News Corp doubles down on Carrie Bickmore story, says Nine did approach her for Today Show gig
News Corp is doubling down on its reports that Ten’s Carrie Bickmore was approached by rival Nine to join its breakfast program Today alongside a revived Karl Stefanovic.
Nine categorically denied the allegations, calling the story a lie and saying that the reporter, Amy Harris, was told prior to print that it wasn’t factual.
News Corp, however, has denied the facts of the story were incorrect.
A News Corp Australia spokesperson said it’s easy for talent to deny being approached, but that the story is correct.
“As many people in the media know, approaches to talent are often made in ways that can be plausibly denied,” said the spokesperson.
“The Sunday Telegraph stands by its report that an approach to Carrie Bickmore was made.”
Nine’s director of news and current affairs, Darren Wick, released a statement on the weekend denying the story, saying Nine has no plans to approach Bickmore.
“Nine has not approached, and does not intend to approach, Carrie Bickmore or her representatives about joining Nine as a host of the Today Show, nor in any other role.”
The original report in the Tele suggested that the offer made to Bickmore was around $1.5m per annum – a salary which would make her one of Australia’s highest-paid TV stars. Her new role would see Deb Knight and Georgie Gardner ousted from the Today program and replaced with Bickmore and Stefanovic, who was pushed out in December after hosting the show for 14 years.
Stefanovic’s departure followed that of Lisa Wilkinson who left amid pay discussions to join rival network, Ten. She now hosts The Sunday Project, with the Telegraph claiming she would step into Bickmore’s weeknight shoes should the host leave.
Bickmore has been with The Project since it commenced 10 years ago. Her contract is reported to be up at the end of 2019.
Cant wait to see Karl back on tv again at leat we can watch people we enjoy not this lot who are so far out of touch its not funny stop talking about it and do it if you want people watching your station again
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You need to get Karl back on the Today show to keep viewers interested. Big mistake getting rid of him in the first place.
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Big mistake getting Georgie Gardner back on the Today show. Thank heavens Deb Knight has a vibrant personality!! Karl and Deb would have been a great team together. I now prefer Sunrise until someone with some “get up and go in them” joins Deb.
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Great to see Karl again on This time next year, great show ? Love the look
On the audience faces when he warmly greets and embraces his guests on stage. Great work channel 9 ? Even greater if he’s back hosting the breakfast show in 2020.
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It’s all gone b2c!!!???
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Mumbrella, why don’t you just ask Carrie Bickmore if she’s been approached? She hsn’t been quoted once in the two stories you’ve published about this
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Today show sucks now. We need some humour in the morning to stand out from Sunrise, its almost as boring as ABC, and Deb Georgie and Tom’s humour is pure shite
Bring back Karlos
Regards,
Brekky TV fan
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Who cares?!?!
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Who cares. I came on here to watch find real but happy news!!
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Who cares. I came on here to watch find real but happy news!! Oh so you don’t want anyone to reply? Someone using my name? I have sleep to do
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I cant believe Nine have stayed with the current hosts of Today. They are boring and I’ve seen one of the other on a couple of occasions staring blankly at the camera . They might both be good journalists but you need alot more than being a good journalists to host a TV show. Why on earth dont Nine use Sonia Kruger to host Today . She is a gifted host and she is fun. Team her with Karl and Nine will have a chance against 7. Nine management drop your egos and admit to an appalling mistake which must be costing your company a fortune .
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Personally ,I cant wait to see the l ast of Karl Stefonovic.. He has absolutely NO personality at all.
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I agree with most of the comments the today show is totally boring. I used to love watching with Karl and Lisa in the morning I hardly ever turn on the TV In the morning now. Please bring Karl back and make the mornings worth watching again.
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So glad to see Karl gone, why on earth would you want him back. I for one will not be watching the TODAY show if he returns.
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I think,the today show is great, they all do a great job, stop saying things about those people, they bring you up to date with everything, weather ,sports and of course all news subjects..
Thank you.
Alan Henderson.
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There are plenty of fresh talents around that have great TV presentation. Why keep pondering with the old same old, same old, presenters, when viewers would like to see some fresh faces, that cost the networks less than the so called 1.3 million type contracts. Times are changing, viewers want more than what networks are giving at present? If they want to make a profit and get people to view, try something new and change the programming as well?
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