Channel Seven’s plans for replacing Sunrise wunderkind Michael Pell are revealed as the executive producer prepares to move to Los Angeles
Channel Seven is putting a succession plan in place as Michael Pell prepares to leave Australia.
The longtime Sunrise executive producer, 38, will leave a gaping void when he exits to take up a new role in Los Angeles sourcing ‘new programming out of the U.S. for the network’, reports The Australian.
Pell’s role could be run by two people moving forward, according to sources.
Moving on: Channel Seven is putting a succession plan in place as longtime Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell prepares to leave Australia. Pictured centre with Samantha Armytage and David ‘Kochie’ Koch
One person would likely oversee both of Seven’s breakfast TV shows, Sunrise and The Morning Show.
The latter is currently run by Sarah Stinson.
The other role would focus on the day-to-day running of Sunrise, the jewel in Seven’s crown.
Next in line? One person would likely oversee both of Seven’s breakfast TV shows, Sunrise and The Morning Show. The latter is currently run by Sarah Stinson (right)
Lagging: Today, hosted by Karl Stefanovic (left) and Ally Langdon (right), has fallen further behind Sunrise in the ratings race since the beginning of the year
Meanwhile, rumours are swirling in the media industry that the move may be a way for Seven to keep Pell on their books, and also far from Nine executives who want to poach the wunderkind for their own Today show.
Today, hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon, has fallen further behind Sunrise in the ratings race since the beginning of the year.
News first broke last month that Pell will step down from the role he’s held for 11 years at Easter.
End of an era: Pell is leaving the morning show after 11 years at the helm
Rumours of Pell’s departure from the network had been circulating for months.
According to a report from Private Sydney in December, the producer was eyeing potential offers in the U.S.
However, Pell confirmed at the time that his current contract with Seven was ‘in negotiation’ and no decisions had been made at that time.
In 2019, the Herald Sun reported that Pell had ‘expressed interest’ in relocating to America, prompting Seven bosses to offer him an annual salary of over $1million to stay at the network.
Exit strategy: Pell is planning to relocate to Los Angeles, but will continue working with Channel Seven in a new role (pictured with Sarah Harris)
Pell is rumoured to be one of the top paid executives at Seven and produces up to 24 hours of live television every week.
He was best friends with Sam Armytage during her time on Sunrise, and she confided in him when she stepped away from the show earlier this year.
Speaking to TV Blackbox in June, he said: ‘We got really close and that is when she came to me and said, “I think I would like to leave because I want to see what life’s all about”.
Talk of the town: Rumours of Pell’s departure from the network have been swirling for months
‘And she’d had a tough year last year. If you aren’t enjoying it anymore you should seek something else to do. You have to do what it’s in your heart and it wasn’t in her heart… it just wasn’t for her anymore’.
Michael said he was ‘fully supportive’ of Sam’s exit from the show, and was delighted that she’s so happy with her new husband, Richard Lavender, 60.
‘She went and met Richard and I didn’t matter anymore!’ he joked, adding, ‘I love Richard. He is a great guy, and I have never seen her happier’.
Moving on: Pell was best friends with Sam Armytage during her time on Sunrise. (Sam pictured with husband Richard Lavender)