Karl Stefanovic’s stint on ARN’s Gold network appears to be over, with the broadcaster expected to lose his weekly radio show just days after his departure from Nine.
Stefanovic began co-hosting the weekly show “The Long Weekend” with broadcaster Eddie McGuire earlier this year on Gold, which is owned by ARN. Stefanovic did not appear on last Friday’s episode of the program after backlash over his interview with British far-right activist Tommy Robinson and his subsequent departure from Nine.
Reports emerged last week that Nine executives had held crisis meetings to consider Stefanovic’s future after his independent podcast, “The Karl Stefanovic Show,” published an interview with Robinson on YouTube – an interview that disappeared from the platform within 24 hours of publication.
Nine initially distanced itself from the content, telling The Daily Telegraph: “’The Karl Stefanovic Show’ is a completely independent production. Nine has no involvement, including in the guest selection and other editorial processes. However, Nine is taking this matter seriously.”
By Wednesday afternoon, reports had begun emerging of Stefanovic’s exit from the major broadcaster.
McGuire had flagged an exclusive sit-down with Stefanovic for this week, telling listeners on last Friday’s broadcast that his co-host would break his silence on the Nine fallout. That plan has since been abandoned.
ARN has confirmed McGuire will keep “The Long Weekend” running, though sources said a revised format is still being worked out now that Stefanovic is gone.
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From Mediaweek