Sandilands-Henderson Split: ARN Media Ends 25-Year Radio Partnership

0:00On March 4th, here's the latest out of Sydney, the long-running radio partnership between Kyle Sandelands and Jackie O'Henderson has ended after 25 years on air. The duo, who hosted a top-rated show on KIIS FM, signed a massive $200 million 10-year deal in 2023 with each earning, about $10 million a year, but Jackie recently gave notice that she cannot continue working with Sandelands following an on-air clash. Earlier this week, IRN Media, the station's owner, announced the split in a stock exchange filing. They labeled Sandelands' behavior during the February 20th incident as serious misconduct that breached his contract. He's been off air since then, and now has 14 days to fix the issue or leave the show entirely. Media experts are weighing in on the fallout. Veteran broadcaster Steve Price called the huge contract outrageous, saying shrinking ad revenue means big money deals for stars are a thing of the past. He pointed out that other radio legends like Ray Hadley and Neil Mitchell have retired without similar paydays.

1:06Meanwhile, industry watcher Tim Burrows highlighted a long-standing advertiser boycott led by a group upset over the show's controversial content. That hurt rating support in places like Melbourne, making the lucrative deal tough to sustain even before this blow-up. Burrows wonders if ARN is using the breach as a way to escape the costly pact. ARN has offered Jackie the chance for a new show on the network, while Sandelands faces an uncertain future. With so much money on the line, this could spark a major legal battle ahead. The Daily News Now is presented by our sponsor. Some travel miles to find peace. I just climb into bed and listen, SOLI, solelypillow.com.