Nine bosses aren’t the only people publicly backing Karl Stefanovic.
Following recent reports the 44-year-old could ‘lose his job’ on Today in the wake of disastrous ratings, TV veteran Ray Martin has openly supported the star.
During a chat with The Australian published on Monday, Ray, 73, one of Nine’s biggest stars for many years, expressed his desire to reach out to Karl during this difficult time.
‘The critics will always come to get you’: Nine veteran Ray Martin publicly supports Karl Stefanovic amid ongoing speculation the breakfast TV host ‘could lose his job’ on Today
‘I was recently tempted to ring Karl to offer him support,’ Ray said while referencing the September headlines that Karl could ‘lose his job in the new year’.
During the news piece, the publication branded Karl a ‘ratings liability and a distraction for the network’ before introducing Ray’s defensive quotes.
The five Golden Logie winner continued: ‘I wanted to tell him the critics will always come to get you. I had a period when I was savaged in the media.’
‘I was recently tempted to ring Karl’: During a chat with The Australian, Ray, 73, one of Nine’s biggest stars for many years, expressed his desire to reach out to Karl during his difficult time (Karl and Ray pictured with former Nine star Lisa Wilkinson in 2007)
TV veteran: Five Golden Logie winner Ray was one of Nine’s biggest stars for many years (pictured at the network’s studio in the 1990s)
Ray then suggested social media is one of the leading factors in Karl’s downfall.
The break up of Karl’s marriage to Cassandra Thorburn and whirlwind romance with Jasmine Yarbrough has reportedly been a big element in the show’s plummeting audience numbers.
Data revealed Today viewers first started switching off in September 2016, the same month Karl was first pictured without his wedding ring.
Since then ratings have been mostly declining, with Today recently seeing their ‘worst figures in 12 years’.
Switching off: The break up of Karl’s marriage to Cassandra Thorburn and whirlwind romance with Jasmine Yarbrough (pictured) has been a big factor the show’s audience collapse
Channel Nine chief executive Hugh Marks weighed in on what some have dubbed the ‘Karl Conundrum’ back in September this year.
‘Clearly, it’s been a tough and challenging year for Karl and Today,’ he said.
‘No doubt the constant publicity surrounding issues with his personal life have had an impact on Karl, his colleagues and on the show. We can’t hide from that.
‘And as a result we know there’s a lot of hard work to be done to win back the audience.’
‘No doubt the constant publicity surrounding issues with his personal life have had an impact’: Channel Nine chief executive Hugh Marks weighed in on what some have dubbed the ‘Karl Conundrum’ but stated his ‘job is safe for now’