The real reason Sonia Kruger dumped Channel Nine for Seven

Sonia Kruger’s decision to end her eight-year tenure as one of Channel Nine’s most famous faces and instead rejoin the Seven Network was one that certainly set TV watchers’ tongues wagging.

But now, the reasons behind the move appear to have come to the surface, with the 54-year-old’s departure motivated by several enticing factors.

Contributing factors

First, according to multiple reports, is a significant bump to the in-demand presenter’s pay packet.

Initially, it’s said both networks were willing to fork out a salary of $500,000 per year, but when Seven upped its offer, Nine simply wasn’t prepared to compete.

Adding to this was Sonia’s apparent want to back out of the often-arduous routine of a breakfast show star - as she has been on Today Extra - and instead spend more time with four-year-old daughter, Maggie.

Motivated by all three factors, the veteran TV star had her representatives instigate negotiations with her new network after CEO James Warburton’s appointment in August, who’s said to be a 'huge fan' of Sonia.

Sonia’s Seven-based future

“She is excited by James’s return to commercial television and his plans to turn Seven around at prime time,” an insider told The Sunday Telegraph last week.

“There are lots of opportunities for a talent like Sonia at Seven.”

Also likely inspiring Sonia to take the leap was the fact her long term partner Craig McPherson is already employed at the network, as its director of news and public affairs.

“Talk is Craig has thrown her name in the mix for the host of Big Brother and is pushing for Sonia to get the job," a source told Woman's Day this week.

Adding to this was the tumultuous state of affairs perforating Nine’s on-air talent for the past month.

Two weeks ago, Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight were ousted as Today anchors in favour of comeback kid Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon.

Days later the program’s sports reporter Tony Jones announced his was leaving his role after just 12 months citing an ‘unsustainable workload’.

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