Karl Stefanovic is having a big year, but what is going on behind the scenes at Nine can’t be ignored. The Today host’s pivot to become a right-wing podcast bro who slams mainstream media is causing friction at his mainstream media job at Channel 9. A fed-up Nine insider said Stefanovic’s off-air antics are getting people’s noses out of joint, telling news.com.au: “People at Nine are pissed.”
The Podcast Side Hustle
Stefanovic’s side hustle has seen him reinvent himself, going from the loveable larrikin on TV screens to a loud Aussie voice demanding the return of “the real Australia” on his independent podcast and social media channels. While Nine loosened its leash on its biggest star this year — Stefanovic was allowed to launch The Karl Stefanovic Show in exchange for a one-year contract rather than the multi-year, multimillion-dollar deals he’s had in the past — it perhaps didn’t anticipate the divisive direction he would take.
The podcast has amassed millions of downloads, but to make that kind of splash, Stefanovic has given the mic to controversial figures like Pete Evans and outspoken vaccine critic Gerard Rennick. Stefanovic isn’t just interviewing these guests; he’s also sharing his own, often surprising views. In one case, he said he was “legitimately sorry” for telling Aussies to take the Covid jab as part of Nine’s vaccination push during the pandemic. When he had Evans on, he claimed that the mainstream media tried to “kill” the celebrity chef, and then apologised if he played a role in it.
Mixed Reactions and Internal Tensions
It’s not been without feedback. For every fan cheering Stefanovic on, there are others who find the new version polarising. Underneath a recent Instagram post promoting the podcast, someone claimed he was a “grifter” spreading misinformation, and another mused that Stefanovic was now a “fruit loop” for interviewing Evans. Online Aussies are theorising that he is pivoting because he has finally “realised that mainstream media thing is dying,” while another accused him of not being “authentic.” There’s also plenty of jabs about a millionaire TV star now debuting an “Aussie battler” persona.
News.com.au understands that Stefanovic has not been formally spoken to about the content of his podcast, but Nine bosses are having serious conversations about it. Stefanovic is certainly not being quiet about the podcast and is reportedly happily chatting about it to the Today crew. One insider claimed this is classic Stefanovic: doing everything with a “smile” even though he knows he is pushing the envelope with the broadcaster.
Contract and Career Concerns
A point of contention is that many Nine workers believe Stefanovic’s new right-wing persona may be largely born from an ambition to stay relevant after he was offered a measly one-year contract that expires in December. One insider claimed that Stefanovic is merely a “good actor” who knows how to drum up a media frenzy to turn his podcast into a success. But some in the industry are now starting to believe he may have lost sight of where the line is.
Another insider said Stefanovic’s actions suggested he is “starting to believe there are no consequences for certain behaviours.” “It is one of life’s great mysteries why he hasn’t been rapped over the knuckles by executives at Nine,” they claimed. But just because Stefanovic hasn’t been formally warned does not mean Nine bosses are shrugging off his antics. One insider suggested Stefanovic had stopped being “sensible” about his career, and the source pointed out the incongruity of rallying against the mainstream media while still working on mainstream breakfast television.
Future at Nine
“Can you be a giant rebel when you’re still being paid X amount of money from a huge mainstream media company?” they asked. They added that if Stefanovic keeps platforming controversial characters and fails to ask them tough questions, he could end up shooting himself in the foot and “wedging” himself out of “pure journalism” roles like 60 Minutes. Nine is in uncharted waters managing Stefanovic’s extra-curricular productions alongside the reactions from other in-house talent. The network has never before been in a position quite like this, where it doesn’t have control over one of its biggest stars.
Stefanovic was allowed to launch his own independent podcast this year, after three years of pushing for it. The broadcaster only agreed to play ball during Stefanovic’s most recent contract negotiations, which saw the network star sign a one-year contract. The 12-month deal was signed in December with the understanding he wouldn’t be offered a similarly lucrative contract again – he is rumoured to be on well over $2 million. There’s a growing theory that once the one-year deal is up, Stefanovic will stay at Nine but not in a major role, and will focus on his podcast and upcoming Friday afternoon radio show with Eddie McGuire on ARN.
One insider backed this theory and said they figured that Stefanovic would be given a “diminished” salary to do less, not unlike, say, Tracy Grimshaw, who gave up her role hosting A Current Affair but remains part of the Nine family, contributing a handful of special reports and 60 Minutes stories a year. But news.com.au understands that in this media landscape and with Nine’s goal of cutting $100 million in costs by 2027, such retention agreements are no longer feasible. The broadcaster can only afford to pay big salaries for talent doing big roles.
