Peter Stefanovic departs Channel Nine after 15 years

Peter Stefanovic has officially ‘parted ways’ with Channel Nine, after 15 years.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, a spokesperson confirmed that the 60 Minutes reporter and Weekend Today host would not return to the network.

‘Peter has decided to explore new opportunities and is looking forward to spending weekends with his wife,’ the statement said.

‘He has been a respected member of the Nine News team and Weekend Today, and we wish him all the best for the future.

‘He has been a respected member of the Nine News team and Weekend Today, and we wish him all the best for the future.’

Peter told Daily Mail Australia that it has been a ‘privilege’ to work at Channel Nine for over a decade. 

‘I’ve had an amazing time at Nine being a foreign correspondent, News reporter and covering some amazing stories for 60 minutes,’ he said.

‘I’ll miss my friends at Nine very much, it has been a huge privilege to work alongside so many great people.’ 

It comes after The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday that the Weekend Today host ‘will be out of contract with employer Nine at the end of the month’.  

The report quoted an alleged industry source who claims: ‘Nine has dropped Peter Stefanovic from hosting Weekend Today and he’s going back to the newsroom.’ 

However, a Channel Nine spokesperson denied the report to Daily Mail Australia last week, insisting that axing rumours were ‘not true’.

The announcement comes months after an infamous ‘Ubergate’ scandal, which saw Peter’s private conversation with brother Karl leaked back in March.

During the conversation, New Idea alleged that Peter took several swipes at his role on Weekend Today and the famous brothers reportedly slated their employer, Nine.

‘I hate working news, I’m dying on the inside and it makes me feel horrible,’ Peter allegedly said to Karl, the Uber taxi driver told the magazine.

‘The life is draining out of me. I’m so much better than this and can do so much more, it’s the worst four days each week and I should be doing more.’

An insider told Woman’s Day in March following the scandal that could cost Peter his job, as he is ‘far more replaceable’ than brother Karl. 

Karl has also faced headlines in recent months that he could be ‘axed’ from Today in the new year, following two years of declining ratings.  

Peter’s career with Nine started in 2004, as a reporter for Nine News and A Current Affair. 

He then spent many years working as a foreign correspondent for the network in London and LA, before returning to Australia in 2015.

The 37-year-old was then promoted to senior reporter on Nine News, before landing the gig of Weekend Today co-host in early 2016.