Statement: Community Voice FM's request to change key commitments

Statement published 12 March 2024

Ofcom has decided to reject the Key Commitments change request submitted by Community Voice FM Ltd, which holds a community radio licence for Middlesbrough broadcasting as ‘Community Voice FM’. The Licensee requested the following changes:

• Change its music requirement for the main types of music broadcast across the week. Additionally, during religious and cultural occasions, the service may change its music output to include "religious/spiritual tracks only." For example: Ramadan and Diwali”.
• Alter its speech output on the main types of speech broadcast to “National news, local community information, guest interviews and faith-based programming.”
• Vary its Key Commitment on languages of programming to “programming in alterative community languages during the course of the annual broadcast, with a particular focus on South Asian communities. Programming will alternate during the year to fit in with religious and cultural calendars.”
• Change its original output from 8 hours per day (56 hours per week equivalent) to 42 hours per week.

Ofcom has decided to reject the changes to Key Commitments requested by the Licensee.