Global escapes Ofcom action over DJ Tiiny incident

Ofcom has taken no action against Global or DJ Tiiny after it became apparent the presenter played music tracks in return for payment on his Capital XTRA show.

The regulator says it considers the matter resolved after investigating a complaint.

DJ Tiiny issued an apology for doing so, and Global says it terminated his employment at the radio station once it came to light.

Ofcom said: “The Broadcasting Code prohibits any payment that may influence the selection or rotation of music for broadcast. In view of the action taken by the Licensee when it became aware of the presenter’s actions, we considered the matter resolved.”

Global contacted Ofcom and confirmed the allegation, saying that it had been alerted to the matter on 27 January 2021 and that the presenter’s contract of employment had been terminated the following day.

After having its legal team investigate the matter further, Global established that “no producers or presenters at Capital XTRA, nor any other Global staff or freelancers, [had been] involved in, or aware of, the presenter’s activity”.

It said the presenter was dismissed from Capital XTRA because his conduct had been in direct breach of both industry ethics and his freelance presenter contract, relevant extracts of which were supplied to Ofcom and which confirmed that the presenter had been prohibited from engaging in conduct that would breach the Code.

In addition, Global confirmed that the presenter had “received compliance training during his time at Capital XTRA which reinforced the importance of a presenter’s obligations under the Code”.

DJ Tiiny released the following statement on 1 February 2021: “Over the last couple of days I have very quickly learnt a much needed lesson. I was given an incredible opportunity within radio and carelessly and irresponsibly took advantage of my position. I take full responsibility of my actions and fully accept the consequences as a result. I am very sorry to everyone this has affected and to those I have let down…”.

Global said that “seeking payments to influence music selection is culturally understood by those working at Global to be completely unacceptable, and this incident shocked its staff”. It added that “Global never encountered this type of behaviour from a presenter in its history, and this departure from this most basic standard was deeply disappointing…”.

Global said it had “acted immediately and responsibly in terminating the freelance presenter, and by doing so made it very clear that it did not tolerate such behaviour from any employee or freelancer”.

Ofcom said it took into account Global’s prompt response to the allegation it had received and the actions it took to prevent recurrence, and therefore considered the matter resolved.