Kyle Sandilands to Receive A$12 million After KIIS FM Show Cancellation


By Lana Lam • 5 hours ago



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Kyle Sandilands and Jackie “O” Henderson during their on‑air row


Australian shock jock Kyle Sandilands will pocket A$12 million after agreeing to settle a lawsuit against his former employer who cancelled his ten‑year A$100 million contract early. The settlement was announced by ARN Media, the station’s owner, following a wrongful‑termination claim that Sandilands had brought to court.


Sandilands was dismissed from the KIIS FM breakfast programme “The Kyle and Jackie O Show” in March after a heated on‑air disagreement with co‑host Jackie Henderson, who accused him of bullying. ARN had already labeled the program a “serious misconduct” issue.


Brand‑recognizing on‑air banter had drawn high ratings, especially in Sydney, but the partnership ended when Sandilands launched a seven‑minute tirade in February, calling Henderson “off with the fairies” and claiming she wasn’t pulling her weight. Henderson later withdrew from the show, and an internal review blamed Sandilands for the fallout.


The three‑year settlement includes a A$12.09 million cash payout, plus A$1.5 million worth of advertising on ARN’s platforms and a clause barring Sandilands from working with any ARN competitor until March next year.


ARN also will earn a 19.9 % cut of any independent media venture Sandilands pursues over the next three years. Henderson, meanwhile, is issuing her own lawsuit over her cancelled contract, and her court action continues.


The case underscores the high stakes of Australian radio contracts, where decade‑long deals can involve over A$100 million, and highlights how on‑air disputes can trigger costly legal and contractual responses.