Radio duo too raunchy

By LOUISA CLEAVE

Two radio announcers who earned their station a $24,500 fine from the Broadcasting Standards Authority have been suspended indefinitely.

The Rock has pulled Nick Trott and Roger Farrelly off the air while discussions continue about the direction of their morning show.

The station, owned by RadioWorks, was fined after the authority upheld 21 of 67 complaints from a Napier woman.

The Rock aims at 18-to-39-year-old males and its morning show attracts about 300,000 listeners nationwide.

Operations manager Gerard Murray said the breakfast duo were taken off yesterday and would not return on Monday. They would remain off the air until the "disciplinary matter" was resolved.

"We've taken $24,500 worth of advice from the BSA so we need to look at our direction."

Mr Murray said the station looked at its standards "on a continual basis".

The Rock defended its broadcasts by telling the authority that they were all legitimate attempts at humour for its target audience.

The authority ruled that the station had breached standards of good taste and decency, and failed to be mindful of the effects of the broadcasts on children.

The complaints ranged from a poem referring to necrophilia to numerous comments which denigrated women.