Kyle Sandilands is considering buying the Australian Radio Network if it terminates his contract this week, it’s being reported.
According to The Daily Telegraph, sources close to the KIIS FM host has been having “talks with people” about the possibility of buying the company as the deadline for his suspension looms.
Multiple outlets have reported that Kyle is expecting he will be fired in the coming days after failing to “remedy” what ARN claims was a breach of his contract.
“It’s early days, but yes, there have been talks with people about this,” an insider told the Telegraph.
“The bottom line is the value of ARN is getting cheaper by the day the longer this goes on and he’s not on air. Market cap is about $100m.”
ARN placed the shock jock on a 14-day suspension earlier this month following an on air clash with his longtime co-host, Jackie “O” Henderson, which saw her walk off the show and claim she could no longer work with him.
The pair had been signed on a $200 million, 10-year contract – and were just a year into the deal.
It’s since been reported that the tension between the radio stars has eased and they are edging toward reconciliation.
“Jackie and Kyle are ‘good’ at the moment and they’ll be getting together again when the time’s right with all the legals,” an insider told the Telegraph.
It comes after sources told the publication last week that Kyle and Jackie O are “talking and want to do radio again” following their spectacular on-air clash and subsequent split.
In a stunning twist, Jackie set the record straight on her position as the media frenzy around her and Kyle’s split hit fever pitch recently.
“Over the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure from the show. I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign,” she said in a statement.
“I am deeply saddened by the events of the past week and the possibility of the show ending. This has come as a shock to me, as it has to everyone else,” she said.
Jackie also said that “the current media narrative” does not reflect what has occurred, and she is heartbroken.
“It has been truly heartbreaking to see how this has unfolded. At this stage, I am unable to say anything further, as I am addressing this through the appropriate legal channels,” she said.
Last week, Kyle also weighed in with a bombshell statement of his own, expressing his regret over the clash with Jackie while lashing out at his employer.
“On 20 February, I argued with Jackie on air about a longstanding issue. I wish I had phrased things differently,” he said.
“That same evening, I sent Jackie a message telling her I was sorry for anything I said that didn’t go down well, that I love her and care for her, and that I could have handled it better. I meant every word of that, and I still do.”
Kyle added that he and Jackie have worked together for over 25 years, and she remains one of the “most important people” in his life.
“The idea that our partnership could end like this is devastating to me,” the statement reads.
“ARN told me that I am not allowed to contact Jackie. They have told me that I am not allowed to speak to my colleagues.
“I did what was asked even though it made it impossible for me to do the one thing anyone in my position would want to do — pick up the phone and talk to the person I have been talking with continually for my entire career.”
Kyle also claimed ARN terminated Jackie’s contract on the same day he was told he had been suspended for 14 days.
“The truth is that ARN terminated Jackie’s contract on the same day it accused me of a breach. It suspended me from work,” he said.
“All of this happened while I was being told to sit quietly and say nothing. That is not a genuine process.”
The shock jock added that he was not going to pretend that everything in the “situation is simple”, but he also argued that he and Jackie have always worked out their differences.
“Jackie told me she was hurt, and I accept that. But we have had disagreements before, and we have always worked through them,” he said.
“That is what partners do. We never needed lawyers or ASX announcements to sort things out. I believe we could have sorted this out, too, if ARN had given us the chance. I have a contract with ARN that runs until 2034.
“I am committed to that contract. Despite what ARN says, I am not in breach of that contract. I want to be on air. I want to be with my audience. I want to do the job I have done my entire adult life.”
The now-infamous argument on February 20 had occurred during a discussion on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, which led to Kyle criticising his co-host’s work ethic.
“You’re off with the fairies, you are unfocused, you don’t give a sh** … everyone in this building has mentioned it to me,” Kyle told her after she raised the topic of horoscopes.
“It’s affecting other things. Your fixation on this has made you almost unworkable.”
The criticism left Jackie stunned, and she could clearly be heard fighting back tears as she responded: “I’m totally offended by you saying something like that … That’s so unfair”.
In light of the bust-up, ARN told the stock exchange that Jackie O’s contract had been “terminated”.
“ARN Media Limited [ASX: A1N] announces that Ms Jacqueline Henderson has given notice that she ‘cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands,’” the statement read.
“Accordingly, ARN has terminated the services agreement with Henderson Media Pty Ltd, under which Ms Henderson presents the Kyle and Jackie O show.
“Ms Henderson will cease to present the Kyle and Jackie O show. ARN has also offered to Ms Henderson the possibility of an alternative show on the ARN network.”