Breach over news promotion resolved by Ofcom

A complaint against Air has been resolved by Ofcom after ticket information appeared in its local news bulletins.

The Weymouth community station was investigated after hourly reports on 18 March promoted a local boxing event and told listeners that tickets were selling fast and where they could be bought.

Ofcom said that wording could imply a commercial arrangement, which is prohibited in or around radio news bulletins under Rule 10.3 of the Broadcasting Code.

Air FM CIC accepted that the item had gone beyond editorial context, although it said there was no payment, sponsorship or commercial arrangement linked to the coverage. The station has reinforced compliance requirements, revised its editorial guidance to remove calls to action and ticketing details from news, and added further oversight for locally produced bulletins.

Ofcom said the promotional wording had the potential to suggest commercial influence, but recorded the case as resolved after Air took steps to prevent a repeat.

The regulator’s latest Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin also names 13 licensees found in breach of licence conditions after missing the deadline for 2025 Relevant Turnover returns.

They are British Muslim Heritage Centre, with Heritage Radio, Broadcast 1 Ltd, covering Union JACK Dance, Union JACK Rock, Jack Radio, Like Radio, DanceLand Anthems, POP DAB, DanceLand and Like Country, Decadance Events Ltd with Decadance, Kube Media Limited with Radio Southend, Pop Hits, Essex Hits and Essex Breeze, Radio Khushkhabri Ltd, an individual with Beat 106 Scotland, Smart Broadcast Ltd with Love Life Radio, Wireless Audio Processing Ltd with Style Radio, Adventist Radio London, Country Broadcasting Ltd with CountryLine Radio, Gwent Radio DAB Ltd, Radio Victory Ltd with Victory, and S&Q Digital Media C.I.C. with Radio Apni Awaz.

Five of the licensees submitted their returns late after receiving Ofcom’s preliminary view.