kmfm group can have one breakfast show

Ofcom has approved a request from the KM Group to share breakfast programming across all seven of its local radio licences in Kent.

At the moment, the group has six breakfast shows for the seven areas with all other programming already networked from its Medway HQ.

The changes are to save money, with the group telling the regulator that the sharing of a single breakfast presenter would help them reverse the fortunes of what are currently loss-making stations.

The KM (Kent Messenger) Group hold licences for Ashford, Canterbury, Folkstone/Dover, Maidstone, Medway, Thanet and West Kent.

In each of their seven format request changes, KMFM said: “The changes we are asking for are within the guidelines set out by Ofcom based on the geographical region Kent. Kmfm radio is running at a loss these changes will help reverse that. We are committed to providing local and relevant information for instance traffic, events and community news will still be relevant to the broadcast area. These changes will not substantially alter the localness and content of the output.”

Ofcom approved the requests saying that they were in line with its policies on co-location and programme sharing and that the changes wouldn’t substantially alter the character of the service.

At the time of writing the breakfast presenters listed on the KMFM websites are as follows:
Ashford – Kirstyn & Webbo
Canterbury – Neil Redding
Folkstone/Dover – Adam Dowling
Maidstone & West Kent – Benedict Smith
Medway – Mike Russell
Thanet – Johnny Lewis