Royal prank cost $2.9 m

AUSTRALIA: The Australian radio network behind a royal hoax call controversy in which a nurse was found hanged Tuesday said the prank had cost it millions of dollars in revenue and expenses.

Southern Cross Media Group said the fake call by presenters from its Hot 30 programme to the hospital where the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was being treated had resulted in a revenue hit of Aus$2.2 million and Aus$1.4 million in expenses in the six months to December 31, 2012.

It did not give the overall impact on net profit but said there was a 0.4 cent decline in earnings per share, which works out at Aus$2.8 million ($2.9 million).

"We have had one of the most difficult 12 months in our history," said chief executive Rhys Holleran.

"Despite this, we have produced a result that has met market expectations through rigorous operational management." Unsuspecting nurse Jacintha Saldanha put the prank call, in which the DJs pretended to be Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, through to Catherine's ward, resulting in details of her morning sickness condition being revealed on air.

The hoax made global headlines and Indian-born Saldanha was found hanged days later, triggering a major backlash against the radio network and the hosts which saw the station involved temporarily pull all advertising.

AFP