NEED TO KNOW
- Kyle Sandilands has filed a legal challenge against the ARN and its subsidiary, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation, following the termination of his $100 million contract.
- His lawyers filed the proceedings on March 20, two days after the radio shock jock issued a statement saying he did not accept his axing.
- The ARN has disputed his claims and intends to defend its stance in court.
- Kyle made his first appearance in court on March 27.
Kyle Sandilands has vowed to return to radio as he left the Federal Court on Friday, March 27, amid his legal showdown with ARN.
His lawyers filed in the Federal Court on March 20, against the ARN and its subsidiary, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation.
His $100 million contract with the radio network was terminated after a two-week suspension, following an on-air falling out with Jackie “O” Henderson.
Kyle made his first appearance in court on March 27, and he had a lot to say about his lawsuit as he left the courtroom, revealing he “just wants to get back to work”.
Kyle said he hasn’t had any contact with his former co-host Jackie and shared his regret over his on-air comments, describing the blow-up as a “circus”.
“It feels like I didn’t do anything different than I have done for 25 years. Actually a little bit tamer than most days because I was concerned with how she was feeling,” he claimed.
The shock jock said he was happy to “get the ball rolling” in court and hoped to be back on the radio soon.
“I just want to get back to work as quick as possible. I’ve got a family to support,” he added.
Kyle is believed to still have a mortgage on his $14 million Vaucluse mansion, where he lives with his wife, Tegan Kynaston, and their son, Otto, three.
The court was told that Kyle was seeking an immediate reinstatement and that he was willing to host his show again as early as Monday morning. However, ARN’s lawyers said the odds of Kyle returning to air on KIIS FM were “effectively nil”.
Kyle’s lawyers will argue that his contract’s termination was “invalid”, claiming he has immunity because the dump button wasn’t used to censor his on-air remarks. ARN has disputed his claims and intends to defend its decision in court.
The matter is expected to return to the courtroom on April 24.
Kyle is expected to make his first appearance in court on Friday, March 27, to argue his case. ARN has disputed his claims and intends to defend its decision in court.
Just hours ahead of his case management hearing, it has been claimed that Kyle will seek to expedite his case and argue that his termination is invalid.
Why is Kyle Sandilands suing ARN?
Kyle has filed a legal challenge against the ARN after his $100 million contract was terminated.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the document said that “the termination was unconscionable under the Australian Consumer Law”.
“The applicants seek an order for specific performance of two contracts, payment of whatever amounts are due and payable under the contracts at the time of judgment, and damages,” it added.
His filing came two days after he claimed that he did not accept the termination, and alleged that ARN’s decision was “invalid”.
ARN, which owns the KIIS Network, has disputed his claims and intends to defend its decision in court.
The shock jock was under a two-week suspension after the ARN claimed he was in breach of his contract, after co-host Jackie “O” Henderson said she could no longer work with him.
The radio duo were initially contracted to pocket $10 million each over 10 years for The Kyle and Jackie O Show, which ran until 2034.
“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’,” he said in his statement released on March 18, after the news of his axing broke.
“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.”
In his statement, he also claimed that the entertainment company “hasn’t honoured the contract”.
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) was notified of the development by the ARN on March 23, and said the documents were filed after the market closed that week.
“Given the early stage of the matter, ARN is unable to reliably estimate the outcome or any potential financial impact,” it said.
Since the Kyle & Jackie O Show was abruptly pulled from the airwaves after his on-air row with Jackie, Kyle also put his Glenorie mansion up for sale for $5.9 million.
