Ofcom fines radio station for finance report failings

Ofcom has imposed a £2,000 fine on the licensee of New Style Radio for failing to produce its annual financial report on time.

New Style Radio is a community radio station based in Birmingham, broadcasting to the city’s African-Caribbean community. The licence is held by Afro Caribbean Millennium Centre (ACMC).

Under its licence conditions, the station was required to submit its 2018 finance report in March 2019, but it did not provide it until June 2020.

“Community radio licensees are required to provide a financial report to Ofcom on an annual basis in order to monitor their compliance with funding restrictions and other regulatory obligations. This is the second breach of this nature that Ofcom has recorded against New Style Radio and we considered a statutory sanction was warranted. New Style Radio must pay a financial penalty of £2,000 which will be passed on to HM Paymaster General.” – Ofcom

With many commercial stations being allowed to merge and disappear locally entirely Ofcom have seen the importance of community stations grow. These services provide local radio content primarily for the good of members of the public or of particular communities.

They are required to be run on a not-for-profit basis – any money generated must be ploughed back into securing and improving the station and delivering its social objectives.