2GB and 3AW presenters breached radio rules with on-air car spruiking

Ben Fordham surprised listeners when he announced his unlikely side hustle as an Uber driver. Now it’s been found he breached strict radio rules.

2GB’s Ben Fordham breached radio rules by failing to disclose he had paid deals with companies he spoke about favourably on-air, the Australian Media and Communications Authority has announced in a new finding.

ACMA’s finding, released Tuesday, focused on Fordham and Melbourne 3AW host Jacqui Felgate, and found that both networks had “breached broadcasting rules by failing to disclose commercial agreements between their presenters and companies featured in their current affairs programs.”

ACMA focused on comments Fordham had made on an August 2023 episode of his Ben Fordham Live radio program, speaking favourably to listeners about the ride-sharing app Uber.

Fordham’s “side hustle” as an Uber driver was actually a paid endorsement. Photo by: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

In the segment, Fordham spoke with financial commentator Peter Switzer to discuss new data from The Australian Bureau of Statistics, which found almost a million Australians worked multiple jobs.

Fordham claimed he was among the million Aussies with a “side hustle,” telling his guest he’d signed up as an Uber driver that week and had already picked up a few passengers.

Fordham, who is on a reported annual salary of $1.5 million, said his experience as an Uber driver so far had been “so good” and a great way to kill time and “make a bit of money.”

ACMA’s investigation found that there was in fact a commercial agreement in place between Fordham and Uber, which was not disclosed on-air.

Fordham puts in a shift with Uber … Photo: Supplied

… and Felgate poses with a BMW. Picture: Instagram

ACMA conducted a separate investigation into 3AW host Felgate regarding “comments favourable to automotive manufacturer BMW” she made on-air – again, without disclosing to listeners that she was in a commercial partnership with the luxury car brand.

ACMA Member Creina Chapman said in the Authority’s announcement this week that properly disclosing commercial agreements was “crucial “for transparency in media, particularly in current affairs programs.

“These kind of commercial disclosure breaches have the potential to erode the public’s trust in current affairs programming,” Ms Chapman said.

“Listeners deserve to know what commercial agreements are in place and how those deals might relate to what they are hearing on-air.”

ACMA announced that following their investigation, they have issued both radio networks with directions for staff including on-air presenters to undertake “formal training” on commercial disclosure requirements.

Originally published as 2GB and 3AW presenters breached radio rules with on-air car spruiking