There were red faces all round at Triple M this week when the station accidentally broadcast an ad for the new Seven Network drama, 24, which included references to the recent terrorist attacks in London – we’ve got the audio here:

Channel Seven offers its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of those affected by the terrorist attacks on London.

Monday, we were to have aired the new series of 24, which deals with these very issues. We still intend to do so. To withdraw the program would be to concede defeat to terrorism. We ask that you bear this in mind when watching 24.

24, Monday, 8:30pm on Seven.

While it’s wonderful to see Channel Seven protecting the safety of the western world by refusing to cancel a high-rating and expensive television drama, some people, including perhaps those actually affected by terrorist activity, might consider this sort of advertising blatantly cynical and opportunist.

Even Seven was unsure whether it crossed, or more accurately smashed, the line of good taste. A station representative told B&T that Seven created a number of radio ads for scheduling over the weekend, and this one was never meant to be broadcast.

Apparently Seven considered running it, but decided not to because it “thought it was inappropriate.”

Triple M, which a Seven spokesperson said was “ducking for cover,” put the rather embarrassing stuff-up down to human error, and said it had apologised.