Year: 2025

Horizon Radio has been resolved of its breach for broadcasting the F word on repeat for around half an hour.

Ofcom said the single word was aired continuously for at least 26 minutes during the 6pm hour on October 9th 2025, when children were particularly likely to be listening, after the station’s normal Evening Show was replaced without warning.
The incident prompted three listener complaints to Ofcom, alongside a proactive report from Horizon Radio itself, which contacted the regulator immediately after identifying the problem affecting its DAB output in Milton Keynes.
Horizon explained that its studio output is delivered to the DAB transmitter via a web stream provided by a third party, with transmission handled by a separate company.
It said the stream was compromised and replaced with a loop of offensive language without the station’s consent, which it linked to a dispute involving the stream provider and another DAB multiplex operator.
The station said the issue was identified by its managing director while listening in a car at 18:24, with immediate efforts made by senior staff to contact the transmission provider and request the service be taken off air. Horizon provided evidence showing multiple attempts to resolve the problem, with the correct service restored at 18:50.
An on-air apology was broadcast in the following hour once control of the DAB output had resumed, stating: “Earlier today you may have heard some language broadcast which may have caused offence. This was caused by circumstances outside our control, and we are very sorry for any offence this may have caused.”
Ofcom said the repeated broadcast of the word was a clear breach of Rules 1.14 and 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code, noting that the language is considered among the most offensive and requires strong contextual justification, particularly at times when children may be listening.
However, the regulator also recognised the swift action taken by Horizon, the unplanned nature of the broadcast, the on-air apology, and the station’s proactive engagement with Ofcom. Horizon has since brought all streaming operations in-house and confirmed it will no longer use the third-party provider involved.
Ofcom concluded that the matter is resolved.

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kmfm listeners have helped deliver thousands of toys to children across Kent through the station’s Give A Gift Christmas appeal, setting new records for donations.

The campaign resulted in more than 18,000 toys reaching families and charities across the county.
The annual appeal raised £19,564, which was converted directly into brand new toys to support children facing illness, hardship or difficult family circumstances during the festive period.
This year’s campaign was supported by Stoner Motor Company, which sponsored the appeal, provided vehicles to transport donations across Kent, and hosted collection points at its branches to make giving easier for listeners.
Dean Stoner from Stoner Motor Company joined Rob Wills and Numi on kmfm Breakfast to confirm the final totals, thanking listeners for getting involved and helping the campaign reach more children than ever before.
The Give A Gift appeal focuses on providing practical support at Christmas, with toys donated to a range of charities and organisations working with children and families across Kent.

Donations included baby mats, puzzles, building blocks, books and electronic items, all selected to suit different age groups and needs.
Financial donations were collected through a JustGiving page, with every contribution turned into toys. kmfm worked with Smyths Toys Superstores to make sure gifts were appropriate and matched to the requirements of each charity receiving support.
Rob said the response from listeners had been overwhelming. “Seeing the smiles and the reactions when we arrived with the toys has been very special,” he said, adding that the support from listeners and station partners had helped the appeal grow again this year.

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Bro Radio is using its festive schedules to promote the work of four charities supporting people across the Vale of Glamorgan during Christmas and New Year.The station is dedicating regular airtime to locally focused charity messages across its main service and Bro Radio Christmas.
From Friday 12 December this year until Friday 2 January, Bro Radio will broadcast four specially created messages, giving up to one minute of airtime every hour to highlight services available locally and support ongoing fundraising efforts.
Two of the messages have been created in partnership with the charities and include the voices or words of service users, aiming to reflect real experiences and explain how support is provided during a challenging time of year.
The charities featured are Llamau, Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice, Vale Domestic Abuse Services and Vale Food Bank, each working with people across the Vale of Glamorgan in different ways.
Operations Director Nathan Spackman said: “As a station embedded in the Vale of Glamorgan, we’re always keen to promote local charities and support people who may be struggling at this time of year.”
Michael Houghton from Llamau said the support helps the charity reach people quickly and effectively, while Rachel Hassan from Vale Food Bank said the airtime helps raise awareness as demand for support continues to grow.

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