‘They didn’t want to fix this’: Kyle Sandilands’ contract terminated by ARN

ARN has officially terminated Kyle Sandilands’ contract, sparking a furious statement from the Kiis presenter, saying he would contest the termination legally and accusing the radio network of exploiting an on-air argument to “burn the place down”.

This comes after a 14-day period in which Sandilands was required to remedy an alleged “act of serious misconduct” which ARN considered a breach of contract. The misconduct refers to an on-air argument Sandilands and his co-host Jackie “O” Henderson had on the February 20 episode of the Kyle and Jackie O show.

Sandilands said in the statement that he did not accept the termination.

“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.”

In a statement issued to the market on Wednesday morning, ARN confirmed Sandilands’ termination, restating that it was due to his behaviour during the aforementioned broadcast.

“[ARN] 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.”

ARN also terminated Henderson’s contract on March 3, after she told the network she “cannot continue to work with” Sandilands. Henderson also released a statement, saying she was blindsided by ARN’s decision to end her contract and said she was addressing the “through the appropriate legal channels.”

Sandilands’ full statement:

STATEMENT FROM KYLE SANDILANDS

Wednesday 18th March 2026

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.

Kyle Sandilands

ARN statement to the ASX:

ARN Media Limited [ASX: A1N] advises that it has issued a notice of termination of contract to Mr Kyle Sandilands and Quasar Media Services Pty Ltd (Quasar Media).

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.