Hot Tomato staff were stunned to find that a breakfast show segment with Kylie Minogue they got from a contact in the UK was rebroadcast on rival stations Sea and Gold FM without acknowledging the source.
Correspondence that fell off the back of a fax machine between Hot Tomato CEO Jaan Torv and RG Capital’s Program Director Jason Matthews tells the story:
Jason,
Just to let you know that next time you decide to [rebroadcast] content off air from Hot Tomato … like the Kylie Minogue interview this morning – give us a call and we’ll send you a better quality dub of our air-work.
Suki, Luke and Rob are flattered that you would put them to air on both Gold FM AND Sea FM – but you should know that they are rightly annoyed that you used their editing, their voices and laughter and copied the style of commentary on the interview; nor are they amused at the lack of crediting them for all their work.
Additionally we are all surprised at the claim that you were first on the Gold Coast when in fact you were 4th and 5th cab off the rank following Simon Mountain the day prior – and Suki Luke and Rob twice this morning.
We are flattered at your imitation – and thank you and your entire team for listening – but we are never amused by plagiarism – ‘passing off someone else’s work as your own.’
Jaan Torv
CEO
The Hot Tomato Broadcasting Company Pty Ltd
An internal memo from Torv to the breakfast team, which has also been obtained by radioinfo says:
MEMO: SUKI, LUKE AND ROB
FROM: THE DESK OF THE CEO
It was brought to my attention that the SEA FM/GOLD FM morning crews lifted some Hot Tomato material off air this morning from our breakfast program.
The piece broadcast included clearly audible voices and laughter from yourselves – and featured Luke’s editing.
While we are flattered and complimented by the imitation – and clearly RG’s producers and presenters are enjoying your efforts – the only thing we’d ask is that when they lift our stuff – please credit us on air with: “The following was originally broadcast on Hot Tomato earlier this morning.”
Jaan Torv
The original interview was sent to Hot Tomato from the UK and was repackaged by Hot Tomato’s production team for use on air. Click here
to listen to the original Kylie audio.