2GB and 3AW found to be in breach of commercial disclosure rules

Nine Radio stations 2GB  and 3AW have been found to have breached broadcasting rules by failing to disclose commercial agreements between their presenters and companies featured in their programs after an investigation by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

During Ben Fordham‘s program on 2GB on 3 August 2023 he spoke favourably about ride-share company Uber. The ACMA investigation found that the commercial agreement that was in place between Uber and Fordham at the time, was not disclosed on-air.

A separate investigation into 3AW Afternoons broadcasts that also aired in August 2023 found that favourable comments about automotive manufacturer BMW were made by the then program host without again disclosing that there was a commercial agreement in place between the two.

Both 2GB and 3AW also failed to publish details on their websites of such commercial agreements in place with their presenters, as is required by the commercial disclosure rules.

Authority Member Creina Chapman said:

“These kind of commercial disclosure breaches have the potential to erode the public’s trust in current affairs programming. Listeners deserve to know what commercial agreements are in place and how those deals might relate to what they are hearing on-air.”

Following the investigations, and the breach findings, the ACMA has issued 2GB and 3AW with remedial directions requiring the relevant presenters, producers and sales staff to undertake formal training on the commercial disclosure requirements. 2GB also must commission an external audit of the processes it has in place to comply with these rules because of previously breached disclosure rules in 2021.