How a side hustle for Karl Stefanovic landed the TV star in hot water | 7.30

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He's one of Breakfast Television's most famous faces, but earlier this year he branched out by launching his own podcast.

that I'm curious about.I have this beast that lives inside.

It's a side hustle to his work on Channel 9's Today Show, which reportedly pays him more than $2 million a year.

Carl is really family -friendly, average Aussie bloke, nice fella, and a bit irreverent.And he's taking a little lurch to the right.

It's unfiltered.Uncensored?Tommy, great to talk with you, finally.

At least until now.His latest episode featuring British far -right activist Tommy Robinson suddenly disappearing from streaming platforms.

He's been around for some years now.He's been to prison.He's produced a series of documentaries as well.He's got a pretty extensive criminal record.And he's become increasingly prominent in recent years as really the main voice of anti -immigration.

So over the next three years... 7 .30 understands it was Carl or his team who pulled the plug.But the hour -long interview was quickly reposted by Pauline Hanson, who claimed Channel 9 wants to sack her good friend over the interview.

Right here in Brisbane is none other than Senator Pauline Hanson.

Senator Hanson was the inaugural guest on The Carl Stefanovic Show, which features other right -wing figures, but also the Prime Minister.

So since November 2025, Carl has accumulated a bit over 112 ,000 subscribes on YouTube across more than 350 videos produced in that time.But he isstill yet to reach some of the heights of Australia's more established podcasters.

Keir Starmer's out, Tommy Robinson's on the show tonight.

In the interview, Carl laughs along with Tommy Robinson.

I've got one word for Keir Starmer, wanker.Right, absolute wanker.

Tommy Robinson goes on to blame the Muslim community for not stopping terrorism and accuses the LGBTQ community of indoctrination.

It could just be that after the podcast went and some of the social media commentary started to come out, the car went whoops, might have gone one step too far.

Keir Starmer is a wanker.

That's not the kind of Channel 9 image.Channel 9 Today Show kind of image is warm, friendly, authoritative.This is very much, very different.

Were I trying to do a commercial podcast, I'd be looking for outrageous figures who say outrageous things in outrageous ways.And I think that's exactly what he's doing.

The right -wing online sphere is big business, according to alternate media researcher Finlay Watson.

They are able to turn these podcasts into much larger business models as well.They're able to sell merchandise.They're able to get quite large sponsorship agreements as well.YouTubers monetizing anger against social justice, against environmentalism, and of course, at this moment, most prominently against immigration to turn some of that sentiment and anger and vitriol directly into monetisable views.

only adding to the attention, according to Finlay Watson.

Well, One Nation's capitalising directly.They have figures associated with the party, including Barnaby Joyce and Pauline Hanson, have appeared on multiple occasions on Stefanovic's podcast.

This just seems to be fuelling the move of more and more of the public towards her way of thinking.

Veteran media analyst Steve Allen says it's now a question of how much Channel 9 can stomach Karl Stefanovic's podcast content.

I doubt whether they would get rid of Karl unless they have that in mind anyway.And if they have that in mind, who replaces Karl?What's their future vision for today?

Karl Stefanovic didn't respond to 7 .30's request for comment, but Channel 9 says...However, 9 is taking this matter seriously.

Well, he would probably be negotiating with them about what his change is doing to their brand and his brand and over the money he gets paid.So I'm sure there'd be tension with Channel 9 around negotiations to renewing his contract, which are coming up soon.It's got to be fun.