Channel 9 has responded to rumours that Karl Stefanovic’s contract could soon be on the chopping block. The legendary TV host has helmed the Today breakfast show for more than two decades but there was speculation that his time was running out.

The Australian reported the network is in the midst of a “not so secret” succession plan that could see a new lineup on the programme. But a spokesperson for Channel 9 told Yahoo Lifestyle the host was not going anywhere.

“We’re incredibly proud of our Today team and the work they’ve been doing in an already busy 2026 and delighted that, as announced at the Nine Upfronts back in October, Sarah [Abo] and Karl continue to lead the incredible Today team in what will be a big year full of headlines and events that affect the lives of our viewers,” they said.

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Stefanovic first joined the network in 1994 as a cadet reporter at WIN in Rockhampton and Cairns.

After a stint in New Zealand and at Channel 10, he came back to Channel 9 in 2000 as a reporter and back-up presenter for 9News in Brisbane.

Five years later, he replaced Today host Steve Liebmann and was in the main seat until 2018.

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During that tenure, he shared hosting duties with Tracy Grimshaw, Jessica Rowe, Lisa Wilkinson, and Georgie Gardner.

In 2019, Channel 9 tried an all-female lineup of Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner.

But the following year, Karl made his return alongside Allison Langdon, who stayed on the show until she was replaced by Sarah Abo in 2023.

The Australian’s report suggested those in the running to fill Karl’s big boots could be Tom Steinfort, Nine’s 6pm Brisbane bulletin host Joel Dry, or Sunrise presenter Matt Shirvington.

While Channel 9 is adamantly sticking by its current Today lineup, the newspaper suggested Karl might be keen to ditch his longtime professional home after launching his own podcast.

The Karl Stefanovic Show premiered at the tail end of January and he had Pauline Hanson on as his first guest, followed by UFC star Alexander Volkanovski.

Before the first episode dropped, he said having his own podcast would allow him to explore things that interest him.

“I have such a broad spectrum of things that I’m curious about,” he told news.com.au.

“I don’t know what it’s about, because I don’t know what I’m about, you know, on any particular day.”

Interestingly, one Channel 9 source told The Australian that it’s a confusing decision considering his current setup at Today.

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“The suggestion he’s ever been prevented from talking to people he’s curious about or been forced to spin his stories a certain way is just untrue,” they told the newspaper.

“It’s all gone down like a lead balloon here.

“Surely, we should be saying, ‘Hey, any chance you might want to tee up all these amazing interviews for the show that still pays you $2 million a year?'”

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