Sometimes you really can’t make it up! I met with London Turkish Radio (LTR) – who are based in my constuency – last Friday to discuss the very serious problems they are having as a result of a pirate radio station called Bizim FM which is broadcasting illegally.
My understanding is that they have been raided on several occasions but that with only the slightest of pauses, they are broadcasting again almost immediately.
So – I am going to pursue Ofcom as this is ongoing and long-lasting and is damaging the legitimate, licensed voice of the Turkish speaking community as the pirate radio pays no fees, no overheads, etc etc – and is able to undercut hugely on advertising.
And on the advertising they are doing – I was shocked to hear with my own ears two advertisements from Crimestoppers – one of which had the tag line ‘the Metropolitan Police – working for a safer London’ – which were broadcast on the illegal radio station!
I have written to Crimestoppers and to Sir Iain Blair, Met Police Commissioner to basically ask what an earth they think they are doing advertising on pirate radio. And if the answer is to reach into the communities – then I would suggest they do it through the legitimate chanels. I wonder if the Met realise that this is happening?
I don’t know (yet) if the ads for Crimestoppers and the Met Police are free or charged on Bizim – but it cannot be right for the Met to be advertised on a pirate radio station.
As I said – you couldn’t make it up!
Lynne Featherstone 
Lynne, I must disagree with your criticism of pirate radio stations declared illegal, accordance with Britain’s own legislation. However, there is a positive side of pirate radios- they stir young people away from crime and engage them into producing and getting their material out there through these channels. Most often, of course, legitimate radio stations and tv channels only invite David Cameron and society’s elite rather than ordinary young people etc. In order to reach out to hard to reach young people, you need to use stations that could reach these groups etc. ThanksMash
While I don’t condone breaking the law by broadcasting illegally, the fact is that the London Turkish Radio is losing listeners in their droves to Bizim FM.Listeners of LTR are just fed up with the complete lack of a professional radio broadcast and any creativity in their programming. Instead of complaining about losing out on advertising, LTR should concentrate on upping their own game so that they don’t have to even worry about pirate radio stations.On another point Lynne, I am surprised that you have immediately accused the police of advertising on an illegal station, without checking this out first.It’s quite easy to copy an advert and pass it off as genuine. According to the London Turkish Gazette, the Met definitely did not advertise on this station and have asked OfCOM to investigate.Surely a quick phonecall to Sir Iain Blair beforehand would have resolved this without the need to score political points.
Anonymous – if you read the posting what I actually say is that it cannot be right for the Met to be advertised on illegal radio. If you think that is OK then we simply disagree. It appears that the ad is downloadable and pehaps that is what happened – however the Met should be more careful. As a consequence of my raising this with them they are now looking into this – so on that score – job done. The real challenge is for Ofcom to act against pirates. And – I make no judgement on the type or quality of broadcast. However, I support legal enterprises and Bizim is operating illegally and if it has such support – then it should become licensed and take its place in the legitimate broadcasting world! Meanwhile, LTR has every right to expect the regulators and laws to uphold their position!
Lynne, if you read your own posting what you actually say is: “I have written to Crimestoppers and to Sir Iain Blair, Met Police Commissioner to basically ask what an earth they think they are doing advertising on pirate radio.”
I am just a student who came across this site anonymously and i also listen to Bizim FM, as mentioned in the previous comments Bizim FM is doing their best to keep youngsters out of trouble and away from the streets. Also not to forget that LTR is worried about loosing their listeners because Bizim FM is the voice on radio for all the youngsters out their. Thanks
pls do whatever you can to stop this bizim fm crap pls i am a turk and against illegal works how can you stop teenagers from crime when you are involved in crime bloody KURDISH solution
Rather than investigating pirate radio stations which aim at the mojority of the teenagers in London why do people like yourselves not investigate the much more serious issues which are undertaken in your boroughs. Bizim FM may well be a pirate radio station but wherever you go in the turkish community 3 out of 5 would be listening to the station, they get their voices hurd to youngsters, teenagers, families, parents and carers businesess no matter what the subject is. There was an issue within the turkish community about many teenagers feeling suicidal and even hanging themselves Bizim FM played a major role and got many voices hurd on air from people that were ill from people that had suffered the pain of lost ones, they do not do what LTR is doing and just talk crap on radio all day about some sort of politics or rubbish. Bizim FM is loved within the Turkish, Kurdish and Cypriot community because they see all as a family but i have never hurd for a kurdish matter to be raised on LTR i have never hurd teenagers problems be raised as an issue on LTR all they care about is whether they make money or not, so do us a favour and do something for the turkish community and stay away from Bizim FM
It seems to me that the Turkish speaking audience are voting with their ears…Whilst not condoning illegality of any kind, why don’t we stop for a moment and consider why “listeners are leaving in droves” from LTR. Is it because their programming falls short of acceptable standards? I think so. Perhaps if they stopped crying about the competition and improved the quality of their broadcasting, stations like Bizim FM would not not be able to grab a foothold in the market.In any case competition is a good thing, is it not? Not only does it provide choice for the consumer it also promotes good standards and service.So in the interests of the consumer, my view is that an alternative station, possibly Bizim FM, should be granted a license to broadcast.
We did a program called MAVISINEK to LTR and the format of the program was mainly humor we manged to get a lot of youths to listen to the show. the PROBLEM was the other programs where too boring for teenagers to listen and because it is called LONDRA TURK RADYOSU (LONDON “TURKISH” RADIO) they can not play Kurdish music or at least thats how they see it as they can’t but bizimfm’s presenters are young and can play any thing it actually abolishes the conflict between the Kurds and Turks which is really good. Also the presenters of bizim fm speak like the Turkish peaking communitys youths i say that because Kurds too speak Turkish, there accents are bad so youths feel more closer to listen
“pls do whatever you can to stop this bizim fm crap pls i am a turk and against illegal works how can you stop teenagers from crime when you are involved in crime bloody KURDISH solution”Now here you have a classic LTR racist listener, i have listened to LTR trying to play songs for both turkish and kurdish but when kurdish songs were being played, the turkish listeners were calling in saying why are you playing kurdish songs? this radio station was created and will only be for Turkish people, which is why BIZIM FM is being chosen over LTR, they play music for both cultures and have respect from people who have respect for each other that is why it is growing so much. Bizim FM may be on the verge to becoming legal, maybe they just can’t afford to pay the liscence fees and overheads at the moment and are saving money to become legitimate. Take for example choice fm, weren’t they illegal when they first came on air? yes they were and in time, they became legitimate and are now very successful, BIZIM fm are another example of this and LTR is scared they will be put out of business becuase BIZIM fm is become ever increasingly more and more successful and with their ethics are winning more and more listeners. If, given the chance, or respectfully spoken to, and instead of trying to drive them out, why dont you try to speak to them and see if you could come to a successful agreement to help them turn legal rather than trying to shut them down?Thanks
Instead of trying to shut them down, you should be the person trying to help them as they are trying to help others. As you can see they are advertising crimestoppers advert without anyone asking them to. doesn’t this show that they are trying to help everyone. SUPPORT ‘BIZIM FM’
If licences werent too expensive mayb e they would have done something better as well because if suppose they are not happy by being illegal as well. They help our Turkish community so lets get together and support them to be legal, because thats what they need Support and Help as they are doing it to all their listeners. Try to be positive and give them a hand and support!!!BIZIM FM GOT THOUSANDS OF LISTENERS NOT ONLY FROM LONDON BUT OTHER PLACES TOO, SO ITS THEIR RIGHT TO BE LEGAL BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER LEGAL OPERATING STATIONS WHICH HAVE NO LISTENERS AT ALL….
Bizim FM used to be a well performed illegal but radio station mainly aimed at teenagers or younger adults, but not anymore they have lost all of there listeners which i used to be one. i stoped listening to bizim fm when i found out that they are not doing this for any good, but just for there own fun. i found this out untill i met there members and that i will never suggest anyone to listen to them…