Lisa Wilkinson doesn’t have ‘any kind of future in commercial television’ after ‘torching bridges’ at three networks – as she enters final days of Ch10 contract

Lisa Wilkinson doesn't have 'any kind of future in commercial television' after 'torching bridges' at three networks - as she enters final days of Ch10 contract

As a lifestyle expert with years of experience in the industry, I must say that Lisa Wilkinson’s career journey is nothing short of fascinating. Her tenacity and resilience are commendable, but her knack for finding herself at the center of controversy seems to follow her wherever she goes.

According to industry sources, it may be challenging for Lisa Wilkinson to secure further opportunities in commercial broadcasting once her contract with Channel 10 expires around the New Year.

For over two years now, the former show host who is 64 years old has not appeared on our broadcast channels. Yet, he continues to be employed by us, with an estimated annual salary of $1.7 million, until the last day of this month.

The Australian claims Wilkinson has ‘absolutely torched’ her bridges at three major networks—Ten, Nine and Seven.

According to the report, it seems challenging to envision a successful future for Wilkinson in Australian commercial television after the tumultuous periods her career has experienced lately.

According to reports, it’s said that Wilkinson may have destroyed her initial connection with Network Nine after her unexpected separation, rumored to be due to a disagreement over wages.

Back in October 2017, the previous host of the morning talk show on Today chose to leave the program to accept a job offer from a competing network, where she now hosts Ten’s The Project.

Lisa Wilkinson doesn't have 'any kind of future in commercial television' after 'torching bridges' at three networks - as she enters final days of Ch10 contract

It is mentioned that Wilkinson played a crucial role in keeping The Today Show cohesive, especially after Karl Stefanovic started losing favor among female viewers.

According to Peter Ford, who spoke to Kyle and Jackie O a few days following her unexpected departure, Wilkinson had come across ‘confidential market research’ indicating that she was the most valuable asset of the popular morning show.

In simpler terms, he stated that Karl was becoming less appealing to women, and she was maintaining her composure while essentially supporting him during this period.

Wilkinson left her position following reports that Channel Nine could not equal her co-star Karl’s salary, which was said to be nearly $3 million per year at the time.

Back in 2016, according to an article from The Australian, I was fortunate enough to ink a deal potentially valued at $9 million over a span of three years – but the exact amount hinged upon ratings performance.

Additionally, the report stated that Wilkinson’s annual contract amounted to approximately $1.1 million – barely one-third of what Karl is capable of making.

According to insiders, discussions led Nine to offer Wilkinson a salary of $1.8 million, but it is said that he requested $2 million instead, turning down a proposed increase of $700,000.

Seven years ago, Wilkinson joined Ten. Unfortunately, her tenure came to an emotional end in 2022 as she parted ways with The Project due to constant, malicious criticism from certain segments of the media.

Lisa Wilkinson doesn't have 'any kind of future in commercial television' after 'torching bridges' at three networks - as she enters final days of Ch10 contract

In the year 2023, she initiated a lawsuit against Ten Corporation seeking over $700,000 as compensation for legal costs. This was following her decision to engage the services of renowned defamation lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC, who represented her during Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial.

During the legal dispute with the network, Wilkinson argued that she wasn’t entirely to blame for the Logies speech that disrupted Lehrmann’s rape trial in 2022. Instead, she claimed shared responsibility was more appropriate.

In their defamation lawsuit against Lehrmann, Ten and Wilkinson emerged victorious, as Justice Michael Lee determined beyond a reasonable doubt that a previous Liberal staffer had sexually assaulted Brittany Higgins within the walls of Parliament House.

In 2023, Wilkinson voiced her concerns by filing a formal grievance with the Spotlight team, who had previously conducted an interview with Lehrmann, regarding Seven.

Last June, I, an ardent fan, found myself compelled to file a complaint with the authorities, claiming that a broadcast by Seven had violated the standards of commercial television.

Following earlier reports that hint at Wilkinson’s intention to reappear on television screens, there has been a gap of several months marked by inactivity, followed by a lengthy five-week stint in the courtroom.

It was reported by The Weekend Australian that the popular morning TV host from Channel Ten, who used to be a favorite, was eager to conduct more high-impact interviews in the coming year as shared by his friends.

In November 2022, Wilkinson left The Project, yet she continues to be employed by Ten until the end of 2024. However, she has been absent from the channel for a period of two consecutive years now.

Lisa Wilkinson doesn't have 'any kind of future in commercial television' after 'torching bridges' at three networks - as she enters final days of Ch10 contract

Although she’s been away from the network for a while, Wilkinson has kept her presence in the public spotlight due to her involvement in the widely discussed Lehrmann defamation case.

She found herself entangled in a legal dispute involving Lehrmann, who took action against Network Ten and Wilkinson, stemming from an interview with Brittany Higgins that aired on The Project and was also streamed online.

Supporters of Wilkinson noted that her frequent court appearances provided her with a consistent flow of media attention, benefiting her as a well-known television personality.

According to Peter Meakin, a former executive at Seven and Nine, it is unlikely that her absence from television has caused anyone to forget her.

‘I’m sure her loyal followers will remain loyal.’ 

At the given point, Network Ten mentioned they were negotiating other potential ventures with Wilkinson.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Wilkinson and Ten for further comment. 

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2024-12-02 01:06

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