‘He’s dead meat’: Former Channel Nine boss slams Karl Stefanovic as media executives reveal the one way embattled TV host can rehabilitate his image after his sacking from Today
After being unceremoniously booted from the Today show on Wednesday, Karl Stefanovic is no doubt doing some soul searching about his future.
And on Friday, media executives offered their expert opinion on what the embattled TV Star should do to rehabilitate his ‘damaged brand’ in the wake of his disastrous exit from Today.
Speaking to The Australian on Friday, former Nine chief executive David Leckie said Karl, 44, must serve time on Nine’s flagship current affairs show 60 Minutes.
‘He’s dead meat’: Former Channel Nine boss slams Karl Stefanovic (pictured) as media executives reveal the one way embattled TV host can rehabilitate his image after his sacking from Today
Leckie, 67, said: ‘I don’t think he’s beyond rehabilitation, but it’s a close thing. 60 Minutes is screaming out for a Jana Wendt or a Ray Martin, because it’s struggling right now. And Karl could be that figure.’
Jana Wendt, 62, was one of 60 Minutes’ first reporters, and became a media star in her own right, going on to host A Current Affair.
Veteran journalist and TV presenter Ray Martin, 73, is also a 60 Minutes alumnus and Nine stalwart.
Olive branch: On Friday, media executives offered their expert opinion on what Karl should do to rehabilitate his ‘damaged brand’ in the wake of his disastrous exit from Today
Career rehab: Speaking to The Australian on Friday, former Nine chief executive David Leckie said Karl, 44, must serve time on Nine’s flagship current affairs show 60 Minutes (pictured)
Leckie was blunt in his assessment of Karl’s current situation, telling The Australian: ‘He’s ruined his brand. I don’t think he has any awareness about what he’s done.
‘He’s dead meat.’
But if Karl ‘redeems himself’ as a reporter on 60 Minutes, he could be reborn, claimed Leckie.
Leckie, 67, said: ‘I don’t think he’s beyond rehabilitation, but it’s a close thing. 60 Minutes is screaming out for a Jana Wendt or a Ray Martin, because it’s struggling right now. And Karl could be that figure.’ Pictured: Karl and co-host Georgie Gardner on the Today show
Peter Meaken, head of news and current affairs at the Ten Network, and former 60 Minutes boss John Westacott, echoed Leckie’s advice, saying Karl could regain his professional footing on the long-running current affairs program.
Karl meanwhile is no doubt enjoying some solace in the arms of his new wife Jasmine Yarbrough, 34, as the couple honeymoon in Aspen, Colorado.
The couple tied in the knot in a lavish Mexican wedding on December 8.
Newlyweds: Karl meanwhile is no doubt enjoying some solace in the arms of his new wife Jasmine Yarbrough (pictuerd), 34, as the couple honeymoon in Aspen, Colorado