Kyle Sandilands has teased a radio return with a KIIS rival – and sent a savage message to former employers ARN Media as the two face off in court.
Kyle Sandilands has revealed he could be back on air soon with a KIIS FM rival – after the station’s lawyers said their relationship was permanently fractured, calling it “a hopeless situation”.
Following the day’s hearing, during which lawyers for ARN Media shut the door on a reunion with Kyle and his fomer co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, Sandilands revealed he still expected to be back on-air soon – albeit at a different station.
“There are other options to work[ing]. [KIIS FM is] not the only radio station in the world,” said the shock jock.
During the hearing, lawyers for ARN claimed relationships with their former stars have “completely broken down” and prospects of a radio reunion with the duo are “hopeless”.
Kyle Sandilands arrived at the Federal Court in Sydney on Friday. Picture: Sky News Australia
A lawyer representing ARN told the court “trust and confidence has utterly broken down between the parties … it’s a hopeless situation”.
“The idea that they might get a [court] order for the parties to get together and cooperate for the next nine years is hopeless,” he added.
It came after Kyle Sandilands took an early, savage swipe at ARN Media as he arrived at the Federal Court for the first hearing against his former employer.
The shock jock arrived in a black Rolls-Royce as he and former co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson have their first hearing in their cases against the broadcaster.
Speaking to SkyNews.com.au and other press outside the Sydney court, Sandilands described the hearing as a “procedural day” and there would “no fun today”.
When asked if he had spoken to Henderson, he said: “I don’t think we’ll see anyone except me today,” before later clarifying: “I haven’t spoken to Jackie, I haven’t spoken to her people.”
Sharing a brutal message to ARN, the shock jock ordered the broadcaster to “put me back on radio”.
“Let’s get the share price back up,” he quipped.
ARN’s share price is down 11.4 per cent since March 2, when the broadcaster suspended Sandilands and terminated Henderson’s contract, and the value of the company is down almost $12 million to $93.92 million.
Both Sandilands and Henderson are suing Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a subsidiary of ARN Media that runs KIIS FM, for unlawful termination, following an on-air bust-up that saw The Kyle and Jackie O Show come to an end.
ARN has filed a counter claim against the radio stars for lost revenue.
When asked about his former employer’s counter claim, Sandilands said: “Look there’s strategy and then there’s real, and there’s not real. I’m just happy to get into the court, get the truth out.
“Once we get inside and get all the answers out and the truth will raise its head.”
Looking forward to returning to the airwaves, Sandilands said: “I can work with anyone, it’s the media business – one day you hate someone, the next day they’re your best friend.”
The shock jock asserted he wasn’t “nervous” as he headed into court and branded the legal battle “pretty ugly”.
Sandilands and Henderson’s partnership came to an explosive end in February, following an on-air row, in which the shock jock accused his co-host of not being focused at work.
ARN released a statement announcing Henderson’s departure from the airwaves and Sandilands was suspended over “serious misconduct”.
In the weeks that followed, Henderson hit back at her former employer, denying she had quit radio while Sandilands repeatedly asserted he was ready to return to work.
When ARN terminated Sandilands’ contract, two weeks after their initial statement, the shock jock almost immediately launched legal action against the network.
He is seeking to have the remainder of his $100 million contract honoured.
Henderson subsequently launched separate legal action against ARN and is seeking at least $82 million in compensation, and payment of a pecuniary penalty, plus interest and costs.
She is alleging the termination of her contract was a breach of the Fair Work Act.
The lawsuit, filed in the Federal Court last month, alleges the termination of Henderson’s $100 million contract “constituted adverse action”.
ARN has filed a counter claim against the duo for lost revenue due to their abrupt departure from the network.