Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

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.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"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.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world