Ofcom: Pol's Swearing Not A Code Breach

Ofcom Lets Them Slide

U.K. broadcast regulator OFCOM has decided that national Rock station ABSOLUTE RADIO did not breach the Broadcast Code by airing CONSERVATIVE PARTY leader DAVID CAMERON's use of a crude term in a joke about people who use TWITTER.  CAMERON, in a JULY 29th interview, told host CHRISTIAN O'CONNELL, "The trouble with TWITTER, the instantness of it -- too many twits might make a t--t."  CAMERON later apologized for the comment, and OFCOM is passing on any sanctions for the broadcast, explaining that the joke was not a violation in context.

The agency also determined that community station RADIO HARTLEPOOL/HARTLEPOOL, ENGLAND breached the Broadcast Code by airing a taped version of the "Classic 9 at 9" with solicitations for a text message contest that made it sound like the show was live.

Also in breach of the Code were Ethnic SUNRISE RADIO/LONDON for airing a sponsorship tag for its "Hit of the Hour" that ran too long (a repeat offense, although the agency said that the station had taken action to be more in compliance); and temporary station MAST FM for failing to retain recordings of its broadcasts to allow OFCOM to investigate an alleged sponsorship breach.

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