Sheffield’s Link FM rapped by Ofcom
Sheffield based The Pakistan Muslim Centre (Sheffield) Limited, which operates Link FM, has been rapped by Ofcom for failure to provide output recordings.
Ofcom received a complaint about the broadcast of offensive language during a programme broadcast on the morning of 14th April 2021. Ofcom therefore requested a recording of the programme from Link FM to assess the content.
Link FM explained that it has two recording systems in place, one of which “records everything 24 hours a day” and one “which records live shows only.” It was upgrading its computer systems when the programme was broadcast and did not realise that “the settings were out of sync and the 24 hour system was not recording”. This meant that advertisements broadcast at 26 and 56 minutes past the hour and news broadcast on the hour were not recorded.
Link FM explained that it intends to have “an online backup as well as local backups in place” by the end of July once it has finished upgrading its computer systems.
In response to our request for the recording, Link FM explained that it has resolved the recording settings and is now recording its full output 24 hours a day. It offered to provide the advertisements and news in a separate recording.
Link FM’s failure to record and provide the material was significant in this case as it impeded Ofcom’s ability to assess the content in full. Ofcom’s Decision is therefore that The Pakistan Muslim Centre (Sheffield) Limited is in breach of Conditions 8(1) and 8(2)(a) and (b).
