3AW host Jacqui Felgate talks up EVs but fails to declare paid deal with BMW

Embattled 3AW broadcaster Jacqui Felgate discussed the benefits of electric vehicles on air but failed to declare her long-running partnership with BMW — or the luxury model in her garage.

Embattled 3AW broadcaster Jacqui Felgate discussed the benefits of electric vehicles on air but failed to declare a long-running commercial partnership she has with BMW.

In the latest embarrassment for Nine Radio, Felgate did not tell listeners she has been driving a luxury BMW electric car and promoting it on social media.

This comes amid the fallout over the station not declaring her 15 commercial partnerships – ­including those worth $25,000 or more a year – until questions were asked by The Australian last month.

Nine’s disclosure compliance is now the subject of an investigation by the media regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, and all four of the company’s stations – 3AW, 2GB, 4BC and 6PR – led by managing director Tom Malone, are being scrutinised.

Felgate, who was recently ­appointed as the station’s new drive host for next year but has been filling in as a host on various programs since June last year, had a long on-air segment on 3AW’s afternoons program on August 28 that focused on why electric vehicles are a good choice of car.

In the segment she interviewed Finn Peacock from Solar Quotes and told listeners Australians should “embrace” electric cars “because it’s the way of the world”.

She failed to mention that the electric BMW iX3 she has been driving is part of her commercial deal with Berwick BMW, which began early last year.

During the segment a caller told Felgate she had picked up her BMW fully electric vehicle a few days earlier and she was enjoying driving it.

Felgate replied: “Yeah, that’s perfect, isn’t it? … Ours is a BMW as well and we took ours to Phillip Island and it was great down there because they had lots of places to charge it.”

Felgate is an ambassador for BMW Berwick and regularly spruiks their new vehicles on social media and in advertisements for the motoring outlet.

Berwick BMW dealer principal Neil Phillips and 3AW radio host Jacqui Felgate who is a BMW Berwick ambassador. Source: Facebook.

She gave her BMW, which has a starting price of $89,100, an outstanding review. “They are so quick off the mark, like ours is faster than our other car,” Felgate said on air.

“Like they’ve got so much power. I’m not sure in terms of towing ability, but in terms of speed from a standing start, they’re super quick.”

The segment aired just eight days after she posted on Instagram to her more than 260,000 followers that she had taken her electric car on a trip away and wrote: “Zipped straight down (to Phillip Island) and recharged on site. So good.”

Under ACMA’s disclosure standard, a disclosure announcement must be broadcast if the presenter has a paid deal and the host promotes the name, products or services of the sponsor or directly promotes an issue that is directly favourable to the sponsor.

 Initially, 3AW’s online disclosure about BMW, published two weeks after the segment went to air, said Felgate did social media and appearances for BMW Berwick but this was amended days later to say she makes appearances as a brand ambassador.

A Nine spokeswoman said in a statement that Felgate has been given compliance training to ­ensure the guidelines are met.

“Jacqui does declare all of her commercial arrangements on ­Instagram and will do so on 3AW,” the spokeswoman said.

The Australian reported last week that Felgate had a paid deal with Virgin Australia that she promoted in June on Instagram, then two months later on her show where she told of a “heartwarming experience a Melbourne mother had on a Virgin flight”.

Felgate last week said the station knew of her paid deals and when “discussing news and current affairs on 3AW I say it as I see it and that is with integrity”.

ACMA was asked about the matter involving BMW and confirmed it is seeking more information from Nine Radio about its compliance. “The ACMA is ­actively engaged with Nine Radio about its compliance with the Broadcasting Services (Commercial Radio Current Affairs Disclosure) Standard 2022,” an ACMA spokesman said.

“This includes its compliance with the obligations to maintain accurate disclosure registers, as well as its presenters meeting the obligations to make disclosures in particular broadcasts.”

Felgate was appointed as 3AW’snew drive host for 2024, and station manager Stephen Beers said last month she is “an outstanding appointment and will continue the great tradition of breaking news on 3AW Drive”.

However., Nine’s highest paid broadcaster Ray Hadley spoke of his disgust about Felgate’s long list of deals and said he complained to Nine Radio management. He said Felgate must have worn “ear muffs” to compliance meetings.