Nine is preparing for life after Karl Stefanovic on Today, with internal succession scenarios already being “war-gamed”, according to Steve Jackson’s Media Diary in The Australian.
Apparently, the talks are happening “at the highest levels” inside Nine, as Stefanovic and co-host Sarah Abo head into what is framed as their final ratings campaign together.
One senior network figure claims Nine believes the network may need to “blow up” Today’s existing format and start again if it wants to mount a sustained challenge to Seven’s Sunrise.
Who could replace Stefanovic?
Rumours are circulating internally and externally about potential successors, including:
• Tom Steinfort, a Melbourne-based Nine News anchor
• Joel Dry, recently installed as the 6pm bulletin presenter in Brisbane
• Matt Shirvington, the current Sunrise presenter, is a potential “poaching” target
According to the report, Shirvington is being viewed as a possible fit alongside Samantha Armytage, should Nine pursue a major reset of its breakfast strategy.
Samantha Armytage
Ratings history and a one-year deal
Stefanovic has fronted Today for more than two decades. The program has consistently ranked second during much of that period, despite a succession of high-profile co-hosts.
There has been a long list of presenters who have shared the desk with Stefanovic, including Jessica Rowe, Lisa Wilkinson, Allison Langdon, and Abo.
Stefanovic and Abo were renewed on 12-month contracts amid ongoing speculation about their futures.
Armytage rumours and a podcast sidestep
Nine had previously considered replacing Abo with Armytage, following her move from Farmer Wants A Wife to Nine’s The Golden Bachelor.
That plan was ultimately abandoned after Stefanovic pushed for another attempt at the title with Abo.
Speculation has intensified after Stefanovic launched The Karl Stefanovic Show podcast independently this month, which he framed as competing for attention with his own breakfast program.
Karl Stefanovic Show launch
The first episode, featuring Pauline Hanson, drew 214,000 YouTube views last week. A second episode with Alexander Volkanovski recorded only 14,000 views.
Nine has tried this before
Nine’s previous attempt to move on from Stefanovic was in 2019, when the network replaced him with an all-female line-up led by Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight.
That experiment was later reversed, with Stefanovic reinstated within a year.
Mediaweek has reached out to Nine for comment.