Today Show Hosting Shake-Up as Sarah Abo Prepares for Maternity Leave
Channel Nine's flagship breakfast program, Today, is facing a significant hosting transition as co-anchor Sarah Abo prepares to depart for maternity leave. The 40-year-old journalist announced her pregnancy live on air last week, prompting intense speculation about her temporary replacement. Industry insiders have identified two leading candidates vying for the coveted position alongside veteran host Karl Stefanovic.
Frontrunners Emerge in High-Stakes Television Battle
According to multiple sources within Nine's network, the competition has narrowed to two prominent figures: former Sunrise star Samantha Armytage and accomplished 60 Minutes reporter Amelia Adams. Both women bring substantial experience and distinct followings to the table, creating a compelling dilemma for network executives.
Insiders reveal that Karl Stefanovic, 51, who has anchored Today since 2005, personally favors Amelia Adams as his new co-host. The 43-year-old journalist has been with Channel Nine for over sixteen years, serving variously as a newsreader and fill-in host for the breakfast program. Stefanovic and Nine's director of morning television, Steve Burling, reportedly wanted Adams for the co-hosting role that ultimately went to Sarah Abo in 2022.
Management's Preferred Choice and the 'Armytage Effect'
Meanwhile, sources speaking to Media Diary indicate that Nine management considers Samantha Armytage their 'top pick' to fill the vacancy. The 49-year-old television personality, who defected to Channel Nine in 2024 to anchor The Golden Bachelor, has long been rumored for a co-hosting position on Today. While Armytage has not yet received a formal offer, insiders confirm she remains open to the opportunity.
Network executives are reportedly banking on what industry observers term the 'Armytage effect'—a reference to the dramatic ratings boost Sunrise experienced when Armytage joined that program in 2013. Today has consistently trailed Seven's Sunrise in the competitive breakfast television wars for more than a decade, making ratings improvement a paramount concern.
Background and Credentials of the Contenders
Samantha Armytage left Sunrise in 2021 after eight years as co-host and has since helmed programs including Farmer Wants A Wife and the upcoming Golden Bachelor. Her potential pairing with Karl Stefanovic was described as a 'dream team' in an October report by The Australian, fueling speculation that Nine had planned her eventual move to Today since her departure from Seven.
Amelia Adams brings impressive journalistic credentials to the competition. Since joining 60 Minutes in 2022, she has won two Kennedy Awards and received a Walkley Award nomination for her coverage of the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Her reporting portfolio includes the final year of Donald Trump's presidency, the tumultuous 2020 US election, Black Lives Matter protests, and frontline reporting from conflict zones in Ukraine and Iraq.
Context and Recent Developments
Sarah Abo joined Today in 2023, replacing outgoing host Allison Langdon, who moved to A Current Affair. The Australian has reported that Abo's recent push for a pay rise may have contributed to the network's consideration of alternative hosting arrangements during her maternity leave.
Armytage made a highly anticipated return to Today during the 2023 festive season, sharing hosting duties with Nova radio star Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli while regular hosts took their Christmas break. This guest appearance fueled further speculation about her potential permanent role.
Daily Mail Australia has approached Channel Nine for official comment regarding the hosting speculation, but the network has yet to make any formal announcement about Abo's temporary replacement. The decision represents a critical programming choice for Nine as it seeks to revitalize its morning television offering against entrenched competition.
