'Royal prank' station banned from reporting on royal baby

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to welcome their second child sometime this month.

But 2DayFM listeners likely won't be hearing Kate Middleton's happy news from their radio station, with broadcasters under strict instructions not to acknowledge the baby's birth.

According to the Sunday Telegraph, an email sent by Southern Cross Austereo's management detailed that the birth of the royal couple's second child is "under no circumstances" to be reported.

The station came under fire in December of 2012 when HOT30 broadcasters Mel Greig and Michael Christian posed as the Queen and Prince Charles as part of a prank to gain information about the Duchess following her admission into hospital to deliver Prince George.

Jacintha Saldana was the nurse who took the call, taking her life two days later and blaming her decision on the actions of the Australian radio hosts in a note.

Mel Greig leaves the High Court in London after attending the inquest into Jacintha Saldanha's death. Photo / Getty Images

On Thursday Australia's media watchdog ACMA released its report on the incident, and found that the station breached three of clauses - principally 6.1, which "prohibits the broadcast of statements by identifiable persons without their consent"- meaning they had not asked Jacintha for permission before airing her part in the prank.

The report concluded by saying that the ACMA is now "formally" deciding what penalty, if any, will apply.

Mel Greig resigned from the station after the incident, and has since spoken of the personal and professional torment that's plagued her since.

"I was in disgust with myself, I had failed as a human being, to be involved in someone's death is horrific and it affected me greatly," she told BBC2 Radio last month.

In February she joined other female Australian media personalities as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the abuse many women receive online, and was subjected to particularly brutal comments, in a video posted on Mamamia.

"I've made a noose Mel, and it belongs around your neck,' one tweet read. 'I can't wait to take your last breath."

"You've killed a mother so it's only fair we kill yours," another said. "You'll never sleep again. I'm coming for you and your mum."


- Daily Mail