Karl Stefanovic 'Steps Off' 'Today' show

Karl Stefanovic ‘steps off’ the 'Today' program, in breaking media news.

According to this 'The Age' article, Karl has “stepped off” as co-host of Nine's Today breakfast show.

In the article, it states:

On Wednesday, network bosses phoned the Gold Logie winner in Aspen - where he is honeymooning with his new wife - to finalise his departure.

It comes one day after his brother Peter, co-host of Weekend Today, learned his contract had not been renewed.

While Peter has left Nine, Karl will continue as host of reality show This Time Next Year, which resumes filming in February. He is believed to have at least one year left on his multimillion dollar contract, but his long-term future with the network is uncertain.

It continues:

Today’s entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins and newsreader Sylvia Jeffreys, who is married to Peter, will remain with Nine - but their on-air roles may change.

Sources claim the network could no longer tolerate Today’s declining ratings - which were not helped by a stream of negative media reports about its biggest star.

“Nine looked at the coverage of Karl’s wedding in horror,” says one person. “It was the final straw; they knew it was damaging their brand and pissing off their viewers.”

In 2016, Stefanovic split with Cassandra Thorburn, his wife of 21 years and mother of their three children. On Saturday, in a lavish ceremony in Mexico, he married fashion designer and model Jasmine Yarbrough.

“Yachts and big overseas weddings don’t translate to Today’s audience,” a source says. “You have to remember it’s aimed at white-bread suburban Australia.”

The article adds:

Nine’s Adelaide newsreader Brenton Ragless, currently hosting Today’s summer edition, is tipped to join Georgie Gardner as permanent co-anchor. The network has not confirmed this, nor has it announced Peter’s replacement on Weekend Today.

“Nine and Karl Stefanovic have agreed it is time for him to step off the Today Show,” said the network’s news chief, Darren Wick.

“Karl remains on contract with the network and will continue to host This Time Next Year, which records in February.”

TV ratings stats show that during this year’s official ratings period, 'Today' averaged 351,000 viewers nationally - well behind the 453,000 watching 'Sunrise' on Seven.

The 'Today' show's executive producer Mark Calvert resigned from the network earlier this month. He has been replaced by former 'A Current Affair' boss Steven Burling, who will now oversee Nine’s entire morning schedule.

The article adds:

Sources claim Karl’s reputation has been tarnished by a series of missteps over the past two years.

“He used to be seen as as a ‘larrikin’,” says one person. “But now some viewers see him as arrogant.”

To add to the woes, the article also continues:

Reports of tension between Karl and Gardner have plagued the show for more than a year.

This came to a head in May with the so-called “Ubergate” scandal. According to New Idea, a driver overheard a phone call in which Peter claimed he “hated” his job, while Karl accused Gardner of being too cautious and “sitting on the fence”.

Sources say Nine’s management was also dismayed by paparazzi photos of Karl and Yarbrough frolicking on James Packer’s “super yacht”. Nor were they amused by the couple selling their wedding photos to Who magazine, which is part of a publishing stable owned by Nine’s biggest rival, Seven West Media.

Read the rest of the article HERE.