Kyle and Jackie O replacements to be paid 'realistic' salaries after ARN axed their $10million-a-year contracts: 'The economics have to work'

The new KIIS FM presenters set to replace The Kyle and Jackie O Show breakfast slot will receive more 'realistic' salaries than the $10 million a year that Sandilands and Henderson were paid.

It was confirmed this week that Dr Chris Brown, KIIS regular Amy Gerard and Nova's Jack Charles will be getting their own morning show, following the axing of Kyle and Jackie O in March.

ARN's director of metro radio content, Dave Cameron, was recently asked if the network would be matching the huge sum that Sandilands and Henderson were paid when they signed a ten-year contract in 2024 - and he confirmed they wouldn't.

'I wasn't a part of previous negotiations with previous shows, but it's been well acknowledged that the industry is playing a different financial game now,' he told Mumbrella.

'A more sensible game, and those conversations are not that hard to have, to be honest.'

Cameron added that ARN had decided to pay the new hosts a more 'realistic' salary, which is open to review upon seeing how well their show rates.

'Realistic is an excellent way of putting it. The economics have to work. You need to pay a good price for great talent, and with that comes expectations of making sure it's a viable commercial decision for the business as well,' he said. 

'It has to, one, attract an audience, but secondly, attract premium advertisers to make the equation work.

'It would be fair to say that ratings aren't everything. Commercial success is more important. And when the company's successful, everyone should enjoy those spoils.' 

It follows reports that Kyle Sandilands is unimpressed by the people hired to replace him on KIIS FM's Sydney breakfast slot. 

ARN's plans for the new program are too 'woke' and 'boring' for the former host. 

The shock jock slammed the announcement on his subscription-only Kyle Sandilands Live show on Tuesday, calling television vet Chris Brown 'vanilla'. 

'That, to me, equals boring as bats**t radio,' he said.  

'You used to have the biggest radio brand. Now, you would arguably say you're one of the worst,' he added, addressing ARN.

Sandilands was also unenthused by the show's updated, 'woke' branding. 

'Ugh, is that their new logo? That's an ugly, woke colour. It's the wokest purple,' he said. 

However, the radio host did have some kinder parting words for the incoming team. 

'Good luck to them, I hope they do their very best, because it's not an easy gig,' he said.

The rebooted team begins broadcasting on KIIS FM on Monday, November 9. 

Listeners can expect the station's trademark mixture of talkback, cheeky banter, topical discussions and popular music.