Australia’s media regulator has found four Triple M licensees breached decency rules over comments about women’s sport aired on the Marty Sheargold Show, ruling that the networked programme contained derogatory language and sexist themes.
In an investigation report, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) said Triple M Sydney Pty Ltd, Triple M Brisbane Pty Ltd, Gold Coast FM Pty Ltd and Maryborough Broadcasting Company Pty Limited contravened the Commercial Radio Code of Practice by allowing the remarks to go to air.
The segment included comments that the Matildas were behaving like “Year 10 girls”, followed by the host mimicking a Year 10 girl. The regulator found the tone was demeaning, reflected contempt for women’s sport and women more broadly, and noted the host later referred to his genitalia in a further disparaging remark.
“Sexist comments like this don’t belong in Australian broadcasting. Even if the comments were an extremely ill-judged attempt at humour, a reasonable listener would have found them offensive and to have crossed the line,” Ms Lidgerwood said.
Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of Triple M, cancelled the show after the broadcast and mutually parted ways with Mr Sheargold.
The ACMA said it is considering enforcement action against the licensees for breaching the code and will announce the outcome once finalised.
