2DayFM radio bans reports on royal baby
2DayFM has asked all its staff to not report anything to do with the royal baby for any reason in an email circulated to staff.
IT IS the most anticipated celebrity baby of the year, yet the imminent arrival of royal baby number two for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will not exist as far as radio station 2DayFM is concerned.
The broadcaster has called for a blackout on all reporting of the British royal bub this week in the wake of the ongoing legal wranglings surrounding their prank call of 2012, The Daily Telegraph reports.
It’s understood a confidential email was circulated by bosses of parent company Southern Cross Austereo last week stating that “under no circumstances” is the birth of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William’s second child to be reported.
The edict comes as the broadcaster faces a licence suspension in the wake of the prank call placed to the a London hospital where the Duchess was being treated for morning sickness in December 2012 that resulted in a major advertising backlash.
The “baby ban” edict came on the same day Australia’s media watchdog ACMA released its report on the prank call, which found 2DayFM breached the condition of its broadcast licence over the secret recording of a private conversation involving the nurse caring for Kate Middleton.
The controversial on-air call made international headlines for the wrong reasons when nurse Jacintha Saldanha took her own life after transferring the call made by then-2DayFM hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian posing as the Queen and Prince Charles.
Greig apologised to Saldanha’s family and quit 2DayFM. Christian remained and was crowned “next top jock” in an in-house contest.
ACMA is now contemplating what punishment to impose on 2DayFM, including suspending or cancelling its licence or pursuing a civil penalty in the Federal Court.
If its licence is cancelled, it will be the first time a commercial TV or radio network has had its licence revoked. A spokesperson for SCA declined to comment.
Originally published as 2DayFM radio bans reports on royal baby
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