Today show ‘in secret talks to replace’ Karl Stefanovic’s co-host Sarah Abo with ‘prestige’ presenter Samantha Armytage in bid to win ratings war

The Today show could be set for a major shakeup in a bid to win the breakfast television wars. 

Nine is in ‘secret talks’ to replace Karl Stefanovic’s co-host Sarah Abo with A-list ‘prestige’ presenter, Samantha Armytage, according to a report. 

The casting shakeup is a ‘desperate bid to wrestle the TV breakfast crown from Seven’s rival Sunrise’ The Australian reported on Sunday. 

Armytage and Stefanovic are being slated as the ‘dream team’ that could see Today topple Sunrise’s domination in the morning show ratings. 

The network is banking on the ‘Armytage effect’ which saw Sunrise score a ratings victory when Armytage joined the program in 2013. 

Armytage left Sunrise in 2021 and has gone on to helm Farmer Wants A Wife and the upcoming Golden Bachelor. 

Nine CEO Matt Stanton did little to dispel the chatter regarding Abo’s future at Today, giving The Australian a coy response when asked if Armytage was stepping into the role alongside Stefanovic. 

‘I don’t know. I’m not into that level to be honest, I haven’t seen that level of detail,’ Stanton told the publication this week. 

Abo joined Today in 2023, replacing outgoing host Allison Langdon. 

Langdon had announced her departure in 2022. She then stepped into the hosting role at A Current Affair, replacing long-time presenter Tracy Grimshaw. 

Abo’s reported recent push for a bigger pay packet is part of the motivation for the switch up, The Australian claimed.    

Stefanovic has recently been offered a multi-million, multi-year deal by Nine – but the network is keeping an eye on the ratings under Stefanovic’s reign. 

The breakfast show host has reportedly landed himself a $3 million per year contract, according to The Australian in June.

Stefanovic’s Today co-host Abo makes only $800,000 a year, according to Mediaweek, highlighting a stark gender pay gap between the two.   

‘Nine sources tell us the network’s top brass have just finished passing a hat around at their Denison St headquarters in North Sydney and have managed to scrape together enough loose change to offer him a contract worth about $3 million a year,’ the paper’s Media Diary wrote of Stefanovic’s pay packet.

Sitting on a $2.8 million a year contract at the time, Stefanovic was rumoured to see a significant increase in his pay as he continued to front the successful breakfast show.

According to the publication, Nine is said to have given in to the TV presenter’s demands after he threatened to walk away if they low-balled on a new contract.

The news came as a shock considering rival breakfast hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington make a meagre $2 million between them.

The Australian’s inaugural TV Rich List report claimed in May that Stefanovic was being paid an eye-watering $2 million more than his co-host Abo.

The report collated the 35 highest salaries among TV stars on Australia’s three commercial networks – Channel Seven, Nine and Network 10.

It revealed that Stefanovic is the highest-paid small screen star Down Under, bringing home a formidable $2.8 million annually, making almost three times as much as Abo.

This is in stark contrast to his Today counterpart, who came in at tenth place with a salary of $800,000.

Meanwhile, Samantha Armytage has toppled Bachelor alum Osher Günsberg, as the new Golden Bachelor host has landed a huge payday.

Sam is set to star in the highly anticipated Bachelor spin-off while Osher, 51, served as the franchise’s Australian host from 2013 to 2023 until it was axed by Ten.

A source claims Sam has inked a ‘lucrative’ three-season deal with Nine that puts Osher’s old salary to shame, reported New Idea.

While the details of Sam’s deal were undisclosed, the publication claimed her pay packet far outweighs what Osher earned at Ten.

‘It’s the ultimate burn,’ a source claimed.

‘Osher was instrumental in keeping the franchise alive and now Samantha is not only the new face, but she’s being paid far more than Osher ever was.’

The source also claimed the pay disparity, and the ‘prestige’ associated with the high-profile hosting gig, had created awkwardness between Sam and Osher.

‘It’s about prestige. Osher helped build the show and now Samantha’s eclipsed him completely,’ they said.

The insider said things were ‘awkward’ but ‘cordial’ between them at Nine Upfronts in October: ‘There’s no denying Samantha has taken the crown and Osher knows it.’

With The Golden Bachelor set to air straight after The Block, Channel Nine is betting the dating series will be the next big thing on Aussie screens.

Those closest to the production insist Sam is simply doing what she does best.

‘It’s just good TV,’ a production insider told Daily Mail.

‘And she’s a pro. She knows exactly how to play the part.’

Daily Mail has reached out to Channel Nine for comment.