Updated October 17, 2017 20:53:55

Photo: Lisa Wilkinson will leave the Today Show to join The Project. (Supplied)

Lisa Wilkinson's 10-year run on Channel Nine's Today Show has come to an abrupt halt, with the host moving to the rival Ten Network to co-host The Project.

Wilkinson announced her resignation in a tweet, saying yesterday morning was her final appearance on the breakfast television show.

Wilkinson linked to a statement from Channel Nine saying the network was "unable to meet the expectations of Lisa Wilkinson and her manager on a contract renewal".

In a statement, Ten said Wilkinson would join Carrie Bickmore, Waleed Aly and Peter Helliar on its current affairs show.

"I'm sad to say that today was my last day on the Today Show," Wilkinson tweeted, before adding she was "absolutely thrilled" about her move.

Wilkinson thanked Nine for the "privilege" of hosting the show for a decade and made special mention of co-host Karl Stefanovic and the rest of the cast and crew, who she said were behind the "incredible success" of the program.

Bickmore posted on Twitter, saying she welcomed her "lovely friend" to The Project, while Helliar tweeted the team was "thrilled to tiny bits".

Nine chief executive Hugh Marks said the partnership between Wilkinson and Stefanovic "has taken the show to the success it is today".

Despite the praise, the breakdown in negotiations reportedly came after Nine refused to pay Ms Wilkinson the same as Mr Stefanovic.

Mr Stefanovic earns $2 million each year while Ms Wilkinson only received $1.1 million, News Corp Australia reported.

While Nine reportedly offered Ms Wilkinson $1.8 million, it did not stop her departure.

Wilkinson will also host The Sunday Project, with the program having recently expanded to six nights a week.

Ten chief content officer Beverley McGarvey said Wilkinson was one of the "most-respected journalists and television presenters in Australia".

"In a career that has spanned magazines, radio, television and digital media, Lisa has established herself as a leading figure in the Australian media industry," she said.

A start date has not been confirmed by Ten.

ABC/AAP

Topics: television, media, journalism, australia

First posted October 16, 2017 21:05:03