The full details of Kyle Sandilands' $100 million contract with Kiis FM have been made public after a federal court lifted restrictions, exposing the shock jock's extraordinary demands. ARN Media tore up the agreement after alleging Sandilands breached it by repeatedly berating colleagues, including co-host Jackie O Henderson, and the audience on air. Sandilands is now suing for the remaining $85 million after being taken off air just over a year into the ten-year deal.
The confidential exhibit outlined an array of perks, including a car parking space at the North Sydney studio and, when broadcasting from Melbourne, airport transfers in a Mercedes Sprinter. Return business air fares and a suite at a five-star hotel were mandatory, on top of an annual flight allowance of $120,000, payable at $10,000 per month.
Sandilands was also particular about the show's content, insisting The Kyle and Jackie O Show was "not a news program" and that he would not be made to read news reports. The company promised not to increase news content, though Sandilands could "provide his response and opinion on news content aired during the program".
For an annual payment of $7.4 million in cash, a consultancy fee of $200,000 and $500,000 in contra air time, Sandilands was required to deliver live shows, "best of" programmes, 797 live reads, comedy segments, public appearances, pre-recorded commercials and social media posts. He also had the right to audit the station's books to determine performance bonuses, and ARN had to inform him if Henderson negotiated improved terms.
ARN insisted Sandilands broadcast from the Sydney studio or a location with broadcast-quality sound, and he had to give seven days' notice of international travel. If any programming was "defective", he had to redo it, and he was required to pre-record ten "emergency programs" a year in case of illness. The company also provided a censor to operate a 30-second delay button. The document was signed before the show breached decency rules again in 2025. Justice Angus Stewart has set a ten-day hearing for October.
Meanwhile, Sandilands teased a new project on Instagram, telling fans he was "coming back, bigger than ever" without revealing details of the platform or format. The legal battle continues.
