McCormack, 43, was suspended in April from his role as a journalist on A Current Affair after he was charged with two counts of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child pornography.
"Well before he was ever charged he acknowledged the wrongness and inappropriateness of his conduct and he sought professional help," Judge Paul Conlon said at the Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday when convicting McCormack and releasing him on a $1000 bond to be of good behaviour for three years.
"I am simply unable to conclude that the only appropriate sentence is one of imprisonment."
The court heard McCormack had numerous conversations with an adult male between April 2015 and February 2017 that involved "fantasising about young male persons".
Images of child pornography were not transmitted.
"There has been no attempt to sexually exploit children and no grooming of any child to partake in child pornography," Judge Conlon said.
He said McCormack first saw psychiatrist Dr Michael Atherton in January 2015 because he was suffering long-term anxiety and using alcohol excessively in an attempt to manage it.
McCormack also disclosed he had an attraction for young boys.
In his report, Dr Atherton said McCormack "has a tendency to fantasise and idolise a period in his early life and incorporates this into an attraction to young boys.
"At no time in my dealings within him did I feel like he posed a risk to young people."
