The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has found that 2GB and Alan Jones broke their commercial disclosure rules in 2019, before 2GB was acquired by Nine.
They failed to explain to listeners the commercial links between Jones’s show and The Star Entertainment Group.
In a statement, ACMA said “2GB failed to disclose The Star’s sponsorship of the program on multiple occasions in September and October 2019 when Jones discussed the Ritz-Carlton development, a project commissioned by The Star.”
Nerida O’Loughlin, ACMA’s Chair, said, “licensees and presenters must let their audience know if a sponsor has a commercial interest in material being broadcast that is directly favourable to the sponsor.”
“These rules exist so that audiences are properly informed and are able to make up their own minds about what they hear on commercial radio.”
2GB will now have to formally train relevant staff in the disclosure standards, and report back to ACMA about what processes it has put in place to ensure it makes the required on and off-air disclosures.
If it fails to comply with this direction, ACMA may seek civil penalties.
Alan Jones ended his 35-year radio career in 2020.
