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Lisa Wilkinson quits Nine to join The Project

Lisa Wilkinson no longer wakes up with Today, in a coup for Network TEN.

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Lisa Wilkinson is parting ways with the Nine Network and joining The Project.

She will join Carrie Bickmore, Waleed Aly and Peter Helliar on the TEN show, including hosting The Sunday Project.

TEN Chief Content Officer, Beverley McGarvey, said: “Lisa Wilkinson is one of the most respected journalists and television presenters in Australia and we are thrilled that she has agreed to join Network Ten’s fantastic stable of on-air talent.

“In a career that has spanned magazines, radio, television and digital media, Lisa has established her credentials as a leading figure in the Australian media industry. She has a great connection to the Australian public and a reputation that is second to none. We are proud that she has agreed to join the acclaimed team at The Project and The Sunday Project.”

She leaves Nine after six months of protracted negotiations between Nine CEO Hugh Marks and Wilkinson’s long-time agent Nick Fordham broke down, with reports suggesting they were abruptly terminated during a 5pm meeting today.

Wilkinson, who recently celebrated her 10th anniversary with Today, is understood to have been seeking salary parity with her male co-host Karl Stefanovic.

In a statement 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.”

Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs Darren Wick confirmed Wilkinson would not be returning to the show, following the impasse.

“Nine will take the Today show in a different direction, although we are not yet sure what direction that will be,” he said.

Nine CEO Hugh Marks, said, “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 ten years. We wish her well for the future.”

Further collaborations between Wilkinson and TEN will be announced in the coming months.

This post updates.

Source: News Corp,  Fairfax

47 Responses

  1. As the superior presenter of the two, Lisa should have been the one earning the greater amount if there was to be any inequity. It can only be to her benefit to move away from her co-presenter.

  2. talk about being blindsided.
    she has known for a while that karl was getting more money then her- has she always been trying to get the same pay as karl and if she hasnt why didnt she leave earlier why did she stay for 10years.
    thats a huge coup for 10- in my opinion she should replace carrie bickmore on the project and when sarah harris is off on maternity leave lisa should do studio10

  7. Very few stories generally make me go ‘wow’ and this is one of them! Probably the last one was CBS buying TEN. Very interesting. Hopefully / maybe the sign of a more serious tone for The Project? I guess some future proofing involved too, given Carrie will be doing national radio from 3-4.30pm weekdays next year, and will still do The Project 2 hours later. But really, how long could she juggle both?

        1. I think there’s room for The Project to be a bit more serious / credible without dropping it’s lighter tone. Some segments cross the line from light / funny to just silly

  8. Wow, TEN doesn’t have money throw around, but they must be giving her a lot to want to leave Nine altogether. Then again, it might not be about the money, but the ability to sleep past 3am on a weekday. I don’t see her as the right fit for The Project, it’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.

  9. I think The Project is too youth-skewed for someone of Lisa’s generation – I agree with Bass_A – Studio 10 would be a better fit – Poida made a good point – she’s sitting with comedians, I’ve never seen her being the one to make you laugh, more to laugh along – it’ll feel like Mum with her 3 slightly older kids 🙂

  11. Great move by CBS to sign Lisa .very respected lady .i can see a CBS this morning style breakfast show coming to TEN . Long overdue .both sunrise and today looking tired and on the nose wth viewers .

  14. I had to check – and recheck – the date, convinced this was an April Fools’ story but…wow! Good on her for seeking parity with Stefanovich. A shame it wasn’t achieved.

  15. I wonder what will become of the mentorship program she was involved with- for young female journalists at 9?
    Sudden news, but a shakeup might do well.
    Georgie Gardner and Peter Fordham would be good, but doubt they’d want the job.

  17. She will be very missed. Lisa always bought a lot of class to the show. I just hope Sylvia doesn’t get the gig. I would go with Georgie Gardiner if she wanted the gig, or Jayne Azzopardi from Weekend Today.

    1. chris bath or bec maddern or maybe karl should go 2 60mins full time and focus on this time next year.
      karl and chris bath, karl and bec, ben fordham and chris bath or chris and bec

  21. wow so 9 sort of gave her the sack from reading that because obviously she wanted something near Karl’s salary. Which is fair enough I mean she does do a great a good job.

    A shame she wont be able to say goodbye to the viewers. This has really come out of the blue. But hey at least she will enjoy the sleep ins. Wonder who will replace her.

    I think this will be a massive loss for 9 but the Project will suit her.

    Just another random point who will host carols this year?

  24. She was always much too good for ‘Today’ in my view. Unfortunate for the viewers who watch her everyday that she’s leaving so abruptly. I’ll be interested to see her next move.

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