hope that the Christmas break is all that’s required to get them back on their feet ready for a new year. As mentioned at the General Meeting, in 2010 we welcome David Ashman to the Team as Membership Manager, and I know he will bring added enthusiasm and professionalism to make sure we continue to add value to your membership of AIME.

We hope you have a relaxing Christmas break and wish you all the very best for a prosperous year to come.

Toby Padgham
AIME General Secretary

Chairman's Brief

Dear Members,

As we draw to an end of another busy year, I write to wish all a happy festive time over the next couple of weeks. From my perspective and I hope others too, I feel that 2009 has been a year of progress in terms of the industry working more closely together and I believe that, as your trade association, AIME has taken some strides forward in becoming a more effective and authoritative outfit. There is still a long way to go but as we go into 2010, we have a long term plan, improving relations with Stakeholders, a steady membership base, albeit in difficult economic times, and a set of policy initiatives which will be transformative in the future. As we go into 2010, I believe we should be asking ourselves whether we can see next year return to growing industry revenue and increasing consumer trust in premium rate services?

It’s been a spectacularly successful last quarter in the TV sector with premium rate voting being utilised across several top formats including Strictly Come Dancing, Sports Personality, Children in Need, The X Factor and Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. If we could get just a small percentage of the callers who vote each week on these formats to trial other premium rate services then this would make a massive difference and perhaps we should hold up the new processes and policies which have been implemented in the broadcast sector as a shining beacon to illustrate that there is a healthy future with the right combination of formal and self-regulation.

I was very pleased with the attendance at the GM with almost 50 people present. The debate was constructive and it was good to see everyone for drinks afterwards. Thank you for the feedback and we will use our best endeavours to ensure that future meetings have similar levels of interaction! Since the GM, I am also pleased to report that we have held a very constructive meeting between the AIME and PPP teams on registration and the Vice Chair reported back very positively after the 12th Code and Budget meetings at ILP last week. There will obviously be notes to follow from these sessions.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to thank the AIME executive (Toby, Roy, Zoe and Bianca) and also the board for their hard work in 2009. We all look forward to building on the momentum we have created in recent months into next year.

Edward Boddington
AIME Chair

Showcase

X Factor final breaks UK telephone voting records

The final of The X Factor this weekend saw UK telephone voting records smashed.

  • The total of number of phone votes was the largest ever recorded for a final with over 10 million votes cast
  • During Sunday’s show, over 219,000 votes were taken in a single minute, up 11% on the previous best
  • The busiest second saw an incredible 3,801 votes cast, a 13% increase on the old record.

David Crawley, Creative Director at BT agilemedia, said “this is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved in the show. BT has invested significantly in the RIDE IVR platform over the last year, and this, combined with the extensive planning and on-the-night network management, has enabled us to support our customer in delivering this amazing result.”

Representation

Meetings

  • AIME Working Group Meeting - SMS Voting - 1st Dec
  • AIME Working Group Meeting - Participation TV Part 3 (Psychic) - 2nd Dec
  • Meeting with Ofcom and PhonepayPlus - Merchant Registration and Central Industry Database - 3rd Dec
  • AIME Working Group Meeting - Participation TV Part 3 (Adult) - 8th Dec
  • AIME GM - 8th Dec
  • ILP Meeting - PhonepayPlus 2010/2011 Budget - 16th Dec
  • ILP Meeting - PhonepayPlus 12th Code - 16th Dec
  • PhonepayPlus Registration Scheme workshop - 16th Dec

Central Industry Database

  • AIME and PhonepayPlus are, via a joint working group, identifying the requirements and components of CID and a Merchant Promoter (MP) registration scheme - latest workshop held 16th Dec
  • A central industry database (CID) system should be at the heart of the inclusive scheme and be funded by MP registration fees
  • There is acceptance on both sides that a registration scheme should be but one part of a more inclusive scheme with both regulatory & industry benefits
  • The important issue of Governance of such a scheme will be addressed separately and in parallel to avoid delay
  • A registration scheme and an improved NumberChecker application are targeted for mid 2010
  • The joint working group has held two meetings thus far and these are continuing

Interactive Broadcast Forum

  • SMS Sub-committee meeting to update position regarding the use of SMS voting for high volume event formats - 1st Dec
  • Meeting scheduled with PhonepayPlus 14th Jan 2010 to discuss regulatory requirements

Interactive Radio

  • Meeting with with RadioCentre to feedback member views regarding agreed collaborative approach to drive uptake of PRS in radio - 10th Dec
  • Next meeting scheduled for January 2010

O2 Shield 2 Filtering System

  • Members involved in this trial can now test the SIMs
  • For further details contact zoe@aimelink.org

Industry Consultations

Ofcom: Participation TV

  • AIME has been granted a 10 day extension period - response due 25th Jan
  • AIME has held working group meetings to obtain member feedback on Psychic and Adult in order to form an agreed Industry response to the PTV3 Consultation
  • Further Psychic working group meeting to be held 12th Jan
  • Members are encouraged to participate in the working group and also submit their own consultation responses
  • Full Consultation

Ofcom: Review of Consumer Complaints Handling Procedures

  • Ofcom has published a consultation for the review of consumer complaint handling procedures for Communications Providers
  • Deadline for responses is 12th March
  • Full Consultation

PhonepayPlus: 2010/2011 Business Plan and Budget

  • Thorough objectives led budget presented
  • Proposed PPP budget is £4.2m with a decrease in spending of 3%
  • AIME attended ILP meeting with PhonepayPlus to discuss the budget - 16th Dec
  • Member comments for AIME response to zoe@aimelink.org - Deadline for responses 15th Jan 2010
  • Business Plan & Budget here

Ofcom: Regulation of Video on Demand

  • Ofcom responsible for overall regulation of Video on Demand Services as of 19th December
  • Certain powers and functions to co-regulatory partners - ATVOD & ASA
  • Full Statement

DCMS: Product Placement

  • Consultation seeking views on whether to allow product placement in programmes made for UK television
  • Deadline for responses 8th Jan
  • Full Consultation

PPP 12th Code

  • ILP Workshop on 12th Code attended by AIME Vice Chair - 16th Dec
  • PPP presentation on 12th Code development
  • AIME value chain paper re-submitted to PPP

Industry consultations & AIME responses can be found on the AIME website

Information & Networking

Member News

  • New Directory Enquiries Company 68 100 Teams Up With Mobile Interactive Technology

    Mobile Interactive Technology ( MIT ) the m-commerce, messaging solutions and interactive platforms business, which is part of Mobile Interactive Group ( MIG ), has been selected to host and run voice and SMS services for new low cost Directory Enquiry services provider 68 100 Ltd. Launched this week, the service - available exclusively from mobile phones - will be available on a dedicated short code 68 100 from all UK mobile devices.

  • Member Case Study - GFM

    GFM Services Ltd, one of the UK’s leading multi-service business agencies, has been using Apcentia, C3’s mass call handling platform, to provide bespoke IVR and call recording facilities for many different marketing projects for more than 10 years. C3’s IVR software is used primarily to support specialized campaigns such as telephone-based fund raisers, outbound telephone interviews and specialist automated surveys.

 

Dates for your diary!

21st January - M-Football - AIME Supporting Association, member discount
2-3rd March - FT Digital Media & Broadcasting - AIME Supporting Association, member discount
15-16th March - Mobile Social Networking - AIME Supporting Association, member discount
18th March - Changing Media Summit - AIME Supporting Association, member discount
23-25th March - IPTV World Forum - AIME Supporting Association, member discount
24-25th March - Mobile Internet - AIME Supporting Association, member discount

If you would like further information on any of AIME's activities, initiatives or benefits of membership, please contact me at zoe@aimelink.org

Kind Regards,

Zoe Patterson
General Manager

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