Kyle Sandilands lawyers up: How much KIIS breakfast show star could sue ARN for

Kyle Sandilands is reportedly preparing for a legal showdown with his radio network as fallout continues from the dramatic collapse of The Kyle & Jackie O Show.

The breakfast radio host is considering legal action against ARN Media if the company moves to terminate his lucrative contract following his explosive on-air clash with longtime co-host Jackie O Henderson.

Sandilands and Henderson signed a landmark 10-year deal in 2023, reportedly worth $100 million each, which was meant to keep their top-rating breakfast program on air until the end of 2034.

However, Henderson walked away from the show last week following a tense on-air confrontation and time away from the show, leaving the future of the lucrative agreement in doubt.

Sandilands’ legal team reportedly believes ARN may not have sufficient grounds to terminate the contract, despite the network issuing the shock jock with a breach notice over what it described as “serious misconduct”.

Under the deal, the network is understood to have acknowledged Sandilands’ controversial on-air persona, reportedly describing him as a “maverick” presenter with a “robust personality”.

Network insiders told The Australian the agreement also included provisions that made ARN legally responsible for commentary broadcast on the show.

The radio giant also employed full-time censors to ensure content complied with broadcast standards before going on air.

If the contract is terminated, Sandilands could reportedly pursue the remaining value of the deal, believed to be about $88 million after the pair completed just over a year of the 10-year agreement.

The Nightly does not suggest ARN or Kyle Sandilands has breached contract conditions.

Another source said Sandilands would only consider leaving the network if he was paid out the remainder of the contract “less what he has already been paid”.

ARN has reportedly given Sandilands 14 days to respond to the alleged breach, which relates to the breakdown of the program rather than the on-air comments themselves.

The dispute stems from a heated on-air exchange between Sandilands and Henderson during the February 20 broadcast of their The Kyle & Jackie O Show on KIIS FM.

During the segment, Sandilands criticised Henderson’s focus on astrology research related to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, following the British royal’s arrest in the UK.

“As I said, fascinating, but I don’t think it should be at the detriment of everything else on the show – this relentless research,” Sandilands said on air.

“It’s affecting other things … your fixation on this has made you almost unworkable. You’re off with the fairies with this s***. It’s mental.”

Henderson could be heard fighting back tears as the confrontation continued, with Sandilands adding: “It’s affecting everything else. You’re too fixated on it.

“You’re not doing the rest of the job, and everyone in the building has mentioned it to me. I’ve just said: ‘I’m not getting involved, that’s a management issue’.”

The public clash ultimately proved to be the final straw for Henderson, who later informed the network she could no longer continue working alongside her longtime co-host.

According to The Australian, ARN may attempt to argue Sandilands’ alleged misconduct extends beyond the on-air dispute to include behaviour behind the scenes.