$2000 fine for vulgar Mau jibe

Ali Mau's reported same-sex relationship was the subject of the song. Photo / Supplied

The Edge radio station has been fined $2000 for an offensive jingle making fun of TV star Ali Mau's reported same-sex relationship.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority deemed as offensive a radio jingle, sung to the tune of Beyonce's Single Ladies, which included lyrics that offended at least one listener enough to lodge a complaint.

The original complaint about the jingle, sung during The Edge Morning Madhouse in February, was upheld and owner RadioWorks said the announcer was "severely reprimanded". But in a decision released yesterday, the BSA said the broadcaster took insufficient action given the seriousness of the breach.

RadioWorks had said the comments and song were "just beyond the expectations of the station" and were not a serious breach of the standards.

The complainant told the BSA he believed the host had been suspended for only one day, and after that had "sarcastically stated how bad he felt about what he had done and wore a saint's outfit".

In its decision, the BSA said it dis-agreed with RadioWorks about the seriousness of the breach.

It considered the jingle's lyrics were vulgar and said certain phrases in the song would have been offensive to most listeners at 8.20am when children could have been listening.

The BSA also said the announcer had admitted during the broadcast that he had already been warned not to sing the song on air, but went ahead and did so.

- NZPA