Karl Stefanovic’s Savage Swipe at Channel Seven’s City Closures

Karl Stefanovic has wasted no time in taking aim at Channel Seven.

The network announced on Monday that its programming would be switched off in several South Australian and New South Wales cities. 

The Today show star was quick to make light of the less-than-stellar development for Seven on Tuesday.

Stefanovic and co-host Sarah Abo were chatting to Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen, who wowed the America’s Got talent audience this week after whipping them into a perfectly harmonised choir.

Karl, wanting to repeat the singing magic that even impressed Simon Cowell, encouraged Astrid to break into song.

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Karl Stefanovic wasted no time in taking a savage swipe at network rival Channel Seven. Pictured with Today co-host Sarah Abo

‘Let’s get the pub tour going now because yesterday on this program, Sarah sang Madonna’s Like A Prayer and it was watched by half a million people,’ he said.

The cheeky host then threw some not-so-subtle shade at Seven, telling Astrid that a cheery tune might be just the remedy for the people who, as of Tuesday, could no longer wake up with Sunrise.

‘Can you get us going?’ he asked. ‘Just get us and everyone at home watching, especially in Griffith in the Riverina who can no longer watch Seven.

‘Good morning to you guys,’ he added. ‘Let’s give them a song this morning.’

Karl’s dig comes after WIN Television and Seven West Media failed to reach an agreement for Channel Seven, 7mate and 7TWO to broadcast in the South Australian regional areas of Mt Gambier and Loxton, as well as Griffith in NSW.

The free-to-air channel now says that ‘Channel Seven programming is no longer available’ for viewers in these regions.

Network Seven holds exclusive rights to huge sporting events including Test cricket, the Big Bash and the AFL, among several other shows.

WIN Network CEO Andrew Lancaster said in a statement: ‘WIN remains committed to serving our regional audiences with a strong local presence and programming.’

Channel Seven announced on Monday that its programming would be switched off in several South Australian and New South Wales cities 

Stefanovic gleefully made light of the less-than-stellar development for Seven on Tuesday while chatting to Aussie America’s Got Talent star and Pub Choir founder Astrid Jorgensen

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Howard, said: ‘Despite our best endeavours, we have been unable to reach a mutually acceptable commercial agreement with the WIN Network to provide access to Seven via aerial transmission in Riverland, Griffith, and Mount Gambier.

‘Seven has not turned off our signal. We continue to provide our content to WIN for broadcast into these markets and WIN has made the decision to switch off the Seven signal to these communities.

‘While we are disappointed WIN has made this decision, these communities are important to us and they can access Seven’s news, sport and entertainment content live, free and on demand on 7plus,’ he said.

‘In the meantime, Seven is seeking the assistance of the Federal Government and the Australian Communications and Media Authority to help resolve this matter as quickly as possible.’

Residents will need to have a smart TV connected to the internet in order to access Seven’s streaming services.

WIN also dropped Sky News coverage in the area last year.

It comes after Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed last week that Seven had poached the executive producer from Nine’s nightly bulletin, Tanya Weingarth.

In an internal email, the network announced the one-time A Current Affair senior producer would be appointed executive producer of the broadcaster’s 6pm Sydney news bulletin. 

‘Can you get us going?’ he asked. ‘Just get us and everyone at home watching, especially in Griffith and the Riverina who can no longer watch Seven. ‘Good morning to you guys,’ he added. ‘Let’s give them a song this morning’

Karl’s dig comes after WIN Television and Seven West Media failed to reach an agreement for Channel Seven, 7mate and 7TWO to broadcast in the South Australian regional areas of Mt Gambier and Loxton, as well as Griffith in NSW

Seven’s acting news director Geoff Dunn welcomed the appointment in the internal email.

‘Tanya started her career with Seven Queensland, so she really is coming home,’ the message read.

‘We will confirm her start date in due course,’ he said.

‘We’re thrilled she is making the switch to Sydney’s most dedicated news team.’

A Nine spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the network wished Weingarth ‘all the best for her next career move’.

‘Tanya continues to fulfil her current role as EP, including tonight at 6pm,’ he said.

It was also recently revealed that Seven News bosses were secretly planning to sack some of their most popular and best-paid stars.

Former top news boss Anthony De Ceglie had a plan to axe every Channel Seven personality earning more than $300,000 per year in favour of upcoming TV stars, according to The Australian’s Media Diary column.

It was planned that Spotlight chief correspondent Liam Bartlett, Seven News chief reporter Chris Reason and Seven News Sydney anchor Michael Usher were going to be quietly dismissed as part of a ‘drastic cost-cutting operation’.

Sunrise and The Morning Show presenters Natalie Barr, Matt Shirvington, Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur were the only high-paid stars not at risk of losing their jobs.

However, De Ceglie’s proposal was met with ‘immediate resistance from Seven’s more seasoned executives’.