Danika Mason has officially announced her departure from the Channel Nine breakfast program, the Today show, following months of speculation and a tumultuous period for the high-profile morning broadcast. The sports reporter, who is currently expecting her first child with her partner, NRL star Liam Knight, delivered the emotional announcement live on air during Friday morning’s broadcast. Struggling to hold back tears as she shared the news with viewers, Mason was surrounded by her co-stars Tom Steinfort, Sylvia Jeffreys, and Jayne Azzopardi, who offered immediate support and expressed their sorrow over her impending exit from the daily lineup.
The announcement brings clarity to weeks of rumors regarding Mason’s professional future with the network. Addressing her colleagues and the audience, Mason explained that impending motherhood and the practical realities of managing a demanding media career forced her to reevaluate her commitments.
"I am going on maternity leave as we are probably all aware, but I have had to make the decision of what I am going to do when I come back next year," Mason told her co-stars on air. "Obviously juggling all my NRL commitments, the Today show and a new baby as well, something had to give. So I have made the pretty tough decision. So, when I return next year, I won’t be coming back to the show."
Despite the difficult nature of her departure, Mason reflected fondly on her time with the program, highlighting the strong camaraderie behind the scenes. She expressed deep gratitude for the support she received from the network, her fellow presenters, and the production crew who work behind the scenes during the grueling early morning hours.
"I have absolutely loved my time with everyone. We have had the best audience and we have the best team. And it has been an absolute just such a fun two years, and everyone who is in here in the morning, all our floor crew, you guys are just amazing and I’ve had the best time," she said.
Tom Steinfort, Sylvia Jeffreys, and Jayne Azzopardi were visibly moved by the announcement, expressing their sadness and reassuring Mason that she would be thoroughly missed around the studio. Attempting to lighten the mood, Mason joked that while she will "still be waking up early" in the coming months, her early mornings will be dedicated to caring for a newborn rather than preparing for a morning television broadcast.
"You never know what can happen in the future, so for now we’re so excited about this next chapter, but something had to give," she added.
Following the broadcast, the official Today show social media channels shared a tribute to the departing presenter. The network’s Instagram account posted a message reading: "Today we say farewell to our beloved Danika Mason as she steps away from the show to start an exciting new chapter."
However, behind-the-scenes dynamics at the network suggest that Mason’s departure was driven by more than just family logistics. According to reports from News Corp, Mason’s decision to leave the program also followed a breakdown in contract negotiations between the presenter and network executives. Management was reportedly unwilling to meet Mason’s financial demands, with the presenter currently earning an estimated $300,000 annually.
Furthermore, industry reports indicate that Mason had lost the backing of key executive figures following a high-profile broadcasting incident earlier in the year. In February, Mason found herself at the center of a global television scandal when she appeared to slur her words during a live cross from the snow-covered Italian Alps. The bizarre segment saw the sports reporter struggle to deliver her bulletin on the Winter Olympics, veer off into tangents regarding coffee prices in the United States, and make an unusual, unscripted reference to iguanas, leaving both viewers and her studio colleagues baffled. At one point during the chaotic broadcast, Mason even lay down in the snow to make snow angels.
Mason later addressed the incident publicly, admitting that she had consumed alcohol before going on air and issuing a sincere apology to the audience for misjudging the situation. Sources indicated that the broadcast left senior Nine executives deeply embarrassed.
The 35-year-old presenter has been a recognizable fixture on the Channel Nine breakfast lineup since joining the program last year. Just a day prior to her official departure announcement, Mason shared a photo on social media displaying her growing baby bump alongside newly appointed presenter Sylvia Jeffreys, playfully captioning the image "large and in charge."
Mason’s exit marks the latest in a series of dramatic departures that have reshaped the Today show’s team over recent months. Last month, the program’s longtime weatherman, Tim Davies, bid an emotional farewell to viewers after spending seven years with the show. The 42-year-old beloved presenter signed off surrounded by colleagues during a broadcast that featured surprise appearances from his original producer, Gerry Campbell, as well as representatives from Qantas and the Australian Girls Choir. Davies became visibly choked up as he thanked the network and his coworkers for their unwavering support throughout his tenure.
The morning show has also experienced significant upheaval at the anchor desk. Former co-host Sarah Abo departed the program in September following a period of friction with network leadership. Reports indicated that Abo had expressed strong disappointment to senior Nine executives regarding the handling of Karl Stefanovic’s sudden termination before she commenced her maternity leave in July.
Stefanovic was abruptly removed from the program in June following a controversial interview he conducted with far-right figure Tommy Robinson for his podcast, The Karl Stefanovic Show. The interview, which was uploaded to YouTube before being swiftly deleted amid intense public backlash, prompted network management to inform Stefanovic that he could not maintain dual roles with his independent podcast and Channel Nine. Although he had previously been expected to remain with the breakfast program through the end of the year, the controversy led to his immediate removal.
According to News Corp reports, Abo’s vocal support for her longtime co-host further strained her relationship with Nine management, who had already been quietly evaluating whether the presenting partnership was achieving its desired audience impact. Although the network reportedly offered her an alternative position, Abo ultimately chose to step away from the program.
In her own farewell statement, Abo reflected on her time with the network, describing motherhood as the threshold of a new chapter and thanking the audience for welcoming her into their homes every morning.
"Without you, there is no Today show," Abo said at the time, also paying tribute to the demanding nature of morning television and the supportive family atmosphere shared by the production team. "I’ll miss you all dearly."
Following these successive departures, Channel Nine confirmed last month that Sylvia Jeffreys and Tom Steinfort would step into the roles as the new permanent Today show hosting team, tasked with steering the breakfast program into its next phase.
