With Kyle Sandilands‘ major legal battle against his former employer, the Australian Radio Network, moving to the Federal Court, it appears he’s gaining support from Channel Seven.
Sandilands is currently a judge on Australian Idol, a position he has held for eight seasons.
Despite the recent issues with ARN, sources at Seven suggest his recent performance could pave the way for a more significant role with the network in the future.
The popular but often controversial radio host, age 53, has been surprisingly well-behaved while filming this season of Idol. Producers have noticed a change, saying he’s been more thoughtful and restrained than usual.
‘He’s been fantastic,’ a well-placed source told Daily Mail.
‘Kyle is showing up, doing the work and really leaning into the show.’
People close to the company say Seven’s leadership team is very pleased with his performance this season, particularly because he’s staying true to himself and not attempting drastic changes.
He is just refining the version of Sandilands that works for mainstream audiences.
‘He’s not phoning it in and he’s not pretending to be something he’s not,’ the source added.
‘He’s still Kyle, just the version that Seven really likes.’
Rumors are circulating that this success could lead to more seasons of the show, and even other projects with the network.
According to another source, he’s working hard to prove his worth, and the network has taken notice of his efforts.
It’s not only leaders at Seven West Media calling the shots anymore. Southern Cross Austereo – where Kyle Sandilands used to work – now owns the network as well.
In January, Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) finalized its purchase of Seven West Media, forming a major media company estimated to be worth $2 billion.
This news is especially noteworthy because Kyle Sandilands used to work for SCA, the company he and Jackie O Henderson previously worked for when they were hugely popular on 2Day FM under the Austereo name.
Sandilands and Henderson made a highly publicized move to ARN in 2013, leaving their previous network in a deal that set new records, though their departure wasn’t entirely smooth.
At the time, Kyle made it clear he felt undervalued by his former bosses.
After the separation, he told the Sunday Telegraph that he felt they were no longer welcome and hadn’t received the recognition they deserved.
He also hinted that respect, not just money, played a major role in the decision.
‘It wasn’t just about the deal. It was about respect,’ Kyle added.
Now, more than a decade later, the media landscape has dramatically shifted and so too has Kyle.
‘Never say never with Kyle,’ another source said.
‘The industry’s changed, the players have changed, and he’s in a very different headspace now.’
For Seven, however, the immediate focus remains on capitalising on Kyle’s renewed momentum.
Now that Australian Idol is gaining popularity, those in charge are actively discussing ways to retain its star talent.
‘He’s proving he can play the game,’ the source added.
‘And that’s exactly what networks want.’
In 2005, Sandilands became a judge on Australian Idol, taking over from Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson when the show aired on Channel Ten.
He continued in the position until 2009, when Channel Ten fired him right before the show was set to begin airing.
The network previously stated that the content of The Kyle & Jackie O Show didn’t align with what viewers of Australian Idol expected.
Sandilands returned to Australian Idol in 2023 when the show was brought back after being off the air for 14 years, and he’s been a judge on the show ever since.
On Friday, Kyle Sandilands filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming that Australian Radio Network intentionally interfered with his $100 million contract.
He argued that his fight with Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, which resulted in both his firing and the show’s cancellation, wasn’t serious enough to warrant dismissal, because his employer had previously allowed similar behavior.
After 25 years working together on the air, the duo’s partnership ended abruptly on February 20th when Sandilands publicly criticized Henderson for being overly focused on astrology.
After recently ending her $100 million contract, ARN is reportedly trying to re-hire Henderson under a new, more affordable arrangement.
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2026-04-03 12:04