Nine Network seeks replacement for Karl Stefanovic as Today show host
Consensus Summary
The Nine Network faces its biggest decision in decades after Karl Stefanovic’s 20-year tenure as Today show host. With Today trailing Sunrise by nearly 170,000 viewers nationally (292,000 vs. 459,000 on Tuesday), Nine must replace Stefanovic while also covering a co-host’s maternity leave. Internal candidates like Tom Steinfort (Melbourne news presenter) and Joel Dry (Brisbane news co-host) are frontrunners, but their success in primetime news could make poaching them risky. Other options include David Campbell (Today Extra host), James Bracey (sports presenter), or external hires like David Woiwod (Seven’s Weekend Sunrise co-host). The network’s reliance on star power and lack of succession planning has left it scrambling, with no clear successor yet named. Both articles, published by SMH and THEAGE on June 25, 2026, are identical in content, offering speculative candidate assessments but no confirmed decisions.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Karl Stefanovic has hosted Nine's Today show for 20 years
- Today's Tuesday national ratings were 292,000 viewers, while Sunrise had 459,000
- Tom Steinfort has been a reporter on 60 Minutes and Nine’s news correspondent in the US and Europe
- Joel Dry co-hosts Nine’s Brisbane weeknight news bulletin with Melissa Downes
- David Campbell has hosted Today Extra (formerly Mornings) since 2011
- James Bracey is Nine News Sydney’s sports presenter and anchors NRL coverage
- Michael Atkinson is a former rugby coach and current Stan sports journalist with Nine News background
- David Woiwod was Seven News’ US correspondent and co-hosts Weekend Sunrise with Monique Wright
- Karl Stefanovic previously stepped off Today in 2019, returning shortly after
- Nine’s evening news bulletin in Melbourne is now often No.1 in metro capitals, closing the gap on Seven
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Louise Rugendyke and Karl Quinn co-wrote the article
- Todd Woodbridge was mentioned as a wildcard candidate for Today
- Tony Armstrong (ABC) was suggested as a potential hire to distance Nine from Stefanovic’s political views
- Tom Stefanovic (Karl’s brother) works in his wife’s family’s Mandole Orchard business
- Peter Stefanovic hosts Sky’s morning news program First Edition
- Karl Stefanovic’s salary is $2 million-plus
- No additional unique details beyond SMH; identical content
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Both sources are identical; no contradictions exist between SMH and THEAGE
Source Articles
Who will replace Karl Stefanovic at Nine? We have a few suggestions
With the Today host removed after 20 years in the chair, the network bosses are faced with the biggest decision of all.
Who will replace Karl Stefanovic at Nine? We have a few suggestions
With the Today host removed after 20 years in the chair, the network bosses are faced with the biggest decision of all.