Seven tipped to target Today host Sarah Abo as Nine rebuilds after Karl Stefanovic’s departure
Sarah Abo is emerging as the next major player in breakfast television’s growing talent war.
Channel Seven is reportedly preparing a bold move for the Today co-host just days after Karl Stefanovic’s dramatic departure plunged Nine into crisis.
The former Today host, 51, suddenly resigned from the network this week after his controversial interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
As Nine scrambles to rebuild its flagship breakfast show following Stefanovic’s exit, rival executives are already eyeing one of the network’s biggest remaining stars.
Seven is preparing to make a play for Abo when her contract expires later this year, according to The Daily Telegraph, with senior figures keen to lure the respected journalist back to Melbourne in a move that could deal another significant blow to Nine.
The timing could hardly be worse for the network.
After losing the face of Today following more than two decades on air, Nine is now facing speculation over the future of another of its marquee presenters as executives work behind the scenes to reshape the struggling breakfast franchise.
Abo, who has co-hosted Today since January 2023, is currently on maternity leave after announcing she is expecting her first child with husband Cyrus Moran.
Seven sees Sarah as a potential long-term successor within its Melbourne newsroom, where veteran newsreader Peter Mitchell has already begun scaling back his workload.
‘They’d love to have Sarah, and by all accounts she’s free at the end of the year,’ an industry source told the publication.
The insider added that Seven executives believe Abo’s credibility and polished presenting style make her an ideal addition to the network’s news line-up.
The reported interest comes only days after viewers watched an emotional Abo struggle to hold back tears while announcing Stefanovic’s departure from Today.
Whether Seven can match Abo’s reported salary, believed to be about $800,000 annually, remains unclear after the broadcaster underwent significant cost-cutting across its news division earlier this year.
Still, with Sunrise continuing to comfortably outperform Today in the breakfast ratings and Nine entering a new era without Stefanovic, the battle for one of Australian television’s most respected presenters appears to be just beginning.
Stefanovic declared, ‘I am free,’ in a video to fans after it was announced live on air that he has left the Today show and Channel Nine following the fallout from his controversial interview with Robinson.
His Today co-host Sarah Abo broke down in tears as she announced the news on Friday morning after mounting speculation about his future at the network.
‘Look, we know there has been a lot of speculation about Karl’s future with the show. Today we wanted to inform you that Karl will not be returning to the Today show or to Nine,’ she said.
Fill-in host Tom Steinfort said it was ‘no longer possible’ for Stefanovic to work on both the breakfast show and his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show.
‘As you know, he’s been pursuing a podcast project independently of Nine for the past few months, and it’s been decided he’ll be injecting all of his energy and attention into that, as doing both is no longer possible,’ he said.
In a statement to The Daily Mail, Channel Nine said that they agreed with Stefanovic that he should leave the show ‘immediately’.
‘Nine Entertainment and Karl Stefanovic have agreed that it is no longer possible for him to continue hosting Today at the same time as his independent podcast,’ they said.
‘While Karl and Nine had previously agreed he would leave Today at the end of this year, they have subsequently decided he will leave the Network immediately.’
Shortly after the announcement, Stefanovic addressed his Today show fans in a video, believed to be filmed in a park in London, saying the last few days ‘hadn’t been easy’ but he was happy to be ‘truly independent’ at last.
He sent a message to his co-host Abo, asking her to take care of the Today show team.
‘Hey guys, some week, huh? So, I am free. Truly independent. I didn’t get the chance to thank my free to air audience for 21 great years, so thank you for riding the ups and downs. You have my thanks and have all of my love,’ he said.
‘To my colleagues, I’ll ring you privately, but Sares look after everyone for me. I know they’ll miss me desperately, especially Halos and Isaac and Abby and Timmy.
‘But everyone there, I look forward to seeing you soon.’
Stefanovic went on to thank the viewers of his independent podcast and stressed the importance of ‘freedom of speech’.
‘To my audience on this show, thank you for your messages over the last couple of days. It has really meant everything to me,’ he continued.
‘It wasn’t easy these last couple of days, but we roll on. So, here’s what I believe in. The public deserve to hear perspectives. This country was built by, you know, hardworking Aussies from all around the world, and they were bound by the same values, but very different experiences.’
‘So on my show, I’ve spoken to people who have different perspectives. I know that winds some people up. Sometimes I agree with everything a guest says, sometimes I don’t. But importantly, you get to make up your mind. You have the right to hear from different voices,’ he continued.
‘Freedom of speech here and around the world is what this show is about. You don’t have to listen to my show. You have the power. You are smart enough to make up your own mind.
‘I want to thank our sponsors who stood by us, who believe in the freedom of speech that we’re talking about, who are proud to stand by us, to stand by you. I hope other proud sponsors join the show shortly. We’re looking for them. Well, we keep going. Thanks, legends.
‘Honestly, I don’t know what I’m going to do. Um, but I’ll figure it out.’
Stefanovic was set to resign from Nine following late-night talks on Wednesday with the network over his interview with Robinson.
He uploaded a controversial chat with the British far-right activist to his YouTube channel podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show, on Tuesday, only to delete it hours later after facing widespread backlash.
Stefanovic, who is on two weeks’ leave in London, was told the network ‘wanted to part ways’.
The TV star, who has been a Nine stalwart for some 25 years, has six months and over $1million left to be paid on his 12-month contract.
According to sources via News.com.au, he is pushing for a full payout of the remainder of his contract – similar to the lucrative exits secured by former Nine radio heavyweights Alan Jones and Ray Hadley – despite their vastly different departure circumstances.