Karl Stefanovic’s brand in tatters after rollercoaster year, TV chiefs say

Karl Stefanovic put on a brave face as he arrived back in Sydney, making his first public comments since being axed from Today.

Karl Stefanovic put on a brave face as he arrived back in Sydney yesterday after being axed from Today while on his honeymoon with Jasmine Yarbrough.

The newlyweds were all smiles as they were met by a pack of photographers as they made their way through Sydney airport today, Stefanonovic speaking briefly to the waiting media.

“I suppose, as they say, a change is as good as a holiday, I’m looking forward to getting back to work. I’m moving forward with a sense of excitement about what’s to come,” Stefanovic said, as per the Daily Telegraph.

Karl back on home turf.

“I’m happy to be home with my family and friends. I’m looking forward to Christmas with loved ones. I’ve got a lot to be thankful for.”

Stefanovic sported a souvenir baseball cap from his time in Aspen, where he and Yarbrough had been staying with billionaire James Packer.

Stefanovic was all smiles for the cameras

Karl Stefanovic arrived in Sydney on Friday

Yarbrough and Stefanovic made their way past photographers and into a waiting car, with the former Today host waving goodbye to the media pack before they drove off.

It’s been a rollercoaster year for Stefanovic to say the least, so when Channel 9 sensationally dumped the breakfast show co-host this week it wasn’t a surprise to everyone.

The former Today host sported a baseball cap from his time in Aspen

Yarbrough was also all smiles as she arrived back in Sydney

Stefanovic waved goodbye to photographers as he left the airport

There had been reported grumblings, a volatile relationship with co-host Georgie Gardner, a lavish wedding with a shoe designer and, of course, “Ubergate”, before the bombshell dumping.

Karl Stefanovic: “A change is as good as a holiday.”

It’s understood the newly wed TV star will now have to serve a period of rehabilitation at Nine’s flagship current affairs show 60 Minutes before he can return to his star status.

Former Nine chief executive David Leckie and two of the network’s former longstanding news and current affairs chiefs, Peter Meakin and John Westacott told the The Australian the Stefanovic brand has been severely damaged — particularly after the former co-host’s wedding with Yarbrough.

Stefanovic’s lavish wedding is said to have damaged his brand. Picture: Instagram

“He’s ruined his brand,” Mr Leckie said. “I don’t think he has any awareness about what he’s done. At the moment, he’s dead meat.

“That wedding was a joke. He stuffed up with the wedding.”

TV commentator David Knox thinks it is unlikely the veteran reporter will be shown the door by the network when his contract expires at the end of 2019.

“The idea of paying him out on his current salary is also not an option. Despite the issues surrounding his personal life, Karl is still very good talent with plenty of working years ahead.”

Knox, who runs blog TV Tonight, told news.com.au the network had historically been reluctant to dump its big name talent, even when they proved divisive with audiences.

“As we see with Sam Newman, Nine is reticent to cut talent loose only to see them resurface at another network,” he said.

“The idea of paying him out on his current salary is also not an option. Despite the issues surrounding his personal life, Karl is still very good talent with plenty of working years ahead.”

Stefanovic has to serve a period of rehabilitation to reclaim his star status. Picture: Supplied

The news of Stefanovic’s departure comes a day after Nine announced his younger brother, Peter, was leaving the network after a 15-year career.

Peter Stefanovic had been hosting the Weekend Today program since returning to Australia from a stint as a foreign correspondent.

The brothers endured more negative publicity in March after an Uber driver overheard Peter speaking with Karl on speakerphone and sold the story to a magazine.

The pair reportedly gossiped for 45 minutes targeting colleagues as well as senior Nine executives. The scandal became known as “Ubergate”.

This was compounded by a year of rumours and reports of a rift between Stefanovic and his Today show co-host Georgie Gardner.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the Today show co-host recently met with Nine bosses to demand that Stefanovic left because of poor ratings and embarrassing headlines.

“Georgie simply demanded she won’t work with Karl anymore,” a Channel 9 executive told the Telegraph.

“She hates Karl and has done for a long time. They didn’t like each other before she joined the show. Then the Uber thing tipped it over the edge. And then the wedding, she didn’t go when she was invited. You’d think your co-host would support you by being there but Georgie can’t stand Karl and has been waiting for this moment for a long time.”

Rumours of a rift constantly dogged Stefanovic and Gardner. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

It was reported Gardner quit her role as the Today newsreader in 2014 in part due to Stefanovic’s blokey on-air antics.

She returned to replace Lisa Wilkinson but a Today show senior executive made a promise to Gardner that she would only have to work with Stefanovic for one year. And it now seems accurate.

A year ago, The Sunday Telegraph talked to inside sources at the breakfast TV show who reportedly claimed the pair could not stand one another — with Stefanovic taking the view Gardner was “humourless”.

“She signed on to the show after having been assured she would only have to do one year with Karl,” they reportedly told the newspaper. “After that, he’s gone and Nine will recast and she will get to work with someone else.”

Stef­anovic is reportedly still on his honeymoon, following the high-profile dumping and, in a statement on Wednesday, he admitted it had been tough.

“Thanks to our viewers mostly, you are what matters most,” the Gold Logie winner said in a statement issued by Nine.

“It’s been a tough time. Thanks for hanging in there. I look forward to seeing you in another capacity at this great network soon.”

— with wires