Hells Kitchen - excuse for premium phone lines?

[Pinotage]

This latest series of Hells Kitchen seems nothing more than an excuse to get viewers to phone premium rate lines - phoneto keep people on the show, phone to win a place in the restaurant, vote to enter the quiz (with the ludicrously simple question).

Remember when you could comminicate with TV shows without paying?

[Khaizarana]

Well this is the reason why there are so many reality TV Shows on the box these days,they make heaps of money simply by these phoneline

[kazza12345]

i actually cant remember that time - do you have any examples?

[flaming]

No I can't remember.  Computerised automatic response equipment has made the difference. I thought that pre "them" latching on to the idea no-one phoned or texted anyone.  The competition lines in the daytime are worse;  probably the odds agaist a person winning are terrible.  Let's say the Good Morning show gives away �5000,  I would like to know what the entry costs amount to for that.  Do they make profit from the entries over a week?  And is it "buggins turn" (i.e. postcodes picked in turn) for a win. One could spend a considerable sum per day on these comps. Must be good pickings as the idea has spread like wildfire.  Has any ABer got inside info. please?