What's New
BY Sarah Patterson May 30, 2026
What's New March 18, 2026
“I’m not done. Not by a long way.” Kyle Sandilands vows to fight ARN termination
Reporter
Kyle Sandilands has confirmed his dispute with ARN is now in the hands of his lawyers, after the two week deadline to rectify the breach of his services agreement officially passed.
This morning, ARN Media Limited officially advised the ASX it has issued a notice of termination contract to Sandilands and Quasar Media, saying that as a result, the Kyle and Jackie O Show will no longer be presented.
“This decision follows the Company’s ASX announcement on 3 March 2026 which outlined that ARN had provided written notice to Mr Sandilands and Quasar Media stating that it considered Mr Sandilands’ behaviour during the broadcast of 20 February 2026 to constitute serious misconduct and a breach of ARN’s services agreement with Quasar Media, under which Mr Sandilands presents the Kyle and Jackie O show. As noted in the 3 March 2026 announcement, Mr Sandilands was given 14 days to remedy the breach.”
Mike E will continue to fill in as host of the KIIS breakfast show.
Sandilands’ statement reads in full:
ARN has just announced that they’ve terminated my contract. I don’t accept it.
My lawyers told them last week this would be invalid. And guess what? It is.
Let me tell you what actually happened here. Jackie and I had a blue on air. That’s it. The kind of thing we’ve done a hundred times in 25 years. And ARN took the situation and decided to try and burn the place down. They sacked Jackie. They suspended me. They wouldn’t even let me pick up the phone to call her or anyone else on the show. Then — and this is the bit that gets me — once they’d made it impossible for the show to go on, they turn around and say, “You didn’t fix it. You’re fired!”
I said sorry to Jackie the night of our blow-up. And when I said I was sorry to Jackie, I meant it. I still mean it. But it doesn’t mean I will stand by while I am separated from the people who’ve listened to me every morning for 25 years.
Before they suspended me, ARN said, “Let us handle it,” and I listened. 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. Every single time – “no.” They weren’t interested. They didn’t want to fix this. They thought they saw a chance to get out of the contract they signed with me a year ago, and they ran with it.
ARN knew exactly what they were getting when they signed my deal. They’ve worked with me for over a decade. They knew how I work, they knew the show, and they were happy to pay for it —because I delivered.
Number one ratings. Year after year. Hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for their business. I held up my end. I always have.
So, you tell me — why would ARN prefer to breach a contract and pay the legal consequences rather than honour the contract and pay me to do what I do best? That’s the bit that doesn’t make sense.
I’ve got a contract until 2034. I’ve got rights under that contract. And ARN hasn’t honoured the contract.
So, it’s over to my lawyers.
To the people who tune in every morning — you lot are the reason I’ve done this for 25 years. You didn’t get a say in this. Neither did I. But my lawyers will. I’m not done. Not by a long way.
Hope Kyle either goes to 2gb today FM oh Nova in the station will hit kiss exactly where it hurts
Hundreds of millions is probably a bit of an exaggeration… what about all the regional stations playing your show ad free because brands dont want to be alongside??
The truth of the matter is, if the show was even a break even they probably wouldn’t be canned. They dont play by the rules, and they’re bleeding money. Nothing better for an industry person to hear 2 of the richest people in media talk about they’re money while everyone else gets 60k a year or a redundancy package.
Finally someone at ARN with courage – unlike [others] that negatively impacted share price, profits, and hundreds of jobs due to a ridiculous 10 year deal – K&J feeling some of the pain so many others have
EDITOR: This comment has been edited.
Come on 2day fm take them back
Over 2 2day fm Kyle and Jackie go
Kyle,
You all but sabotaged the rollout into Melbourne
You’ve been phoning the show in for months
You sat there and continued both while the company was under financial duress and destroyed hundreds of people’s livelihoods
I’m no fan of ARN, but if I was in their shoes I’d be doing more than a termination, I’d go back and retroactively sue you for lost earnings.
Not to win, just to keep you tied up in litigation and off the air for years
Sleep in the bed you made buddy
ARN have dodged a bullet although the carnage left behind regarding redundancies, hollowing out of talent and collapsing revenue will take years to rebuild.
ARN put all their eggs in one basket relying on Kyle & Jackie O to retain listeners for the rest of the day and evening. There was no other talent or DJs that could build on that momentum.
The experiment of broadcasting into Melbourne (and potentially other markets) has failed. That said it will be interesting to see how Christian O’Connell’s show is progressing in Brisbane.
It would be a brave radio network to take on Kyle. Not sure about Jackie Henderson… she needs to acknowledge her role in this debacle as well.
There is definitely a book or a PhD regarding this sorry state of affairs.
A great potential for a daily podcast breakfast show, one door closes another one opens.
Do you remember when Doug Mulray left (retired) from 2MMM….he and Charlie Fox set up The Basement to continue on with Doug’s unique way of broadcasting.
its about time ARN got a back bone.. However they have just set a precedent… Why was bullying of staff ignored for years with no consequences but as soon as there is money involved ARN pull the trigger and remove them. They dont care about their staff, its all about the bottom line and this just proves it.. Otherwise this audio would never have gone to air.. https://arn.net.au/media/
They’ve been bullying staff since their days at 2DayFM.
No sympathy.
You reap what you sow.
Hoo Hoo Kyle,
You’re copying me again.
Love,Howard
Kyle and Jackie O have had their day.Its time new talent like Gabby and Dan were given a go.Their Show is popular in both Victoria and NSW and would make a refreshing change for metro listeners in Melbourne and Sydney.
@Robert Seaford
Yes, let’s make it happen!! The KIIS Morning Crew with Gabi and Dan!
I’m sorry but Jackie “O” went to far with her complaint. She’s gone through much more serious bullying. Sorry but not sorry.
@Robert Seaford @KK: I had to do a Google Search to find out who Gabi & Dan are. As it turns out, they do “The Morning Crew” on ACE Radio stations in Regional Victoria and parts of Southern NSW bordering that state…so in other words, virtually unknown to 99% of metropolitan Sydney or Melbourne.
Personally, I think it’s far more likely that KIIS will continue with Mike Etheridge indefinitely and would not be surprised to see him reunited with Emma Chow once the current 2DayFM brekky show inevitably comes to an end. At least those two have *some* Sydney market profile!
On the other station, I unfortunately think ARN are going to have to persist with the relay of Christian O’Connell on Gold 101.7 for at least a full ratings year even if it’s reasonable to predict that Jonesy & Amanda would more likely than not the most popular offering on Sydney brekky right now if they weren’t bumped to Drive. Ahh well, it’ll probably be Bogart Torelli and Emma Duxbury on Smooth 95.3 who get to enjoy that honour now (or at least after Survey #1) as they’re just about the last offering on Sydney commercial FM radio vaguely resembling a “heritage” breakfast show.
Surely ARN don’t have big bucks to splash around on huge names now
Would Smallzy work with someone else?
Lowie?
KIIS have a ready made show on weekends with Chris and Amy which sounds like it’s based in Sydney
Will & Woody would work better in Melbourne breakfast
Interesting times
Sorry Sydney TV but you are missing the point entirely. Radio needs new voices new talent new programing.Gabby and Dan might be unknown to the metro listener.But if radio stations wish to stay relevant and insist upon networking they must utilise new talent like them as they appeal to the regions and could appeal to the metro listener if given the opportunity rather than rehashing the old hands of yesteryear with the same old same old.
@Robert Seaford: The breakfast timeslot in large, highly competitive metropolitan markets like Sydney and Melbourne are no place for almost completely unknown presenters, however good Gabi & Dan may be.
I completely get your point about radio needing to bring in fresh talent however it’s probably for the best that networks do their new talent development during lower profile timeslots (nights, weekends, etc.), with people eventually moving up the ranks as more established brekky/drive presenters leave.
@SydneyCityTV
In a perfect world sure, but we don’t live in a perfect world. Hamish and Andy were a weekend show handed the reigns, but that doesnt exist anymore, at least as far as ARN goes.
ARN is about to go into a $160m legal battle, they cant afford buy outs of shows like a Nic and Loren or something.
Sydney maybe they go Chris and Amy? But Melbourne I think will be a fresh fresh show. Get a Radio person and a known name and see if you can start again… nothing to lose there…
So Sydney TV if new talent has no place on metro radio who does?The way I see it is the radio networks are completely out of options Apart from Gabi and Dan there are other regional breakfast shows who could fill the void in both Victoria and NSW. But the networks have to try something new as the only other option is making the timeslot announcer free and playing back to back music.Think about it Sydney TV. Who would you choose?
Sandilands is a crude grub.