Feds probe Kyle and Jackie O rape 'stunt'
ANGER over Kyle and Jackie O's teenage rape scandal has prompted a regulatory review but so far failed to dent the pair's ratings, which actually improved.
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ANGER over Kyle and Jackie O's teenage rape scandal has prompted a regulatory review but failed to dent the pair's ratings, which have actually improved.
In a statement, the Australian Communications and Media Authority said this morning public concern over the live lie-detector test of a 14-year-old girl "highlighted broader issues'' about "stunt" or "prank" calls, competitions and challenges on commercial radio.
The regulatory body warned it expected broadcasters to deal with matters of such strong community concern quickly and effectively.
Meanwhile, figures released today show The Kyle & Jackie O Show again claimed the FM ratings crown (up 0.6 to 12 per cent of the breakfast market). The lie detector stunt gone wrong was monitored in the final days of this measure.
Radio insiders say the duo's sidelining for up to three weeks of the current 10-week survey - which began recording audience numbers on August 3 - will be more obvious.
The ACMA probe will examine whether broadcasting regulations need to be strengthened to prevent a repeat of the segment, in which a girl was pressured to reveal she had been raped.
"The ACMA acknowledges that the broadcasting sector should generally be able to experiment with program genres and styles which may be attractive to its audiences,'' ACMA chairman Chris Chapman said.
"However, the strength of community concern expressed about the practices of some live-hosted entertainment programs and the ACMA's own assessments indicate that there is emerging evidence that the current regulatory arrangements may not be keeping pace with industry practice and community standards.''
The ACMA investigation is expected to take five months and is seperate to any response by ACMA to the incident itself.
Despite their increase, Kyle and Jackie O still trail market leader Alan Jones, who added to his dominance of the timeslot (up 0.2 to 17.8 per cent).
Both 2GB and 2Day FM slid back in the station ratings, but still claimed the top two spots with 13.7 per cent and 10.7 per cent respectively.
2GB mornings host Ray Hadley dropped back from his record high of 17.2 per cent to 15.9 per cent but it was still enough to claim the timeslot comfortably.
2Day FM's stablemate continued its terminal decline, shedding more listeners after management axed yet another breakfast team - now cellar-dwelling on 3.3 per cent with Mix FM's Sonia and Todd and Vega's trio of Tony Squires, Rebecca Wilson and Mikey Robbins (2.6 per cent).
After struggling in this year's surveys-to-date, 2UE was a surprising winner, surging almost 2 share points.
The build for the Fairfax Media-owned station began at breakfast with Mike Carlton and Sandy Aloisi up 0.5 per cent to 6.6 per cent.
