ARN has today terminated the contract of KIIS FM host Kyle Sandilands, bringing The Kyle and Jackie O Show to an abrupt end and setting up a legal fight with the radio star.
Sandilands revealed in a statement on Wednesday that his contract had been terminated and said he intends to challenge the decision through his lawyers, with ARN confirming the move soon after in a market announcement to the ASX.
Sandilands, one half of the now cancelled The Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS FM, said he believes the decision is invalid.
“ARN has just announced that they’ve terminated my contract. I don’t accept it.”
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ARN’s move to terminate Sandilands’ contract comes after the broadcaster issued a breach notice earlier this month relating to the now infamous 20 February broadcast of the breakfast show, during which Sandilands launched into an on air clash with co host Jackie O Henderson.
In an ASX announcement on 3 March, the company said it considered Sandilands’ behaviour during that broadcast to constitute serious misconduct and a breach of its services agreement with Quasar Media, the company through which Sandilands supplies the program.
This despite the fact the broadcaster allowed the show to continue airing for more than a week following the incident, albeit without Henderson, who had taken leave from the program.
Sandilands was given 14 days to remedy the breach, a period intended to allow him to address the issue before further action was taken, though ARN stopped short of outlining what steps would have satisfied that requirement.
In the days that followed ARN’s ASX disclosure, both hosts issued statements contradicting elements of the company’s account.
Jackie O Henderson rejected reports she had walked away from the show, insisting she “did not quit or resign” despite the network informing investors she could no longer continue working with Sandilands.
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Days later, Sandilands released his own statement arguing he was not in breach of his contract and calling on ARN to honour the agreement and allow him back on air.
ARN confirmed this morning that it has now issued formal notice terminating the agreement with both Sandilands and Quasar Media, but did not confirm whether Sandilands had attempted to remedy the alleged breach.
“ARN Media Limited advises that it has issued a notice of termination of contract to Mr Kyle Sandilands and Quasar Media Services Pty Ltd.”
The company said the decision means The Kyle and Jackie O Show will no longer be presented, confirming what many in the industry had suspected: that the program would not return, at least not with ARN.
Kyle Sandilands speaks to reporters outside his home on Tuesday, saying he still wants to return to air and expects ARN to honour his contract (image – ABC News)
In his statement, Sandilands said the dispute stems from the now well publicised on air clash with long time co-host Jackie O Henderson, which he described as a routine disagreement between the pair.
“Jackie and I had a blue on air. That’s it. The kind of thing we’ve done a hundred times in 25 years.”
He said he apologised to Henderson and had offered to return to air under various arrangements after being suspended by the network.
“In the two weeks since, I’ve done everything ARN asked… I said, put me back on air. I’ll work with Jackie. I’ll work with someone else. Whatever you need.”
The dispute follows a turbulent period for ARN and its KIIS stations, with TV Blackbox reporting earlier this week that the Australian Communications and Media Authority imposed additional licence conditions on KIIS FM Sydney and Melbourne after repeated breaches.
Sandilands also argued the network had long been aware of the nature of the show when it signed his most recent contract.
“ARN knew exactly what they were getting when they signed my deal… Number one ratings. Year after year. Hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for their business.”
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The radio host also spoke exclusively to TV Blackbox’s Rob McKnight on Tuesday, hours before ARN confirmed it had terminated his contract, saying he still intended to honour his contract and was prepared to return to the microphone if the network allowed it.
Sandilands told McKnight he remained willing to continue the show under the terms of his deal.
“I’ve still got a contract… and until they advise me of such, I’m still more than happy to show up there tomorrow to do the radio show.”
He also said he had been encouraged by support from listeners and advertisers during the dispute.
In his statement released Wednesday, Sandilands said his contract runs until 2034 and that the dispute will now move into a legal battle.
“I’ve got a contract until 2034… ARN hasn’t honoured the contract. So, it’s over to my lawyers.”
Behind the competing statements and legal manoeuvring lies a deeper question for the radio industry. After years of controversy surrounding the show, the dispute has again put a spotlight on the risks and rewards of talent driven breakfast radio.
Just how much will this fallout cost ARN in the months ahead — not only in legal fees and any potential payout, but also in ratings momentum in Sydney if the station suddenly loses one of commercial radio’s biggest draws?
Whatever happens next, 2026 just got very interesting.
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