Nine executive: We have a plan for Today if Karl Stefanovic moves on
Stefanovic: Nine has contingency plan
Nine has prepared a contingency plan for the Today Show if host Karl Stefanovic leaves at the end of the year, the network has revealed.
News boss Darren Wick was asked about the issue at a press briefing on the network’s plans for 2016 after Stefanovic did not feature in the presentation.
Asked by Mumbrella whether Stefanovic would stay on the show, which involves a gruelling schedule of pre-dawn starts, Wick said the presenter was still in talks with CEO David Gyngell. Wick said: “Possibly and possibly not – that is one the things Karl and David are discussing at the moment.
“Whichever way it goes, we have plans in place.”
Declining to share what the plans were, Wick emphasised that he was confident the Gold Logie winner would stay with the network in some form, even if it wasn’t in the morning.
“Karl will be fine,” he said. “Karl… is talking directly to David Gyngell. They are both pretty relaxed and pretty confident of a deal, but it is a negotiation.”
Nine presentation to media included Stefanovic’s new panel discussion show The Verdict, but made no specific mention of the show’s host.
“Karl is a big part of the family. We love him, he loves us and like a family he is a character – he is certainly unique that is for sure,” said Wick.
“I’m pretty sure that Karl’s home is at Nine for a long long time.”
Gyngell: Speculation about his future
The other notable absence was Gyngell, who was attending a funeral, the network said.
Industry speculation is growing that Gyngell will give notice in the coming weeks, that he is departing the TV network.
Nic Christensen
Peter Stefanovic.
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Stefan Peternovic?
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This bloke really is a dick.
Live from Paris to Julie Bishop, “Lets stay with France Foreign Minister, I’ll get to Australia shortly, will Australia step up it’s military prescience in Syria?”
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