“It’s panic stations over at Channel Nine’s North Sydney headquarters as rumours ramp up that Samantha Armytage is being eyed to replace Sarah Abo.”, — write: www.dailymail.co.uk
A Nine insider tells Daily Mail some staff members are ‘terrified’ of the former Sunrise star joining the breakfast show line-up – and that Abo is fuming at how the network has handled the situation.
According to a senior TV insider, Nine is battling an in-house divide, with some staff members hopeful that Armytage will increase the breakfast show’s audience against Seven, while others are worried she may be hard work behind the scenes.
‘There’s a big team split at Nine,’ the source said. ‘Junior staff on Today are terrified to work for Sam because of her reputation for being a bit difficult at Sunrise.
‘The more senior people get it. They think that she will bring in new audience… and Today needs it.
‘But they’re also concerned that Sam and Karl will blow each other up with their egos.’
The Daily Mail also understands Today show staff have asked their bosses for urgent clarification of their plans.
Some are of the belief that the leak about Armytage’s potential comeback is a pressure tactic to get Abo to sign a contract that’s no-where near pay parity with her co-host Stefanovic, who is on a reported almost $3million-a-year contract. Abo, 39, currently earns about $800,000 a year.
Abo is understood to have received advice that she must act quickly act quickly to avoid being replaced by Armytage, 49.
‘If I was Sarah, I’d want a contract by the end of the day to rule this all out,’ a senior executive said.
A close friend of Abo’s told us she is ‘frustrated and upset at how Nine has handled the past 24 hours’.
Abo put on a brave face on Monday, appearing on the breakfast program alongside her co-host Karl.
Dressed in a bright red suit, the longtime TV presenter had a ‘business as usual’ attitude, powering through her segments with a smile on her face, and little hint of the turmoil off-screen.
Meanwhile, Armytage, who is currently the host of Nine’s much-anticipated The Golden Bachelor Australia’s inaugural season, looked tense as she stepped out in Sydney on Monday morning.
Armytage was spotted looking downcast as she headed out on a stroll in a pair of bright red leggings and a blue singlet.
She finished off the laid-back ensemble with a pair of Birkenstocks.
Armytage wore her hair in a top knot as she attempted to go incognito in a pair of sunglasses.
News broke last night that Armytage was in ‘secret talks’ with Nine to replace Abo on Today.
The casting shake-up is a ‘desperate bid to wrestle the TV breakfast crown from Seven’s rival Sunrise’, The Australian’s Media Diary column reported on Sunday.
Armytage and Stefanovic, 51, are being slated as the ‘dream team’ that could see Today topple Sunrise’s domination in the morning show ratings, author Steve Jackson said.
The network is banking on the ‘Armytage effect’ which saw Sunrise achieve ratings dominance when she joined the program in 2013.
Armytage left Sunrise in 2021 and has since helmed Farmer Wants A Wife and the Golden Bachelor.
Nine CEO Matt Stanton did little to dispel the chatter regarding Abo’s future at Today, giving The Australian a remarkably coy response when asked if Armytage was stepping into the role alongside Stefanovic.
‘I don’t know. I’m not into that level to be honest, I haven’t seen that level of detail,’ Stanton told the publication.
Daily Mail has approached Nine for comment.