Ratings slump as Kyle and Jackie O sued for millions
Ratings have plummeted on The Kyle and Jackie O Show’s former channel as the star radio duo’s former employer tries to recoup millions in lost profits from the duo.
Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson face a counterclaim from their former employer ARN, which claims the duo cost the company significant advertising revenue through their dismissal.
In documents lodged with the Federal Court, the broadcaster said both Henderson and Sandilands would subsequently be liable for loss of advertising revenue, by breaching their contracts and making the future of the KIIS FM breakfast program untenable.
The station’s audience share fell in its former timeslot in Sydney, the pair’s primary market, according to a ratings survey released on Thursday.
On Sydney’s KIIS FM, breakfast listeners fell one percentage point to 11.7 between 8 February and 4 April; this represents most of the period after the duo’s last show on 20 February and Sandilands’ dismissal on 4 March.
Conversely, in the Melbourne market, where Sandilands and Henderson have not made much headway following their expansion in 2023, the station’s share increased by 0.3 percentage points.
In its defense against its lawsuit over Sandilands’ sacking, ARN said Henderson sent a letter to the station in February claiming her co-host had repeatedly bullied her.
He allegedly made offensive comments to her in September, prompting her to complain to station staff.
Sandilands allegedly told Henderson live on air: “Don’t bother coming back until you get your head together like a normal person.”
“I’ve been carrying this whole show for a year.”
The highly public affair moved into the legal arena in February, following an exchange between the star pair, with Sandilands accusing her co-host of “consorting with fairies”.
The on-air comments led Henderson to say he could no longer work with his colleague.
ARN said in court documents that Sandilands would be liable for legal costs and loss of income as a result of breaching his contract by committing serious misconduct.
The radio giant claimed that Henderson was liable for the same costs because he breached the agreement by ending the program.
Both presenters are separately suing ARN for breach of their respective contracts, while Henderson claims she should not have been fired for refusing to work with Sandilands.
Henderson claimed in court documents that he repeatedly complained to station management about Sandilands’ comments over a period of about six months.
Sandilands allegedly said some of Henderson’s comments were “bizarre, psychological nonsense” and that his belief in “deceptive words” had negatively affected his dating life.
But Sandilands’ lawsuit claims he does not deserve to have his contract terminated because he has not committed serious misconduct.
The couple wants to be paid in full for the remainder of their 10-year, $100 million contract, which they signed at the end of 2023.
A preliminary hearing will be held in both cases on Friday.
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