A COMMUNITY radio station has been found in breach of its Ofcom licence for running a sponsor credit into its local news bulletins.

Cando FM in Barrow was found to have breached broadcast standards by including sponsorship credit to Barrow Business Improvement District around a news bulletin.

Following an investigation the regulator Ofcaom found the sponsor tag was not paid for but part of an agreement between the radio station and the Barrow BID.

The news intro, broadcast on January 6 2022, said: “And now on FM, online and DAB across South Cumbria, Cando FM Local News, sponsored by Barrow BID.”

After the news, it continued: “Cando FM Local News, sponsored by Barrow BID. Promoting Barrow town centre and keeping our local community informed”.

Rule 10.3 of the Broadcasting Code prohibits any commercial reference, or material that implies a commercial arrangement, in or around news bulletins.

Cando FM bosses told Ofcom it thought the tag would not be considered a commercial reference because the ‘Barrow BID’ is a government initiative and non-profit making organisation.

However, Ofcom regulations prohibit any commercial reference, or material that implies a commercial arrangement, in or around news bulletins (subject to specific exceptions).

This is to ensure that news bulletins are not distorted, or perceived by listeners to be distorted, for commercial purposes.

In the Ofcom report published online, the regulator said the sponsorship was ‘likely to confuse listeners’.

It states: “We acknowledged that Cando FM made efforts to comply the material and had considered Ofcom’s guidance.

“However, by suggesting that Cando FM Local News was sponsored, it raised with listeners the possibility that Cando FM Local News had been distorted for commercial purposes.

“It is therefore Ofcom’s Decision that Cando FM’s broadcast of sponsorship credits around a news bulletin had implied a commercial arrangement, in breach of Rule 10.3.”

A spokesman for Cando FM said: “Cando FM has been found in breach of Ofcom broadcasting standards in relation to news output. i.e., A broadcast that is subject to a commercial ‘sponsorship’ arrangement.

“Upon learning of a complaint, Cando FM immediately removed the message likely to confuse listeners from broadcast, pending the outcome of Ofcom’s investigation.

“Ofcom concluded that in this instance, there was no sponsorship agreement in place. Ofcom acknowledged that Cando FM made efforts to comply with the material, and had considered Ofcom’s guidance.

“However, by suggesting that Cando FM Local News was sponsored, Ofcom considered the licensee was confusing listeners and upheld the breach. Cando FM fully accepts and complies with the decision made by the regulator.”