Optus: We’re appalled by Kyle & Jackie O, but we’re not pulling our ads
Optus has this afternoon said that it is “appalled” by the controversial lie detector segment on the Kyle & Jackie O show during which a 14-year-old girl revealed that she had been raped.
But although it has communicated that to the management of Austereo, the brand says it is not commenting on its future adverting arrangements with the network.
The comments from Optus come more than 48 hours after the incident. Yesterday the brand had declined to talk about its involvement in the show.
Stressing that although Optus advertised on the broadcast and on the show’s website, it had not directly sponsored the segment, a spokesman told Mumbrella: “We’ve got a commercial arragement with Austereo just as we have with other broadcasters. But we are not a sponsor of the segment.”
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What naivety to think they’d pull in the first place.
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I think it’s quite clear to anybody what your opinion would be Ajax.
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Oh, Ajax – great news for you, huh? You must be thrilled to bits!
Oh well, I’ll still be closing my Optus account. And before you remind me, I am painfully aware of how insignificant and inconsequential I am as a customer, and indeed, as a person (and I actually mean that; sarcasm not really intended) – but that doesn’t stop me being appalled by this whole episode and wanting to distance myself from it in any teeny tiny way that I can.
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Oh, your outrage means so much oPTUS, YET YOUR INACTION SPEAKS THE TRUTH OF YOUR STANCE.
I will be pulling my business….and I think you won’t realise how damaging this has been to your business until it is too late. Fail.
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More like they are appalled they have to actually say something but still trivialize it enough to not actually do anything about it.
Glad i am not with optus, i would have to be closing accounts now.
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So why have their logos been removed from the Kyle and Jackie O website? Essentially they are saying they are appalled but they don’t have a problem providing the money that makes it happen.
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If Optus is acting in an unprincipled manner by continuing a business relationship with 2Day FM, then surely all Optus’s customers are similarly implicated.
People on a contract with Optus can still send them a fax/letter/email now to let them know what they intend to do when the contract expires, and why.
On its website Optus says “Integrity” is one of the values which “are integral to our future success”. It undertakes to [quote] Honour commitments; Take accountability and responsibility for our actions; Treat everyone with dignity, fairness and respect; Conduct business with the highest ethical standards; Act in accordance with our core values. [end quote]
So far, that seems like a lot of hot air.
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@Billy C
God it’s true. The Optus brand has been ripped from the main banner. Nice spotting.
How exactly does one sponsor the station, leverage off the show but then pretend not be sponsoring the segment? How does that work? Can we then assume that they no longer sponsor the segment?
The moral cowardice is appalling.
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Some brave volunteer might need to tune in to the despised broadcast and report back on the current state of on-air advertising.
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Optus, Yes! [remember].
Kyle: he’s a knob = YES,
Kyle: we know he’s a knob = YES
Kyle: will forever be a knob = YES
You: all should move on = YES
however, if we/you are a customer or partner of Austereo and we object. don’t listen or book or whatever.
say = NO
if you are a customer of Optus and object so much to what they are doing …. switch.
say = NO
but whatever it is, stop talking and start doing.
after all, Kyle Sandilands craps on enough for all of us, so you all need to ACT!
like vodafone says….”make the most of now”. boomtishhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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Pissing in the wind Clive?
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I can’t find a link to post a complaint online to 2Day FM, but Austereo has one:
http://www.austereo.com.au/ind.....Itemid=186
I urge everyone to notify Austereo of your concerns about this issue. I’ve cross-posted this link on all of Mumbrella’s related threads.
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Andrew,
the 2Day FM complaints form can be found here:
http://www.2dayfm.com.au/contact
Click the link for “To make a complaint please download the complaints form .”
That is the *only* way to initiate an official complaint under the Commercial Radio Codes of Practice.
You can download a copy of the Codes of Practice here:
http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STA.....ODES_BCAST
Making this official complaint is the first and necessary step before being able to lodge a complaint with the Australian Communications and Media Authority so that it will investigate the incident (if 2Day FM’s response to you doesn’t answer your complaint adequately).
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Thanks Sharon. I have indeed sent a written complaint form to 2DAY FM, as I hope others have. The Austereo link is simply a second front (and a means of lodging online, rather than written, objections.)
Apologies if my earlier post wasn’t clear.
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Optus if I’m appalled by something I act. If I want to pretend I am I say I’m appalled and do nothing.
What is it?
Are you appalled or not?
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Sharon, good point about Optus’ so-called corporate philosophy.
I think this article ties in very nicely with another discussion on this site about branding.
Optus’ corporate philosophy statement about the importance of integrity, fairness and respect and to “Conduct business with the highest ethical standards” is of course absolutely and totally meaningless. It has no relation to the way the company conducts its business at any level.
That is just meaningless fluff developed by merchants of fluff. No doubt Optus paid a handsome sum to an agency to come with words that would appeal to its target demographic and best “position the brand”.
I think Optus has been shown up here as just the usual corporate hound. But in my mind equally to blame are those marketing and branding agencies that knowingly generate corporate propaganda designed to deceive the public.
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The attitude of people in this country is starting to make me sick. Why do so many Australians look at these situations in such a negative way.
(1) The purpose of the segment is to discuss issues which normally wouldn’t be discussed to solve the particular issue – Ie. In this case, find out why this 14 year old girl was disappearing in the middle of the night – Drugs, Alcohol, selling herself?
(2) How about you focus on the amount of people Kyle and Jackie O have helped over the years on their segment.. how many families they have donated to, charities they have helped, disadvantaged kids they help??
(3) Positive Outcomes – The segment would encourage many rape victims to seek help, not just keep it bottled inside… the segment sparks debate so more can be done to help rape victims.
But I am guessing this is why most of you work your whole lives trying to pay off your mortgages whilst positive thinkers and “Can-Do” attitue of people like Kyle and Jackie O make millions of dollars and live a life of luxury.
I live a nice positive and happy life but some of you really make our country look sad and disjointed.
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A Pete Stow:
To address your points, first note that according to Nielsen Media Research (Oct 2008 figures are latest I could find) 2DAY FMs largest demographic percentage is 10-17 years old – 25.2% of 10-17s listen to 2DAY FM, more than any other station for the age group.
1) How is it appropriate to discuss these issues on public radio during a timeslot dominated by 10-17 year olds? How is it appropriate to do so without having a professional counselor on air asking the questions? How is it justifiable to continue when the 14 year old subject clearly states “I’m scared. “?
2) No matter how many sponsors gifts the show showers on worthy recipients, the show continues to use degradation and titillation to attract is mostly immature audience. If the 14 year old girl attempts to commit suicide after her public humiliation, is it balanced by the cash and holidays the show gives away?
3) If the segment was handled responsibly and ethically you may be correct, but it’s clear that the participants were not clearly vetted, and that no consultation with professionals was made prior to hooking a troubled 14yo up to a lie detector. If the girl had not alleged her rape, the interview would have continued and a 38 year old man would have publicly interviewed a 14 year old about her sexual practices, to a significantly young audience.
When Andrew Denton asked Sandilands about his publicising a married man’s homosexual encounter on radio, Kyle answered:
“I won’t not put anything on air because I think that you know someone might not like it. You know we’ll put anything on air at any stage and so long as it doesn’t break any radio codes, legally we’ll put it on there and then it’s up to the individual um listener to make the decision on whether, you know, they like that sort of show or whether they’d rather go over to a softer show that wasn’t so confronting.”
In his own words, he’ll put anything on air. It’s time he is made aware of the responsibility that comes with public broadcasting.
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Quick, everyone jump on the bandwagon..
Lets face it, if the girl had not said the whole rape thing (her MOTHERS fault) no one would give a care about the segment. And Kyle’s response was in the moment while he was signalling for the segment to be pulled, and hes appologised. He was in New Zealand and wasnt able to pull the plug as quickly as he would had he been sitting “in front of the buttons”.
The media jumped on it, and you all fell for it. Congtats.
As for Optus, of course they will be careful with their responses, too many people are fans of Kyle, Jackie and the show to just pull sponsorship and condem them for a mistake that was far from the presenters fault. Much more than those who will bother to cancel accounts bacause they sponsor a show. Ive worked in Marketting for two telcos and believe me they arent concerned and will sit on the fence till they are forced not to.
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Thanks to Andrew and Sharon for the links – I have made a complaint too.
Finally Kyle’s nonsense comments have come back to blow up in his face and about time. He has no sense, he talks nonsense – that comment to the young girl about “was this your only sexual experience” just shows how much he talks nonsense!!
This stunt has absolutely apalled me. I am really glad that the Kyle and Jackie O show is off the air – I hope it stays that way. I still shake my head in disbelief that their show would even think it was appropriate for these two hosts to do such a segment on a MINOR. Sex with a minor is statuatory rape – it is illegal, what could their team have been thinking to even allow such a stunt to be put on air is beyond me. Just for the ratings… Idiots!!
And Optus, they’re a big corporation whose corporate identity is just “feel-good” fluff that means nothing. Just good marketing. I dont use them and after this, I definitely avoid their products and services.
I would hazard a guess and think more people were appalled by this stunt than approve of it in any way…. Optus and the radio stations need to listen up…
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In regards to allot of your comments I.E.Rochelle and the rest of you talking about pulling your optus accounts due to a segmant that Optus only advertised in not sponsored etc…you are nobs! do you think that Optus cares if 5 people even 500 people close their accounts? NO! why because you are a VERY small peice of the big picture and other customers will only replace you! Have you pulled your accounts and gone to Telstra or Virgin etc already NO I bet you havent as your all talk and probably couldnt afford to pay out your contract anyway as your too poor cause you sit on here all day like a bunch of nobs talking about CRAP and not following through…GET A LIFE..Optus campaign ran for 2 weeks and the show/segmant is national its about getting branding and getting the business out their not how much they support 2day FM! GROW UP… why dont you listen up and realise your comments and scrutiny have NO EFFECT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS! jeez you people need to get a life! you really have no IDEA and brains the size of gold fish!
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I agree with Dan, comment 21. you people seriously have no Idea, its not like Optus saw this coming, nor do they place their own media they have an agency do that on their behalf! do you think they would knowingly advertise on a station or anywhere for that fact that would hurt their business? and once you book a contract to advertise NOT sponsor but ADVERTISE you CAN NOT JUST PULL YOUR ADVERTS! do some research before you get on here and blab crap about pulling accounts etc with Optus…WOW maybe 10 of you in your comments have mentioned it geez your really gonna hurt their bottom line… grow up! get your fact right before you start screaming and babbling on with crap!
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James – you CAN just pull your adverts – especially off radio and online. Don’t know what clients you have been buying for, but it happens all the time. For lessor reasons – like the retail package price changed… etc.
It then becomes a matter of whether you do a D&C or if in the case of Optus, they use their weight as a large advertiser and say they are not going to pay for that air time until the station does something.
Also – I might be just one person, with THREE Optus services (mobile, home phone and cable internet – all OUT OF CONTRACT – so I was able to cancel), but I speak to a lot of other people.
Bad “word of mouth” can affect not just existing business, but future business AND FOR A LONG TIME.
Clearly Optus felt concerned enough about it to comment in the first place. I just think they didn’t do enough, which is why I walked.
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Hi James,
Thanks for your comment “I agree with Dan, comment 21”.
Interesting to see that not only do you & Dan think alike, but you also share the same IP address.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Hi Tim,
Love to see that you guys actually monitor these things !!!
James & Dan or DanJams
Would never leave optus been good to me all these years.
But seriously tone it down someone would think you work for OPTUS 😉
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Same IP ? great to see you monitor these things… and just a FYI I dont work for optus in fact very far from it…
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Kyle and Jackie O’s segment was in bad taste and deserving of all the criticism it gets BUT…………………..it’s nothing we should be surprised about; nor is it anything other media outlets/personalities aren’t as equally guilty of.
So if you’re going to rid the world of Kyle and jackie O, then make sure the producers of sexually explicit and implicit music videos aimed at 10 year olds are gotten rid of too. Then put an end to every other groovy young tv and radio team who goes on and on about sex on their morning and afternoon drive time shows. And the list goes on – this obsession with trash is the reason why womens mag are filled with gossip and little else.
Kyle and Jackie [and the kids mother] deserve to be condemned, but so do many others.
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okay all of you really need to get over it k they screwed up they know that i love kyle and jackie o and its about time some one stuck up for them how were they suppose to know wethere or not what happend to her but every one is just making it worse because its been broought up so much and how come no one is blaming the mother because of their segament one rapest will most porbaly behind bars for a long time so maybe perents should be thanking them that there is one less rapiest in Austrlai and i bet they feel awful kyle and jackie o
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What is the matter with 2Day FM, Channel 10 Australian Idol, Optus and anyone else I have missed. For goodness sake if you listened to the show properly you could tell both Kyle and Jackie were shocked at what happened and tried their best to cease the interview. When have you ever heard Kyle lost for words as he paused and then asked his question. The real perpetrator is the Mother of the child not Jackie and Kyle.
While we are fast to jump on the presenters what about the managers and producers? Channel 10 have had Big Brother and what about the Chasers and the topics that they have presented.
I think the topic was in bad taste but I don’t believe they deserved to be sacked and taken off idol.
I will no longer be listening to 2Day FM or watching Idol and I will not use Optus.
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In relation to comment 28 from Jodie…Kyle and Jackie HO are dogs…did you not see what they put the poor young girl and her aunt through making them beg and cry so she could stay and meet her aunt for the first time in her LIFE and only telling the young girl the twist about sending her home only when her aunt landed???? they talk about eating human crap..etc etc.. Sorry to dissapoint you jodie but they are filthy dogs,I’m guessing your their demographic 17-21 yr old no? because your comments reflect your age! they are brainless immoral losers who no one should support. Further more learn to SPELL and do your research about who your supporting before you go trying to throw what little weight you may have as a 17yr old around here!
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Just another reason not to use optus
BECAUSE THEY ENDORSE THE INTERROGATION OF CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR
SEXUALITY FOR ENTERTAINMENT..
FUCK YOU Optus I hope your management and that kyle and jacie o piece of shit
get a the living crap beaten out of them next time they go out in public
now that would be FUNNY unlike exploiting a RAPED 14 yr old girl for kicks.
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