Guess he's safe for now! Channel Nine confirms Karl Stefanovic WILL return to the Today show in 2019 despite the network's CEO blaming his private life for the program's bad ratings
Embattled Nine Network presenter Karl Stefanovic will return to host the Today show in 2019.
While it has been widely rumoured that Karl's time on the breakfast program is coming to an end amid plummeting ratings, it seems Nine is standing by the star.
On Wednesday, the network officially confirmed that the 44-year-old will be returning to the desk alongside co-host Georgie Gardner in 2019.
Guess he's safe for now! On Wednesday, Channel Nine confirmed that Karl Stefanovic WILL return to the Today show in 2019 alongside Georgie Gardner
In a press release, Nine unveiled its news and current affairs line-up for next year, with both Karl and Georgie given top billing.
'The nation wakes up with Today, hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Georgie Gardner,' the release read.
'In 2019, Australia’s longest running breakfast television program will continue to bring viewers up-to-the-minute news, current affairs, sport, politics, entertainment, fashion, health and lifestyle from Australia and around the world'.
'The nation wakes up with Today': In a press release, Nine unveiled its news and current affairs line-up for next year, with both Karl and Georgie given top billing.
The confirmation of Karl's return comes despite Nine's CEO Hugh Marks publicly firing warning shots at the embattled presenter last month.
'No doubt the constant publicity surrounding issues with his personal life have had an impact on Karl, his colleagues and on the show. We can't hide from that,' Hugh said.
'Clearly, it's been a tough and challenging year for Karl and Today,' he added, revealing that while Karl's job was safe for now, everyone on the show - 'especially Karl' - needed to lift their game.
'Clearly, it's been a tough and challenging year for Karl and Today': Last month, Nine's CEO said Karl needed to lift his game
Today's ratings have been plummeting ever since Karl separated from his wife-of-21-years Cassandra Thorburn in 2016.
It is believed Karl's personal life - including his engagement to fashion designer Jasmine Yarbrough, who is nine years his junior - has been a turn-off for female viewers.
Last month, Today show ratings hit a 12-year low, with a measly audience of 199,000 metro viewers tuning on September 16th.
The program trails behind rival breakfast program Sunrise in both regional and metro markets.
Woes: Last month, Today show ratings hit a 12-year low, with a measly audience of 199,000 metro viewers tuning on September 16th
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford has been predicting Karl's downfall for well over a year.
'The Today show ratings are bad... they've done private market research at Nine into Karl and it's coming up that women have turned on him,' Ford said in April 2017.
Karl has co-hosted the Today show since 2005.
![High-profile split: Today's ratings have been plummeting ever since Karl separated from his wife-of-21-years Cassandra Thorburn [pictured] in 2016. The couple are pictured in October 2008](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/10/04/10/50E6217600000578-6238747-High_profile_split_Today_s_ratings_have_been_plummeting_ever_sin-a-24_1538643602598.jpg)
High-profile split: Today's ratings have been plummeting ever since Karl separated from his wife-of-21-years Cassandra Thorburn [pictured] in 2016. The couple are pictured in October 2008
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