Australian radio station 2Day FM will drop all advertising from its weekend schedule as the fallout from a prank call escalated on Friday, its owner Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) has revealed.
Jacintha Saldanha, a nurse on the ward where the Duchess of Cambridge was receiving treatment for morning sickness, was found dead on Friday morning, two days after being involved in a prank phone call from 2Day FM's Mel Greig and Michael Christian.
Sponsors including mobile phone company Telstra, Coles supermarkets were among those who withdrew their advertising, according to the Australian. Phone company Optus are also reported to be considering pulling all advertising from the station.
2Day FM owner SCA's chief executive Rhys Holleran said the station was "deeply saddened" by the nurse's death
“We have suspended advertising at least until Monday on that radio station in Sydney out of respect to advertisers until business issues can really be addressed,” a spokesperson for the company told the Australian.
“Advertisers obviously have panicked, I'm sure it will all settle down.”
Following Ms Saldanha's death, advertisers' panic has resulted in the station pulling all advertising, the station said.
The King Edward VII hospital earlier announced the news of Ms Saldanha's death with "very deep sadness", adding she was "a very well respected and excellent nurse".
Ms Saldanha worked at the private hospital in central London
2Day FM, who have a history of controversial content, said they were "deeply saddened" by the nurse's death.
Greig and Christian have also been taken off the air indefinitely and offered counselling by the station, with SCA chief executive Rhys Holleran saying he's confident his presenters did not break any laws.