Radio XL has been found in Breach of the Broadcast Code for the second time this year, after two presenters provided undue prominence.
Presenter Vicky Gill encouraged listeners to contact her guest, a solicitor, for help, whilst Navrang failed to separate programming from a paid-for script.
In the first incident, Vicky Gill was interviewing a solicitor, and ended the conversation by encouraging listeners to "get a pen and paper" to write down contact details for her guest. She then provided the contact details in Hindi and Urdu.
A listener complained to Ofcom that the comments promoted the lawyer. And whilst the broadcaster argued with Ofcom that it had ensured independence of editorial control had been maintained, the regulator considered the references to be problematic under the Code.
And in the second complaint, Navring asked listeners to have a pen and paper ready because she was going to broadcast a special message from a bargains store after playing some music.
The presenter then went on to say: [i]“Now let us go towards this message – and this message we are delivering to you is on behalf of [b]S and S Bargains. S and S Bargains[/b] is in Sparkhill and their grand opening has taken place on Saturday 2nd January and they have a special offers for new year, for example: a large bag of chapatti flour is only £6.99; Daz powder, 90 wash, is only £11.99 any loaf of bread – 2 loaves for a pound; milk, 2 litre bottle – 2 bottles for a pound. So hurry up and go and take advantage of their special offers. I will tell their address again: [b]S and S Bargain Centre[/b], whose opening has taken place on 2nd January, [b]S and S Bargain Centre[/b], Unit B, 181 Percy Road, Sparkhill, B11 3JS. Telephone: [phone number provided]. that is [phone number repeated]. We have given you the telephone number of [b]S and S Bargain Centre[/b] and their address also. They are [b]S and S Bargain Centre[/b] based in Sparkhill. Their grand opening has already taken place on 2nd January. They have special offers for the new year – the products which we have already told you. If you need these products – why should you not require these products?! – every individual needs these products – go and take advantage of their sale. OK – now we go towards our next song…"
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A listener complained that an advertisement was not separated from editorial content and sounded more like an endorsement by the presenter.
Rule 10.2 of the Broadcasting Code says [b]Broadcasters must ensure that the advertising and programme elements of a service are kept separate.[/b]
Ofcom judged that the words “Now let us go towards this message – and this message we are delivering to you is on behalf of S and S Bargains…” was insufficient to separate the advertisement from programming.
[link=https://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.5519]In January[/link], the station was in breach after a presenter read out an advert for office space, without obvious separation.