Ofcom issues "yellow card" to Time 107.3

Time 107.3 in Lewisham has been issued a "yellow card" by the broadcasting regulator Ofcom because it failed to broadcast within its defined format.

A spot check on the station's output was carried out by Ofcom after a listener complained that, contrary to the contents of Time's public file, portions of its daytime programming were automated. Although the station resolved that issue by correcting its public file, the spot check also revealed that it was failing to broadcast music in line with its character of service obligations.

Time 107.3's format specifies that no more than a third of its programming may include current or recurrent chart hits; the majority of its airtime should be devoted to soul/Motown, R&B, reggae and dance output. Ofcom's spot check revealed that over half of the station's daytime output fell into the pop genre, a clear breach of format. As such, a "yellow card" was issued.

The "yellow card" acts as a warning; if the station amends its output, further sanctions are unlikely. Time told the regulator that it is making programming changes "designed to bring the music output on the station closer to the community." Ofcom concluded that the "yellow card" will remain in place on the station's record until future monitoring determines that the station is now broadcasting within its format.