Kyle Sandilands made his grand return with his new subscriber-only morning show, Kyle Sandilands Live. However, the first week was plagued with technical difficulties, and his Friday show was pulled halfway through the broadcast.
Kyle’s new show (KS Live) was launched on Monday, August 10, broadcasting live Monday to Friday, 6am–10am through his own platform/app.
Kyle describes it as radio delivered differently rather than a podcast, and there will be no censorship, allowing him to operate without the restrictions that came with commercial radio.
A subscription to the show costs $99 a year. Before launch, his team said it had already secured tens of thousands of pre-paid subscribers, with RadioInfo reporting close to $2 million in upfront subscription revenue.
The launch has included politicians, celebrity guests, gossip, outrageous stunts, and the deliberately provocative material that has always been part of Kyle’s appeal. NSW Premier Chris Minns appeared, and Pauline Hanson has also featured.
The first week was plagued by technical problems — audio issues, frozen screens, missed cues, and problems with the stream. Kyle’s team had reportedly only had about 60 days to build the whole operation, and Kyle admitted he deliberately didn’t do a full rehearsal before launch.
And today, Friday, August 14, the episode was reportedly pulled after about two hours because of technical problems. The team issued an apology with promises it would be back Monday morning.
How did we get here?
In March 2026, Kyle Sandilands, the former co-host of the now-cancelled Kyle and Jackie O Show and judge on Australian Idol, was terminated by ARN.
In its initial announcement to the market about the cancellation of the Kyle and Jackie O show, ARN stated that Kyle had 14 days to “remedy” his “act of serious misconduct”. This was alluding to an on-air disagreement with Jackie “O” Henderson. On 20 February, during their breakfast show, Kyle said that Jackie was unprofessional. Furthermore, he added that it had been an issue for months. Specifically, he cited her “fixation” with astrology and star signs as “almost unworkable”. He went on to say he’s been “tiptoeing” around the issue for weeks.
That deadline was 17 March 2026. The following morning, ARN released a statement to the ASX that it had issued a termination notice to Kyle and his Quasar Media. However, Kyle does not accept the termination. He released a statement, following ARN’s saying that it’s now “over to my lawyers.”
“I’ve got a contract until 2034. I’ve got rights under that contract. And ARN hasn’t honoured the contract.”
Furthermore, he wrote that he attempted to remedy the situation, “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.”
Kyle and Jackie Henderson signed a historic ten-year contract with ARN in November 2023, worth $100 million each.
Kyle Sandilands challenges ARN
Following ARN’s notice on 3 March about the cancellation of the radio show, Kyle’s co-host, Jackie Henderson, also said that she was “blindsided” by the decision and was looking at working “through the appropriate legal channels.”
However, reports stated that Kyle is settling with ARN before a trial can be set.
“Sandilands has started work on his next act,” The Sydney Morning Herald writes. “CBD hears the former radio shock jock’s next venture is shaping up as a subscription-based live online show – audio and video – with the working title Kyle Sandilands Live.“
The settlement was announced on June 17, 2026, bringing an end to his Federal Court case over the termination of his $100 million radio contract.
As part of that settlement, ARN will pay Kyle $12.09 million: $3 million in July 2026, with the remainder paid monthly through June 2029. ARN will also provide $1.5 million worth of advertising across its platforms to support his new independent media venture (including his new show Kyle Sandilands Live). Furthermore, ARN will take a 19.9 per cent stake in his new show, meaning the settlement isn’t simply a payout — there’s a continuing commercial relationship between the two sides.
Kyle Sandilands full statement
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.
Source: Mumbrella
ARN hosts The Australian Women’s Weekly Love Stories podcast.
