Channel Nine CEO Hugh Marks has expressed his disappointment that the network was unable to come to an agreement with star Lisa Wilkison who spectacularly jumped to ship to rival Ten yesterday.
Again, it appears an inability to agree on Wilkison’s contract was the undoing. As reported on B&T yesterday, it’s believed Wilkinson was on half of that of her Today co-host, Karl Stefanovic, who is rumoured to pull in a cool $2 million a year pay cheque.
Nine’s statement read in full: Nine today confirmed we have been unable to meet the expectations of Lisa Wilkinson and her manager on a contract renewal for a further period. We express our gratitude to Lisa for her 10 years with the Today Show and are disappointed we find ourselves in this position. Nine will be going in another direction and will be considering our options in the coming weeks and months.
Hugh Marks said: “Today Show is one of the biggest roles there is in television and requires an enormous commitment from its hosts. The partnership between Lisa and Karl has taken the show to the success it is today and we thank Lisa for everything she has done for the show and for Nine over the past 10 years. We all wish her well for the future.”
Wilkinson said, “I want to thank Channel Nine for the privilege of co-hosting the Today Show for the last ten years. I would particularly like to acknowledge my colleagues Karl, Sylvia, Georgie, Tim, Richard, Stevie and Natalia, as well as all the hard-working producers and the entire team behind the cameras – every one of them has contributed to the incredible success of the show. Most particularly though I want to thank the Today Show audience who have been so supportive and incredibly loyal to me over the last decade. I can never thank you enough and I look forward to seeing you soon.”
