Nine savaged over Today show ‘disaster’ as TV insiders issue dire warning about the future of the breakfast program following Karl Stefanovic’s exit

Channel Nine has been criticised over how it handled Karl Stefanovic’s exit from the Today show last week following his controversial interview with far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

Insiders have warned that Nine’s ‘atrocious’ handling of the matter – in which Karl’s replacement has still not been announced – has given a huge advantage to one of Today’s major competitors, Channel Seven’s Sunrise.

One veteran television insider said it was staggering that Nine had still failed to identify a credible successor. 

‘Today’s biggest problem is they’ve had years to come up with a succession plan and simply haven’t done it,’ an industry insider told The Sunday Telegraph.

They added that another serious issue is that Nine’s list of potential replacements lacked the ‘It Factor’ to attract viewers. 

‘The current crop of contenders to replace Karl are too similar, they’re “of a type”; no one in the Nine stable is an enticing prospect for viewers,’ they said.

‘Look at what Sunrise has done – when Mel [Doyle] left, Sam [Armytage] was ready. When Sam left, Nat [Barr] took over seamlessly. When Kochie departed, Matt Shirvington was prepped, ready to take the throne.’ 

The insider added the Today show’s turmoil could only strengthen Seven’s grip on the ratings battle. 

‘Sunrise is enjoying its best viewer numbers in years. They’re on the up,’ they said.

‘The Today dramas are an own-goal that would simply be the icing on the cake and make them an even more trustworthy prospect with viewers.’

Meanwhile, another unnamed senior Australian television personality took a dig at Nine’s executives, claiming they had mismanaged both Stefanovic’s podcast side hustle and the breakdown of his long-running relationship with the network. 

‘Nine has handled it atrociously, as they handle everything atrociously. We are at a point where viewers know more than the executives,’ they claimed.

‘I have never met a group of executives who are so happy to come second, so happy to lose. The show is burning to the ground.’

They also argued Nine had failed to safeguard one of its most valuable assets. 

‘The executives will stick someone like Jayne Azzopardi or David Campbell into the mix thinking “this will get us through”… Sunrise will laugh all the way to the bank,’ they said. 

Meanwhile, Stefanovic, 51, may be freer than he anticipated, with new reports indicating he may not find a home at rival networks.

Both Channel Ten and Seven have privately ruled out the possibility of hiring Stefanovic, The Australian reported on Sunday. 

‘Stefanovic is unlikely to front a show on Australian commercial television again,’ the publication alleged. 

There is some good news, however, with reports suggesting Stefanovic has avoided a court battle with his former employer. 

Stefanovic and Nine are believed to have agreed to an undisclosed six-figure settlement as part of his termination package.

The TV star, who has been a Nine stalwart for some 25 years, had six months and over $1 million left to be paid on his 12-month contract.

Stefanovic abruptly resigned from the network last week after his interview with far-right figure Tommy Robinson, which he uploaded to his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, to YouTube on Tuesday, only to delete it hours later after facing backlash.

The television star, who was on two weeks’ leave in London, was told the network ‘wanted to part ways’ soon after. 

In a statement to The Daily Mail, Channel Nine said that Stefanovic could not continue working at the network while also hosting his podcast.