Cambridge University Radio has been let-off by Ofcom after conducting a competition in an unfair manner.
In a competition on the daily LunchBreak show, a competition called ‘Music and Lyrics’ did not appropriately describe how a winner would be selected and asked for entries after a winner had been selected.
The station runs on an RSL licence and is aimed at students and staff at Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin University. The prize was made up of tickets for one of three local nightclubs – to a value of £3.
In the response to Ofcom, the station explained that as a student radio station, it does not generally feature experienced presenters and on this occassion the last-minute replacement presenter had not broadcast sufficient information about how a winner would be picked.
They also told the regulator that after the incident, all presenters were reminded about the way they ought to conduct the 'Music and Lyrics' competition. The station manager and presenter also attended an Ofcom workshop about the Code rules and information was passed on in training sessions to other presenters.
Ofcom ruled that the cost of entry to the competition was low and that there was likely to have been limited harm caused to a very small number of listeners. They accepted that the broadcaster did not deliberately intend to mislead listeners and welcomed improved compliance procedures.