Bookies make major prediction on Karl Stefanovic’s future as Today show co-host

He’s denied the rumours for weeks now – but there’s a fresh, telling sign that Karl Stefanovic might be set to leave Today within months.

Karl Stefanovic recently smacked down rumours he was planning to leave Today – but there are growing signs he will step down as the show’s co-host this year after all.

Sportsbet has opened markets on the future of both Today and Stefanovic, who currently shares the hot seat with Ally Langdon.

ABC News Breakfast recently humiliated Today by smashing the program’s rating for the first time in 13 years – but according to Sportsbet, Today is $1.72 to recover, and ABC News Breakfast is $2 to hold the second ratings spot.

Meanwhile, the online bookmaker agrees with persistent reports that Stefanovic will exit the program soon, and has him at $1.22 to leave the show this year and $2.70 to stay.

ABC News Breakfast recently humiliated Today by smashing the program’s ratings. Picture: Channel 9

Charles Croucher is $1.35 to replace Karl, and both Stefanovic and Langdon are $4 to go and the duo, not to be replaced, is at $1.20.

Today is also at $1.07 not to be axed this year.

“The ABC win is a huge result and a bad beat for the Today show. The rumour mill is in full swing that Karl may be leaving and the ratings loss could be the final straw,’’ Sportsbet’s Sean Ormerod said.

Karl’s brutal year

The new odds come just months after Stefanovic and Langdon were reportedly told to “shape up or ship out” after a disappointing 2021 spent struggling to keep up with competitors.

In January, The Sunday Telegraph’s Sydney Confidential reported that Nine executives were planning to throw “everything but the kitchen sink” at Today in 2022 to boost ratings and catch up to Sunrise, after Channel 7 won the ratings war in 2021, with Sunrise securing top breakfast show for the 18th year running, despite Today hot on its tail during some weeks of the year.

Stefanovic and Langdon were reportedly told to ‘shape up or ship out’ after a disappointing 2021. Picture: Today/Channel 9

It also comes soon after the Today hosts were dealt a massive blow by their own network, with The Australian’sMedia Diary column recently revealing the pair were reportedly snubbed by Channel 9 after applying for the coveted gig of leading the network’s election night coverage on May 21.

Their regular interviews with Australian leaders were allegedly a major part of their pitch – but weren’t enough to get the pair over the line, Nick Tabakoff reported last week.

That’s despite the fact that Stefanovic also managed to pull off major interviews with both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor Leader Anthony Albanese in the lead-up to the election for 60 Minutes – including Mr Morrison’s now-infamous ukulele stunt.

Instead, Nine has confirmed that the network’s election coverage will be fronted by stalwart Peter Overton, and Alicia Loxley, who replaces Deb Knight, who covered the 2019 election with Overton.

Bill Shorten and Julie Bishop have also been recruited as expert guests on the night.

The latest controversy also comes just days after Stefanovic hit back at persistent rumours he was preparing to walk away from hosting Today, telling 3AW’s Neil Mitchell the claims were “absolutely bulls**t” and that there was “no way” he was leaving.

Woman’s Day claimed Karl Stefanovic would play a behind-the-scenes role that would allow him to spend more time with wife Jasmine and daughter Harper. Picture: Instagram

The rumours were fuelled by a Woman’s Day report which claimed Stefanovic would be stepping away from his position as breakfast television co-host for Channel 9 and would focus on producing more stories for 60 Minutes.

The report claimed that Stefanovic would continue to play a behind-the-scenes role at Today which would allow him to spend more time with his family.

3AW reported that insiders from Channel 9 had also dismissed the report, saying it was “utter nonsense, make believe”.