Mask on, mask off: Karl Stefanovic embarks on his biggest challenge

by · Australian Financial Review

Sam Buckingham-JonesMedia, marketing and telecommunications reporter
Jun 26, 2026 – 6.24pm

It was after 2am on Friday morning when Nine Entertainment chairman Peter Tonagh signed off on a deal to part ways with the Nine Network’s biggest star, Karl Stefanovic. Both sides signed a non-disclosure agreement. It had been a long day. And a long week.

It had also been a long six months. What had been an increasingly uncomfortable relationship between the veteran journalist, affable larrikin and long-time Today show host and his employer, exploded into controversy on Tuesday, when Stefanovic published the latest interview on his solo media play, The Karl Stefanovic Show.

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Sam Buckingham-JonesMedia, marketing and telecommunications reporterSam Buckingham-Jones is the media, marketing and telecommunications reporter at The Australian Financial Review. Send tips about the media and the telco sectors via encrypted messaging platform Signal (@samebjones.18) or email. Email Sam at sam.buckinghamjones@afr.com

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