Alan Jones set to hit the airwaves ad free

8 Oct 2012, 7:31 am   -   Source: AAP
2GB has suspended all advertising on Alan Jone's show following his comments about PM'S father. (AAP)

2GB has suspended all advertising on Alan Jone's show following his comments about PM'S father. (AAP)

Social media campaigners say an advertising suspension on Alan Jones' program could become permanent.

As Alan Jones prepares to hit the airwaves without commercials, social media campaigners say his advertising suspension may be more than just temporary.

The Macquarie Radio Network announced on Sunday it would be temporarily suspending all advertising on Alan Jones' 2GB breakfast show, after an "unprecedented focus" on the controversial shock jock through mainstream and social media.

Network executive chairman Russell Tate said the "nature, tone and volume of the reaction" and the disruption caused to advertisers made it necessary for them to "call some 'time out'".

Jones sparked a public backlash when it became known he told a Sydney University Liberal Club fundraiser Prime Minster Julia Gillard's father "died of shame" because of her lies.

Mr Tate noted Jones had immediately arranged a press conference to publicly apologise and made a further "unambiguous and unconditional" apology on air last Tuesday.

Despite his repentance, more than 85,000 people signed a petition last week calling for his sacking, while the Facebook page Destroy the Joint urged followers to write to advertisers and "destroy Alan's joint".

By Tuesday, more than a dozen sponsors including Woolworths, Coles, Mercedes-Benz and ING Direct had cancelled or suspended advertising on his program - estimated to make around $2 million a month for the radio network.

By Friday, the network's share price had dropped 14 per cent.

A post on Destroy the Joint told its 11,000-odd supporters that more than 74 companies had withdrawn their support from Jones' show.

Mr Tate said the network had been subject to "21st Century censorship, via cyber-bullying".

"These people do not have the right" to decide for listeners what they were going to hear and dictate to companies where they would advertise, he said.

He said advertising would be suspended until further notice, so advertisers could "regroup" and discuss a way forward.

"The decision obviously comes at a very significant short term cost."

Jenna Price from Destroy the Joint said she was "thrilled" by the announcement.

"We are ordinary people speaking back to the big guys who have never had anyone speak back to them before," she told AAP.

"It's about making sure that people are treated well."

Ms Price launched the Facebook page about a month ago, following comments from Jones suggesting some female leaders were "destroying the joint".

Ms Price said she didn't believe Jones' comments last week that it would be business as usual for advertisers, and "I don't believe them now".

Meanwhile, the Sydney student behind the petition calling for people to boycott Jones criticised Mr Tate for not indicating a change of tone on the breakfast program.

"He clearly hopes that by suspending advertising for a short period the controversy will die down," Nic Lochner said in a statement.

He said Mr Tate had "misread the mood" and people were already calling on companies to permanently boycott the show.

Mercedes-Benz Australia-Pacific communications manager David McCarthy told AAP on Sunday that the black 2012 S-Class given to Mr Jones as part of the company's sponsorship deal would need to be returned "at some point".

He said he did not wish to make comment on further advertising with Macquarie Network, adding: "As far as we are concerned, the matter is closed".

When AAP asked Virgin Australia about its future advertising plans with the station, it said: "Virgin currently has no commercial relationship with the Alan Jones program".

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube