A telling clause in The Kyle and Jackie O Show's multimillion-dollar contract could end up working in their favour, following the shock fallout that has left the future of the duo hanging in the balance.
Appearing on Sunrise just hours after news broke that , entertainment reporter Peter Ford revealed why the radio presenters may have the upper hand in their fight against The Australian Radio Network (ARN).
Ford pointed to a crucial distinction in their working arrangement, explaining that Sandilands and his longtime co-host were not actually employees of ARN.
'Don't forget Kyle and Jackie O were not employees of the radio network, they were contractors, so the same obligations in terms of workplace behaviour didn't apply to them,' Ford said.
'Nor would the punishments for not delivering on that behaviour. They were contracted to deliver a radio performance, and that's very much what Kyle is indicating this morning.
'He's saying, "It's the same schtick we've been doing for 25 years or more", so bear that in mind as we go forward.'
A telling clause in The Kyle and Jackie O Show's multimillion-dollar contract could end up working in their favour, following the shock fallout that has left the future of the duo hanging in the balance
Appearing on Sunrise just hours after news broke that Sandilands' contract had been terminated, entertainment reporter Peter Ford (pictured) revealed why the radio presenters may have the upper hand in their fight against The Australian Radio Network (ARN)
The revelation could prove pivotal as tensions continue to escalate between the high-profile hosts and ARN, with the pair's contractual status potentially limiting the network's ability to enforce typical disciplinary measures.
Meanwhile, attention has already turned to Sandilands' next move - with Ford suggesting the shock jock may not return to traditional radio at all.
'He's a free agent effectively now, and he will want to work,' Ford said.
'He wants to have projects on the go, it's in his DNA. But I don't think another radio network is going to take him on. I think there's too much baggage involved now with Kyle.'
Instead, Ford predicted a bold new direction, tipping a subscription-based podcast as the most likely path forward.
'I think the most likely path for him will be a subscription podcast, where if you get enough people to sign up - and Kyle has got a very loyal fan base - if they were to sign up for $12 to $13 a month, you could actually end up making a lot of money, roughly the same money as he's currently been getting,' he explained.
'It would be a first for Australia if he can pull that off, but I think that's the most likely path for him.'
If realised, the move would mark a significant shift in the local media landscape - and could see Sandilands leverage his loyal audience in an entirely new way.
'Don't forget Kyle and Jackie O were not employees of the radio network, they were contractors, so the same obligations in terms of workplace behaviour didn't apply to them,' Ford said
It comes after ARN terminated Sandilands' KIIS FM contract in a bombshell move against the radio host following his on-air blow-up with Henderson.
In an explosive statement obtained by Daily Mail on Wednesday morning, the 54-year-old admitted he doesn't 'accept' the fate of his role at the network.
He also confirmed the matter will now be in the hands of his lawyers.
'ARN has just announced that they've terminated my contract,' he said.
'I don't accept it.'
Sandilands continued: '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!"'
Meanwhile, attention has already turned to Sandilands' next move - with Ford suggesting the shock jock may not return to traditional radio at all
Sandilands added that he had apologised to Henderson the night after their on-air clash last month.
'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,' he continued.
'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.
It comes after ARN terminated Sandilands' KIIS FM contract in a bombshell move against the radio host following his on-air blow-up with Henderson
