The volunteer-run Weymouth and Portland station Air 107.2 was found by the regulator to have failed to deliver a ‘key commitment’ of providing a radio service to under 25s in the Weymouth area, including those who are disadvantaged or living with learning difficulties or disabilities.

It said the radio station also failed to provide a schedule for the week beginning on Monday, January 12 this year. The licence at the station is held by Air FM CIC.

AIR 107.2 has been contacted for comment.

READ MORE: Weymouth and Portland: Air 107.2 radio station saved

In its case report, Ofcom said it had received a complaint that the licensee was not compliant with its key commitments because there seemed to be “non-stop music with no presenters or local content being provided”.

Ofcom said it had requested recordings of the output of the service for the week beginning January 12 as well as a programme schedule for the same week and an explanation of how the licensee was meeting its requirements.

The regulator said that having assessed the recordings and information that the licensee provided, it appeared that AIR was not delivering its character of service in its key commitments. It had also failed to provide a schedule for the week beginning January 12 this year.

Ofcom said the station had responded to Ofcom’s preliminary view acknowledging Ofcom’s observations regarding the output broadcast and said that “the service was undergoing a significant operational transition”.

The radio station added that “the station was operating without a permanent studio facility and with reduced volunteer capacity while steps were being taken to stabilise the service and prevent closure”.

The station explained that several measures had been implemented to strengthen compliance with its licence obligations, such as “regular local news bulletins, locally produced football commentary, securing a commercial lease for new studio premises in Weymouth, and the commencement of studio construction and installation”.

It stated that completion of the new studio was expected in April 2026.

In conclusion, Ofcom said it expected the licensee to continue to work to rectify these issues immediately.

Ofcom will consider monitoring this service to ensure that AIR FM CIC is complying with its character of service, it added.

In December last year, the Dorset Echo reported that the station had been saved from closure, after announcing in November it would cease to operate amid financial difficulties.

The community had reportedly been rallying round, while there was a vow to draw up a ‘renewed plan for long term stability’.

AIR originally launched as a student project in 2011 at Westfield Arts College, with the name standing for ‘all inclusive radio’.

Over the years it has served as a hub for the community and was a platform for many aspiring media personalities to gain local experience.