“They thought it would be a quiet side‑project… they were CATASTROPHICALLY wrong” — Bombshell theory reveals Nine massively underestimated Karl Stefanovic when they greenlit his podcast, and now his explosive, record‑breaking success is making the network look clueless (and scrambling to catch up).
A new theory has emerged about why Nine bosses allowed its golden goose, Karl Stefanovic, to launch his own podcast – and why they are now kicking themselves.
Karl Stefanovic’s latest move into podcasting has sparked fears it is paving the way for his departure from Nine’s Today show – leaving many scratching their heads as to why the network would allow him to pursue the venture in the first place.
Nine’s highest-paid TV star, 51, launched his self-funded podcast in January, promising to “unleash his inner beast” through “unfiltered and uncensored” conversations.
Since then, the breakfast show stalwart has welcomed a number of high-profile guests, including Kyle Sandilands, Pauline Hanson, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The project has attracted large audiences, with The Karl Stefanovic Show receiving more than 73,000 subscribers on YouTube and 174,000 on Instagram, with reports saying its early success has sent Nine bosses into “a state of pure panic”.
Former Nine presenter Craig Hutchison has now weighed in on the network’s surprising decision to let Stefanovic launch the podcast, speculating executives may have misjudged how successful it would be.
“Very few people have started their own platform and made a bigger splash as quickly as Karl,” the Sports Entertainment Network CEO said on his own podcast, The Sounding Board, last week.
“He’s made a far bigger splash than anyone expected him to in a very short time… and he’s attracting advertising money already.”
Sharing his theory on what the future holds for Stefanovic, Hutchison believes his new move spells the end of his decades-long tenure with Nine.
Karl Stefanovic launched his podcast in January. (Picture: YouTube)
“What’s clear though, is two things: one, it (his podcast) is not in his employer’s interest,” he continued, as reported by The Australian’s Media Diary.
“They’ve underestimated, in my view, how good he’d be at it … [and two], he’s really started his next job while he’s in the last year of his last job.”
Hutchison’s co-host, Damian Barrett, joked that the former Footy Show host knew more than he was letting on.
“I like when you go down this path, though … you only give our listeners probably 10 per cent of what you know,” Barrett said.
It follows reports claiming that Stefanovic was considering a move to radio once his Today show contract is up, and has had “informal talks” with ARN Media.
“I cannot do these hours anymore,” Stefanovic allegedly told guests at billionaire Anthony Pratt’s A-list party, Woman’s Day reports.
“And there are so many opportunities in radio due to the obvious recent news,” he reportedly added, referring to Kyle Sandilands’ bombshell sacking.
“A very successful afternoon radio team will be moved to the breakfast time slot. And then, I can slip into an afternoon slot – and sleep in!”
Meanwhile, Nine bosses have reportedly held “high-stakes crisis meetings” to discuss what Stefanovic’s “means for Today”.
“Many of his (Stefanovic’s) mates believe he is no longer worried about what comes next. He’s just doing what he loves,” an insider told New Idea.