Kyle Sandilands contract torn up by KIIS owner ARN
Updated ,first published
Kyle Sandilands’ contract has been terminated by KIIS owner ARN, prompting the controversial broadcaster to threaten legal retaliation over his $100 million contract with the FM radio company.
During the 14 days he was suspended from the air after berating co-host Jackie “O” Henderson, Sandilands said he did everything the company asked, including telling the station he was willing to work with someone else, but claimed the outcome was predetermined.
ARN and Sandilands made separate announcements on Wednesday morning, ending the broadcaster’s contract to present the record-breaking series. The Kyle and Jackie O Show These are now almost certain to be challenged in court by 2034.
“ARN has just announced that they have terminated my contract,” said a statement from Sandilands on Wednesday morning. “I don’t accept it.”
“My lawyers told them last week it would be invalid. So guess what? It is.”
Sandilands said he had done everything asked over the last few weeks, but accused them of not wanting to “fix” the matter and using this as a chance to opt out of the remainder of the much-publicised $200 million contract he signed with Henderson in 2023.
“Then it’s up to my lawyers.”
Sandilands representatives circulated the statement in the early hours of Wednesday morning, ahead of ARN’s official ASX announcement, and said shortly after:Kyle and Jackie O’s Show will no longer be offered.”
In his statement, Sandilands stated that he was willing to work with “someone else” in the absence of Henderson, with whom he has worked for more than 25 years.
“I said, put me back on the air. I’ll work with Jackie. I’ll work with someone else. Whatever you need. Every time – ‘no.’ They weren’t interested. They didn’t want to fix it. They thought they saw a chance to back out of the contract they signed with me a year ago, and they took that opportunity.”
The decision comes two weeks after Henderson’s contract was terminated by ARN after the company’s representatives said he had told management he could not continue working with Sandilands. He allegedly breached his contract following an act of “serious misconduct” following an on-air fight in February that left Henderson in tears.
Sandilands said in his statement that he apologized to Henderson and meant it. Henderson has previously said he did not do a full ARN and handled the matter through legal channels.
The duo’s contracts, which run until the end of 2034, became onerous for ARN in just a year after the show’s expansion to Melbourne bombed and advertiser sentiment turned against the historically sexualized content featured in the series.
In response, Sandilands said the company, which had been working with him for a decade, “knew exactly what they were getting into”.
More to come.
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Calum Jaspan is a media writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based in Melbourne. Reach him securely on Signal @calumjaspan.10Connect with: X or email.
