Radio Authority Fines Five ILR Stations

The Radio Authority has fined five radio stations for breaches of the broadcasting rules; Scot FM was fined £3,000; 96.6 FM Classic Hits, £3,000; Choice FM, £1,000; 2CR, £1,000 and Fortune 1458, £1,000.

Scot FM breached the Authority’s code on taste and decency matters in a discussion on single mothers in a mid-morning phone-in programme. The same presenter had been warned before, that similar lapses would incur regulatory penalties.

Watford’s 96.6 FM Classic Hits was fined for failing to supply relevant tapes on request to the Authority. Birmingham’s Choice FM was in breach of its Promise of Performance because it failed to reach the minimum requirement for ‘reggae/ragga’, but exceeded the upper limit on ‘house/garage’. The Authority decided this would have the effect of moving the station away from its original format of primary appeal to an Afro-Caribbean audience.

2CR Bournemouth was in breach of its Promise of Performance because it was failing to reach the minimum requirement for tracks released more than fifteen years ago. Greater Manchester’s Fortune 1458 was also fined for playing insufficient Easy Listening tracks under its Promise of Performance.

Radio Authority: 0171 430 2724