Five reasons why Lisa Wilkinson is ‘worth more’ than Karl Stefanovic

IF we absolutely must weigh up the “worth” of Karl versus Lisa, here are five reasons why Lisa is “worth” more, writes Wendy Tuohy.

Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson.

I WAS hoping it wouldn’t come to this, but now a senior Channel Nine executive has used the words Karl Stefanovic is “worth more” to the network than Lisa Wilkinson was, we have to go there.

In the wake of this tawdry tale of who gets paid what, everyone agrees the figures involved are ludicrous given what these people actually do. Breakfast shows are supported by what must be the biggest production support crews in TV, hosts’ work is not rocket science, and nor is it saving lives.

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The idea either of them is worth 12 to 20, or more, times the average wage is mad (though yes, getting up that early for a decade would suck).

Former Today host Lisa Wilkinson gets the show’s core audience better than Karl Stefanovic.

But the concept of what is a man’s “worth” versus that of a woman’s can’t just slip quietly by.

The prime argument given for Karl’s greater “value” was that due to Wilkinson having a contract with Huffington Post, Nine couldn’t use her on its own online platforms, which restricted its “access” to her.

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That bit is a rather weak excuse, for starters: when was the last time you saw an earth-shattering piece of writing by Karl Stefanovic?

He is a charming guy and once wore the same suit for a year to make the good point that he wouldn’t be judged for that while a woman would, but is he Shakespeare-in-waiting?

Evidence is yet to emerge ... Just sayin’.

Karl is a charming guy, but Lisa is worth more.

Another reason cited was that Karl also hosts This Time Next Year, which is a fair enough point; you should be remunerated for extra work but he was on nearly double Lisa’s salary well before that went to air in July this year. So that one is really a bit of a furphy.

Here are a few other reasons Lisa is, in fact, “worth” more.

* Lisa actually “gets” Today’s core audience: adult women.

Years as a magazine editor actually count when it comes to instinct for what women will engage with. Karl has demonstrated he has fairness for women at heart (the suit thing) but Lisa is undoubtedly more tuned in to that vital part of the breakfast TV audience.

* Lisa is seen as more grounded.

I’m not suggesting we start judging people for ending relationships and moving on, far from it, but the most recent batch of media stories around Karl have been widely interpreted as detracting from his influence, not bolstering it. If we must talk “worth” then surely image is part of the equation, Lisa’s is as a very solid and stable presence.

* Lisa, as the one who plays the perennial “straight guy” -- as so many women in commercial on-air partnerships with men are bound to — has more gravitas.

Women co-hosts to men are usually saddled with the job of regulating the silliness factor while the guys have fun, and the Lisa-Karl partnership is no exception. Lisa is not seen as a ‘loveable larrikin/big kid’.
*Lisa didn’t make ‘The Verdict’. Enough said.
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