Over60

News

Sun, 24 Nov, 2019

Alan Jones’ radio show revenue down by 50 per cent following Jacinda Ardern comment

Alan Jones’ radio show revenue down by 50 per cent following Jacinda Ardern comment

Alan Jones’ 2GB morning radio show has lost around half its advertising revenue following brands’ boycott over the host’s comments about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

More than 80 companies – including Big W, Bunnings, Bing Lee and ME Bank – have pulled their advertising from Jones’ program since he commented in August that Ardern should have a sock shoved “down her throat”.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the ad boycott had cost 2GB about $1 million in lost revenue in September, and the amount could rise up to $6 million on an annualised basis.

Jones re-signed a two-year contract worth $4 million a year in May. In August, Nine chief executive Hugh Marks said the shock jock is worth 10 per cent of Macquarie Media’s total revenue.

The comment on Ardern was the latest in a string of on-air blunders for Jones. In 2012, more than 70 companies pulled their advertising after Jones suggested that Julia Gillard’s late father “died of shame” over his daughter telling lies in parliament, costing the network as much as $80,000 a day.

In 2018, Jones apologised to Opera House CEO Louise Herron after suggesting she should be sacked for refusing to have a horse-racing promotion projected on the building’s sails.

Our Partners