Kyle Sandilands admits he’s ‘concerned’ about moving into the Melbourne market… before hitting back at radio rivals after they downplayed his success and earnings following $200m deal

Kyle Sandilands has responded to criticism from some of his radio rivals following his historic $200 million deal with KIIS FM.

On Fridays The Kyle and Jackie O Showthe 52-year-old admitted that as co-host of Jackie ‘O’ Henderson he was ‘concerned’ about the duo’s controversial move into the Melbourne radio market.

“I’m a little concerned,” he told Henderson about reports that they would not succeed in the south.

However, with typical bluster, the shock jock quickly went on the offensive, taking aim at radio rivals who called him out on the historic deal and questioned the amount he would reportedly have to pay.

Sandilands fired back at 3AW’s Neil Mitchell and 2GB’s Ben Fordham, who both downplayed the shock jock’s success.

Last week, Fordham called the stories about Kyle’s earnings “farcical,” while Mitchell said he was “not as successful as he claims.”

In response to the criticism, Sandilands snapped: “I’m not sure what that means.”

He continued: “Even Ben Fordham couldn’t believe how much money I make. A lot of people think it’s rude to talk about this, and I understand that it’s a remarkable amount.’

Referring to himself and co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, Sandilands explained how their business model is very different from Fordham’s.

‘Our companies rent us to the radio network. “I’m not like Ben, where I applied for a job with a CV and turned up with his tie and hoped to impress the bosses at Channel Nine,” he said.

‘Now that’s how this s**t works for us… Our way of dealing with it is, ‘You pay this and you can have the show for so long.’

“There’s no begging and licking,” he added, before jokingly asking Jackie if she had done anything to get their show picked up.

Last week, Ben Fordham (pictured) called the stories about Kyle’s earnings “farcal” and accused him of spreading “false information” about his own wealth

“He’s not as successful as he claims, but he is successful, and you’ll definitely know he’s in town,” 3AW’s Neil Mitchell (pictured) said of Sandilands

In an interview last week, published just days before Kyle and Jackie’s $200 million KIIS FM deal was confirmed, Fordham blasted the pair’s earnings.

“I’m throwing Kyle and Jackie O under the bus – the stories about how much Kyle and Jackie O make are absolutely ridiculous,” he told the Daily telegram.

‘They’re just made up. “Kyle is just making it up, he’s spreading all this false information about making squillions… he’s making a lot of money, just like Jackie O… but it’s nonsense, completely nonsense.”

3AW’s Neil Mitchell then took a swipe at Sandilands on his popular breakfast show in Melbourne this week.

‘Even Ben Fordham couldn’t believe how much money I make. A lot of people think it’s rude to talk about this, and I understand that it’s a remarkable amount,” Kyle responded on Friday.

“I’m not like Ben, where I applied for a job with a CV and turned up with his tie and hoped to impress the bosses at Channel Nine,” he said.

The veteran radio star, 72, said on his popular 3AW program Mornings with Neil Mitchell on Thursday that he has no intention of ever listening to The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

“He loves it, he understands it, he exploits it, he knows his audience and he’s an effective broadcaster, but I wouldn’t just listen to him,” Mitchell said.

“He’s not as successful as he claims, but he’s successful, and you’ll know for sure he’s in town.”

Mitchell said he doesn’t believe Sandilands will be able to beat rival Ross Stevenson, a big star of Melbourne radio.

Kyle and Jackie O signed the record-breaking ten-year deal worth $200 million on Wednesday morning, keeping them on the air until 2034.

‘Radio is about competition. “I think Ross Stevenson will pull it all off,” he said.

“He’s a quiet genius in his own way and I think the industry underestimates him, but the public doesn’t.”

“Kyle will try to steal the audience everywhere, including Ross. Ultimately, I know Ross Stevenson will deal with him.’

Mitchell ended by saying that Kyle should never be “underestimated,” adding that he is a “very smart” man.

Kyle and Jackie O signed the record-breaking ten-year deal worth $200 million on Wednesday morning, keeping them on the air until 2034.

This means the pair will dominate markets outside their Sydney-based audience and expand into Melbourne for the first time.