The move is a response to a campaign via social media and email targeting businesses that support the program. It comes after Jones apologised for his comments that Prime Minister Julia Gillard's father "died of shame". On air this morning, the broadcaster said his advertisers had been cyberbullied by people involved in the online campaign calling for companies to cease their support of his show. He also took direct aim at Mercedes-Benz corporate communications manager, David McCarthy, who said the car company has demanded Jones return the black 2012 S-Class given to him as part of his sponsorship deal.

"They can have the damn thing back straight away," Jones said. Jones said the car was provided as part of the deal with 2GB and the station management decided to give him the vehicle. He said he had no contact with Mercedes-Benz about the deal. "Now this bloke McCarthy has big noted himself on behalf of Mercedes-Benz and said: 'Well we want the car back straight away and if we don't we'll get over there and we'll repossess it and we'll take it away from him.' "You big hero Mr McCarthy. How many phone calls did you make to me, you absolutely gutless wonder? None, none. "Easy to shoot your mouth off and present an image which is completely untrue.

"But I'm telling you something, there will be a stack of Mercedes-Benz dealers out there today not happy because how the hell in the light of this kind of treatment do you then sell Mercedes-Benz product?" As I said, if it happened anywhere else in society, this kind of bullying or harassment or intimidation or threatening conduct, the police would be called in. If it happened at a rugby league grand final, if it happened at a restaurant, or a picture theatre, this behaviour would not be condoned Mr McCarthy was contacted by Fairfax but declined to comment. Later in the show, Jones said Mercedes-Benz actually withdrew their advertising before his comments about the prime minister's father were published. Jones opened his show at 5.30am saying Australians had the right to boycott his show, but they did not have the right to decide where companies can advertise.

"They do not have the right to interfere with that freedom of choice, or should not," he said. "And they don't have the right, or should not, have the right to attempt cyberbullying of people who listen to this program or advertise on it." Jones said his comments about the Prime Minister had not been civilised, but he had apologised for what he said. "These false petitions are anything but civilised. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. "This is, as I said, a forensic campaign based on petitioning businesses.

"Virtually jamming up emails, jamming up switchboards, trying any threatening tactic they can to make businesses cease to be associated with this program. "They get hold of the sponsors, they provide a direct link to the complaints section and then you sit in front of a button and you go all day. "Businesses have great difficulty doing business while withstanding that stuff, but they shouldn't have to. "If this is not illegal, it ought to be. "As I said, if it happened anywhere else in society, this kind of bullying or harassment or intimidation or threatening conduct, the police would be called in.

"If it happened at a rugby league grand final, if it happened at a restaurant, or a picture theatre, this behaviour would not be condoned." Jones said that much of what had been written about him "drips with hatred". "We've spoken to advertisers, they want to stay. "Some are annoyed at the decision we've taken not to advertise. The decision has one purpose and one purpose alone: give innocent, hard-working people employing advertisers a break from cyber-terrorism, a break from bullying, a break from harassment. "If there are people out there who agree with this tactic of cyber-harassment and cyberbullying and cyber-terrorism, well put you hand up and say so.

"C'mon, find the guts to say so: 'I agree that this is a legitimate tactic.' " Loading The only promotions played during his program were for 2GB shows or for segments hosted by Jones. Listeners called throughout the morning and supporters' calls were put to air.