Royal prank radio station faces losing license

An Australian High Court ruling Wednesday opened the door for a radio station at the center of a royal hoax call controversy to face penalties including losing its license.

Sydney station 2Day FM endured a global backlash after Indian-born nurse Jacintha Saldanha killed herself in 2012 after transferring a prank call by two DJs to staff caring for Prince William’s pregnant wife Kate who was suffering from severe morning sickness.

Mel Greig and co-host Michael Christian had posed as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles on the phone to the London hospital and were able to get details of Kate's condition on air.

Saldanha left a note blaming Greig and Christian for her death. Both DJs apologized for their actions and the station’s owner Southern Cross Austereo later donated Aus$500,000 ($450,000) to the nurse’s family to “help them in the future.”

Media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) previously ruled that the station had breached surveillance laws by broadcasting the call without the consent of the other party.

It prompted Southern Cross Austereo to take action against the ACMA in the Federal Court which found the authority did not have the power to determine matters of law.
But this was overturned by the High Court this week, paving the way for a possible penalty against the station, which could include suspending or cancelling its license.

“This decision is welcomed by the ACMA,” said the watchdog’s chairman Chris Chapman.

“It obviously provides clarity regarding the operation of the license condition that prohibits broadcasters from using their broadcasting service in the commission of an offence.”

Southern Cross Austereo was not immediately available for comment.