UK

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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Our friends at Radioinfo in Australia have reported on how radio reacted to the Bondi shooting, including Christian O’Connell dropping his show plan for the day.

Steve Ahern writes:
With the end of ratings last week, most breakfast radio teams were scheduled to be on leave from today, but some Sydney breakfast presenters have delayed their holidays, returning to air this morning to cover last night’s Bondi shooting.
Talk radio stations were the first to go live last night as the attack on a Bondi Beach Hanukkah gathering took place just before 7pm. The ABC Listen app flashed an alert just before 9pm last night as ABC News Radio and the Sydney newsroom moved into live coverage.
2GB’s Ben Fordham returned to air this morning, along with the station’s news and production teams to cover the Bondi shootings. Fordham played a number of interviews with eye witnesses recorded by 2GB reporters at the scene around Campbell Parade. Fordham was ahead of the official death toll count, broadcasting that the number of people killed had risen to 16 this morning, a figure confirmed later by police.
As the morning progressed some 2GB talkback callers were critical of the Prime Minister’s response with divisive politicised comments. Anthony Albanese condemned the terror attack as an “act of evil antisemitism,” declaring the nation will never submit to “division, violence or hatred.”
ABC Radio Sydney’s Hamish McDonald went to Bondi overnight and is there this morning reporting into the ABC Sydney breakfast show, hosted by summer fill in Chris Taylor. ABC NewsRadio was taking audio from ABC tv’s news breakfast show in the early morning timeslot. As the morning preogressed, talkback callers to ABC Radio Sydney expressed support for the victims and a sense of solidarity against terrorism.
National current affairs program AM has full coverage of the attack with reporters and eye witnesses from the scene. After AM, the new drive presenter Thomas Oriti will present mornings, with local programming all day. Hamish Macdonald is at Bondi with an OB kit and will report into local programs during the day, with Jemima Huston field producing his reports.
The new Gold 101.7 Christian O’Connell show, scheduled to be a ‘getting to know you’ compilation program, instead switched into live mode with O’Connell taking calls from listeners expressing sorrow and solidarity with the victims and the Jewish community. The same show was not heard in Melbourne.
O’Connell opened the show saying: “This week we were hoping to get to know each other, but I’m sorry to get to know you this way…It didn’t feel lilke it was happening here in Sydney Australia… Today’s show is a show of hope and support.” O’Connell’s regular news presenter Patrina Jones is presenting the bulletins.
In an unfortunate music programming twist, the first song before that opening was Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark, with the lyrics “This gun’s for hire, even if we’re just dancing in the dark.”
In contrast, smooth FM’s playlist appears to have been adapted to the tragic event with summer breakfast presenter Byron Webb playing songs such as Bob Marley’s One Love and Olivia Dean’s Nice to Each Other and handling the tragedy with low key sensitivity. “We’re a little more gentle about our song choices today,” said Webb.
2HD’s Richard King is covering the shooting from Newcastle from time to time, with his program networked into Sydney’s 2SM. The station’s news director Dianne Coveny-Garland has been in Bondi all night and, after giving early morning reports to Richard King, said she will take a quick break to rest and be back with more coverage later this morning. A major feature in the networked show this morning is not the Sydney attack, appears to be a prerecorded sequence of Xmas songs with guests in the studio.
Other music stations were mostly playing their normal music playlists, with some appearing to be pre-recorded with ‘best of’ holiday compilations and music, the only mention of the terrorist attack being in the transport reports. Triple M’s pre-recorded Pilot Week show did not air in Sydney, with local presenters Cat and Woodsy on air with music and Sydney coverage.
Two gunmen, a father and son, opened fire on the Jewish holiday event last night as the evening was cooling after a hot summer day. 16 people have died, including one of the gunmen and about 40 people are being treated for injuries in hospital. The other gunman was disarmed by a member of the public and is now in custody. The incident has been declared a terrorist attack.
Story from Radioinfo.com.au here.

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Affinity Radio North East has officially opened new broadcast studios in Pelaw.
The launch also coincides with major DAB milestones for the station’s coverage in the region.
The opening took place on Thursday 11 December this year and marked four years since the UK’s first small scale DAB service launched in South Shields and Tynemouth, alongside one year of DAB broadcasting across Newcastle and Gateshead.
Affinity Media NE CIC, the community organisation behind Affinity Radio North East, welcomed volunteers, partners and invited guests to see the new facilities and hear more about the station’s plans for the future.
Among those attending were Pam Royle, the former ITV Tyne Tees and North East Tonight presenter, and the Deputy Mayoress of Gateshead, Sharron Potts, alongside local business sponsors and supporters.
Deputy Mayoress Sharron said: “What I love about Affinity Radio is that it’s all about the community. Projects like this bring people together and show what Gateshead does best.”
Pam said the station’s progress reflects long term commitment and local support. “It is tremendous to see the effect Affinity Radio has in keeping communities connected over the airwaves.”
Angela Tuplin, Director of NE Display Ltd and Affinity Media NE CIC, said the opening reflected years of work and community backing, adding that the station’s growth continues to be shaped by local involvement.
CEO and founder Kyle Scott said: “These new studios represent growth, opportunity and community, shaped by volunteers and supported by local businesses.”

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Emma Willis is set to take over the BBC Radio 2 Saturday lunchtime slot from Zoe Ball.

Zoe steps down from her weekly show on the station 12 months after leaving the breakfast show to enjoy more family time.
Zoe will present her final programme in the slot on Saturday 20th December and will continue to host specials on Radio 2, as she has done throughout this year.
Emma said she was looking forward to joining the station’s weekend line-up, describing Radio 2 as a station she has long admired and acknowledging Zoe’s contribution to the programme.
She added that she was keen to spend her Saturday afternoons with listeners.
Emma previously co-presented Sunday mornings on Heart Radio with Stephen Mulhern for six years and has been a familiar voice on Radio 2 since 2019, regularly deputising for Sara Cox on weekday afternoons and for Romesh Ranganathan and Claudia Winkleman on Saturdays.
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: “Emma is one of the UK’s most popular broadcasters and I’m thrilled that she’s joining the Radio 2 family. I’m certain that our listeners will welcome her with open arms.”
The programme will continue to be produced by Biscuit Jim and will sit within Radio 2’s Saturday schedule alongside Tony Blackburn, Dermot O’Leary, Romesh, Rylan, Liza Tarbuck, Gary Davies and Fearne Cotton.
Zoe said she had enjoyed her time in the slot and welcomed Emma as her successor, saying she was “over the moon” to see her take on the role. Helen added thanks to Zoe for her contribution, describing her as a valued part of the Radio 2 team.
As her first new project, Zoe will also present a new series of the Radio 2 podcast Eras, focusing on the life and career of Phil Collins. The series launches on BBC Sounds on Monday 19th January, with broadcasts on Radio 2 later in the month.

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