May 2026, Community radio forced to close after cyber hack

Ocean City Radio (OCR), a Plymouth community radio station that had grown its listenership to around 25,000 weekly listeners, announced closure after a coordinated cyberattack emptied its bank account and then disrupted its crowdfunding appeal. The station faced sharply increased operational costs—especially music licensing fees for DAB/PPL/PRS—and significant back fees that made continued operation untenable. Attempts to recover funds were underway but the combined financial hit and administrative disruption forced the station to cease broadcasting and to inform staff and volunteers that operations would stop.