Ofcom has announced that as the UK broadcasting regulator it has launched an investigation into the local Penrith based community radio station Eden FM this week, over apparent failure to keep to conditions of the community radio stations Ofcom broadcasting licence.
Ofcom published on its new investigation list this week a list of six broadcasters the media regulator has launched new investigations into with Eden FM listed alongside investigations launched into GBNews and TalkTV and Radio.
Eden FM is a local volunteer run community radio station that first started broadcasting in November 2011 Part Time trial services under a special service restricted broadcasting license and launched in June 2014 as a full-time community radio station after securing an Ofcom community radio licence.
Eden FM relocated its main studio and transmitter site to Newton Rigg last November building a new studio space for the station that the local MP Dr Hudson recently visited to see how the station works as served the local area.
The community station has recently run a successful crowd funder to help raise funding to support the volunteer run radio station and has issues a call for more volunteers to help support the running of the station.
Ofcom said in particular Eden FM was not meeting the following Key commitments of the community stations licence:
“Eden FM is for the residents, businesses, community groups and associations of Penrith, and for the rural areas surrounding the town. It is the sound of the community; shaped by the community and representing the population and cultures living in Cumbria today.”
“Speech. The main types of speech output broadcast over the course of each week are: local news, current affairs, community information, and events.”
“The service provides original output for a minimum of 55 hours per week.”
Ofcom has said it aims to complete all investigations that fall under its General Procedures within 50 working days. On completion a of its investigation a full report and decision will be published by Ofcom.
As the UK broadcasting regulator Ofcom has in the last few months carried out a number of investigations into community radio stations across the country, last month it published findings on three other community station in breach of licence commitments.
Ofcom is due renew Eden FM’s community radio stations licence in 2024 to enable the volunteer run community station to continue serving the area for another five years.
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