Channel Nine is said to be “priming” a 21-year-old social media star for Karl Stefanovic’s hosting gig on the Today show, as rumours heat up about his potential move to radio.
Karl Stefanovic is heavily rumoured to be leaving Channel Nine’s Today show at the end of this year, and a very surprising contender has now emerged to replace him.
21-year-old journalism student and social media star, Chaad Hewitt, got his big break last year when Stefanovic, 51, invited him to appear on Today as a reporter.
The budding presenter, who has more than one million social media followers, was a hit with both viewers and Nine bosses, and is now said to have been “hand-picked” by Stefanovic to take over as the main host when his $2 million contract ends in December.
According to an insider, Nine is “priming” Hewitt for the role with the aim of appealing to a younger audience.
“There’s no denying the media landscape is shifting fast,” the source told New Idea.
“Nine is looking for young talent with built-in fans who actually know their way around a viral trend. That’s the new reality.”
Despite Hewitt’s limited professional experience, the source compared him to Aussie TV legends like Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton, who were both in their early 20s when they became household names.
They also highlighted that the Gold Coaster has been taken under the wing of Stefanovic’s longtime agent, Sharon Finnigan, who has also worked with the likes of Samantha Armytage and Nat Barr.
Karl Stefanovic is said to have ‘hand-picked’ Chaad Hewitt to be his replacement. (Picture: Instagram)
“Chaad has single TikTok clips with more views than an entire episode of Today,” the source adds.
“You can’t blame the bosses for thinking outside the box. With Today still chasing Sunrise in the ratings, it’s time to try something new.”
Hewitt previously revealed how he caught Stefanovic’s attention when one of his university assignments went viral.
Impressed with the video, Stefanovic reached out and invited the budding presenter to appear on the Today show.
“Karl said, ‘We would love to have you on the show… we’d love to see what you can do’,” Hewitt revealed to the Bond University media hub.
“To be honest with you, I thought he was joking. I didn’t think he was being serious.
“Karl actually said, ‘Let’s bring you on the Today Show and you can be the anchor’. In a matter of about two hours, they had everything sorted.”
It comes amid reports Stefanovic has begun talks with ARN about hosting his own radio show on one of its stations.
Over the weekend, The Australian’s Media Diary claimed Stefanovic had been in talks with ARN boss Michael Stephenson and had signed a memorandum of understanding to firm up the move.
Stefanovic’s pivot would come at a high-stakes time for ARN, after both Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson launched legal battles claiming their $100 million contracts were wrongfully terminated.
The broadcaster previously raised suspicions about a move to radio when he launched his self-funded podcast at the start of the year.
In just over three months, The Karl Stefanovic Show has been a huge success, attracting millions of listeners and high-profile guests like Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Pauline Hanson.
Sky News Australia has contacted a representative for Chaad Hewitt and Karl Stefanovic for comment.