Karl Stefanovic salary negotiations : As Channel 9 executives gear up to cut his $3 million annual salary in half, Today show host Karl Stefanovic has taken off for a family getaway in Fiji.
Taking an early leave from Today, Karl is heading to Fiji to enjoy the Easter break with his wife Jasmine and their daughter Harper.
This mini vacation marks the Today host’s second getaway in just a month and comes ahead of what TV insiders are calling the most challenging contract negotiations of his career.
Channel 9 is reportedly under pressure to cut Karl Stefanovic’s salary from nearly $3 million annually to around $1.5 million.
According to an insider speaking to news.com.au, TV executives remain split on whether Stefanovic still holds his status as the network’s “golden asset.
Karl Stefanovic Takes Family Holiday in Fiji Amid Salary Negotiations with Nine
He’s no longer drawing strong audience numbers or landing major interviews. While he puts in the hours, many see him as a slick-talking salesman whose brand has grown tired—overshadowing what Today once stood for,” a TV insider revealed.
Karl Stefanovic is now set to face contract talks with Nine’s new CEO, Matt Stanton, replacing his former ally and negotiation partner, outgoing CEO Mike Sneesby—someone the Today host once referred to as a “mate.
Sneesby departed Nine in September amid the conclusion of the network’s long-delayed culture review—an initiative many critics argue was more performative than impactful, failing to address the deeper issues within the media company but providing a chance for a superficial “reset.
New CEO Matt Stanton is under pressure to implement meaningful reforms at Nine, with his attention reportedly directed more toward the network’s fragmented news division than underperforming shows like Today.
Today Show Host’s Getaway Comes Before Crucial Contract Talks and Potential Salary Cut
It’s believed Stanton is less inclined to cater to the network’s overpaid, high-profile talent.
Karl Stefanovic had initially planned to step away from his Today duties after Wednesday’s broadcast and board an early Thursday morning flight to Fiji with Nine’s longtime partner, Qantas—during the show’s usual airtime.
However, perhaps conscious of how such optics might be received—especially following a previous trip to Las Vegas earlier this year reportedly funded by Nine—those travel plans were revised.
Instead, Stefanovic flew separately from his wife Jasmine and their daughter Harper, who is set to turn five in two weeks. The two departed on Wednesday.
The family is believed to be holidaying at the luxurious Kokomo Island Resort, a destination they’ve visited in the past.
According to one travel website, a five-night stay at the resort currently starts at $18,900 per person.
This trip comes only two weeks after Stefanovic returned from a two-week pre-Easter break, which sources say he took on short notice to handle a “family crisis.
Stefanovic has three older children from his first marriage.
It was on Kokomo Island in January 2018 that Stefanovic, then with girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough, sought refuge, and where he is said to have proposed to her.
Soon after, in March of that year, they had a commitment ceremony at Palm Beach before tying the knot in Mexico in December. However, Kokomo was reportedly one of the top wedding venues they considered.
In December 2022, they returned to the exclusive island to mark their fourth wedding anniversary.
With challenging contract negotiations looming and personal matters weighing on his mind, it would be the perfect serene getaway to recharge and focus on his marriage.
Nine insiders anticipate that during his absence, the seat will likely be filled once again by James Bracey, the Sydney evening news sports presenter, who is quickly emerging as the potential successor.
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