2Day FM keeps licence, cops changes

Sydney radio station 2Day FM has kept its licence in the wake of the royal prank call but media watchdog ACMA has imposed certain actions.

Sydney radio station 2Day FM will broadcast a three-hour program designed to raise public awareness of the signs and risks of bullying and depression, as a punishment for their royal prank call.

Instead of suspending the station's licence after it breached the industry code, the media watchdog ACMA announced on Friday the station either won't air ads during the show or else must donate the proceeds to charity.

The authority has accepted an undertaking the station will require all presenters, production and management staff to undergo a training program on their ethical and legal obligations.

A further licence condition has also been applied for three years, ensuring the station does not broadcast the words of an identifiable person unless they've been informed in advance.

ACMA chairman Chris Chapman defended the decision not to suspend the station's licence.

"The combined approach of the special broadcast and targeted training program, together with the imposition of a new licence condition, presents a positive alternative to what would have otherwise been a brief suspension of 2DayFM's licence," he said in a statement.

"This is a much more constructive way of ensuing future compliance by 2DayFM with important community safeguards."

The actions come after the station was found to have breached parts of the code, including the one prohibiting the broadcast of statements by identifiable people without their knowledge or consent.

Its hosts made a hoax call in December 2012 to the London Hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for morning sickness.

Shortly after a nurse who had handled the call, without knowing she was involved in a prank, suicided.

*Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.


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Source: AAP


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