Karl Stefanovic

Karl Stefanovic (born 12 August 1974) is an Australian podcaster who formerly worked as a television presenter and journalist. He was a co-host of the Nine Network’s morning show *Today* and a reporter for *60 Minutes*. In January 2026, he started his own podcast, *The Karl Stefanovic Show*, which was not affiliated with the network. After releasing an episode on 23 June 2026 that featured an interview with a far-right activist, the Nine Network entered negotiations for his exit, and he left the network on 26 June 2026.

Stefanovic was born in the inner-Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst to a Serbian-German father and an Australian mother. He grew up in Capalaba, Queensland, and attended St Augustine’s College in Cairns, the Anglican Church Grammar School, and the Queensland University of Technology, where he earned a journalism degree in 1994.

After graduating, he could not find a journalism cadetship. On his father’s advice, he auditioned for NIDA and advanced through several rounds but was not accepted. Though urged to try again the next year, he instead took a job with WIN Television in Rockhampton. He started as a cadet reporter for WIN in Rockhampton and Cairns in 1994. In 1996, he moved to New Zealand to report for TVNZ’s *One Network News*. He returned to Australia in 1998 to work for *Ten News* in Brisbane as a reporter and fill-in presenter, and also filled in for Sydney news presenter Ron Wilson.

Stefanovic joined the Nine Network in 2000 as a reporter and backup presenter for *Nine News* in Brisbane. He won a Queensland Media Award for Best News Coverage for his report on the Childers backpacker hostel fire in 2000. His coverage of the 2001 Warragamba bushfires from Sussex Inlet in January 2002 led to a role in Nine’s Sydney newsroom, and he later reported on the 2003 Canberra bushfires. In February 2005, he replaced Steve Liebmann as host of *Today*. He also filled in for Tracy Grimshaw on *A Current Affair*. In 2006, he competed on the reality show *Torvill and Dean’s Dancing on Ice*, reaching the grand final but losing to Jake Wall in a viewer vote. From 2008 to 2012, he hosted Nine’s *Carols by Candlelight* with Lisa Wilkinson, taking over from Ray Martin; David Campbell replaced him in 2012. In 2011, while hosting *Today*, he also contributed as a reporter for *60 Minutes* and hosted a Sunday edition of *A Current Affair* (ACA Sunday). That December, he was a crew member on the supermaxi yacht *Investec LOYAL* when it won line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. He hosted Nine’s evening coverage of the 2012 London Olympics. In December 2013, he crewed on the supermaxi *Perpetual Loyal* in the Sydney to Hobart race alongside Larry Emdur, Guillaume Brahimi, Tom Slingsby, Phil Waugh, and Jude Bolton. In October 2015, he hosted the panel show *The Verdict* on Nine, which blended elements of *The Project* and *Q&A* but drew controversy over its panelists. In July 2017, he began hosting *This Time Next Year* on Nine. In December 2018, it was announced he would not return as co-host of *Today* in 2019. However, in November 2019, Nine confirmed he would return as co-host from January 2020 alongside Allison Langdon. He marked 20 years with Nine in June 2020, with his contract set to end in December 2026. On 24 June 2026, *The Sydney Morning Herald* reported that Stefanovic was in talks to leave Nine after an interview on his independent podcast with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson. On 26 June 2026, Nine confirmed his immediate departure.

In June 2019, Stefanovic became a regular contributor on radio station 2GB.

His podcast, *The Karl Stefanovic Show*, launched in January 2026 as a weekly program featuring interviews, commentary, and discussions on current events and pop culture. The first episode, released on 25 January, featured One Nation leader Pauline Hanson. By May 2026, the podcast was reported to be commercially successful, and it was noted he would be sought after as a radio broadcaster after his Nine contract ended. The podcast is independent of Nine. In the 23 June 2026 episode, Stefanovic interviewed Tommy Robinson, who criticised Islam, multiculturalism, and hate-speech laws. At the episode’s end, Stefanovic said he admired Robinson’s “tenacity” and “courage.” On 24 June, the episode was taken offline, and Nine executives said they were reviewing statements from the episode and comments Stefanovic had made supporting Ben Roberts-Smith. Following the interview, *The Sydney Morning Herald* (owned by Nine) reported that the company was negotiating his exit. Pauline Hanson later posted the full episode online, calling Stefanovic her “good friend.”

In May 2026, ARN Media and Nine Entertainment announced that Stefanovic would co-host a show called *The Long Weekend* with Eddie McGuire, distributed on iHeart, 9Now, and Stan, and broadcast on the Gold Network from 19 June. The show was fast-tracked to launch on 12 June.