Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images; 2Day FMThe Australian radio station behind the infamous Kate Middleton hospital prank call is officially under investigation.
On Thursday, a week after the apparent suicide of Jacintha Saldanha, the Australian Communications and Media Authority opened a formal investigation into the broadcast by the station 2DayFM. The investigation will focus on the compliance of the licensee with its license conditions and the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice, ACMA said in a statement.
Chris Chapman, chairman of the ACMA, noted that the organization's "formal regulatory relationship is always with the relevant licensee (and not the presenters of any broadcast in question)." This means, the ACMA will be examining the radio station as a whole and not suspended DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig specifically.
Per the ACMA, a radio show "must not broadcast the words of an identifiable person" unless the person "has been informed in advance or a reasonable person would be aware that the words may be broadcast" or, if someone was recorded without their knowledge, that person "has subsequently, but prior to broadcast, expressed consent to the broadcast of words."
Rhys Holleran, the CEO of 2DayFM's parent company, Southern Cross Austereo, says the station called the King Edward VII hospital five times to seek permission to use the call. The hospital denies being contacted by the station.
The Australian DJs responsible for the hoax said they were "shattered" by Jacintha's death. On Monday, the hospital announced a memorial fund for their former employee. All donations given to the fund will be given to Jacintha's family.