Watch out, Sunrise: The Today show closes the gap with Channel Seven’s breakfast show in the ratings – eight months after Karl Stefanovic’s return
Channel Nine’s Today show is closing the gap with Seven’s Sunrise in the breakfast TV ratings.
The once-struggling program, hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon, is snapping at the heels of the market leader in the all-important five-city metro market, the latest figures by OzTam reveal.
Today is also now firmly back in second place, after falling behind ABC News Breakfast earlier this year.
Watch out, Kochie: Channel Nine’s Today show, hosted by Karl Stefanovic (left), is closing the gap with Seven’s Sunrise in the breakfast TV ratings. Right: Sunrise anchor David Koch
On Monday, Today had a metro audience of 241,000, which was just 30,000 viewers less than ‘Australia’s No. 1’ Sunrise (271,000).
However, just a day later, Today crept closer to Sunrise’s 252,000 metro viewers with only 22,000 less viewers at 230,000 viewers.
Sunrise has long been a market leader in breakfast TV, and has won every week and every day of 2020 so far.
Back in the game: The Channel Nine program hosted by Karl (left) and Allison Langdon (right) is hot on the heels of its longest rival – Channel Seven’s Sunrise
Comfortable position: Samantha Armytage and David Koch have been sitting pretty at the top spot thanks to Sunrise pulling in sensational ratings over the last few years
After Today placed third in breakfast TV ratings for 14 out of 28 weeks this year, Today’s Director of Morning Television Steven Burling told The Daily Telegraph in July that he ‘wouldn’t be happy’ until they topped the ratings, but was still ‘extraordinarily proud of his staff’.
Steven tweeted: ‘I won’t be happy with the ratings till we’re #1, but I’m certainly satisfied with a 10 per cent lift in numbers this year.
‘We have world-class hosts and a committed and dynamic production team – I’m extraordinarily proud of all of them,’ he concluded.
Today’s third-place ratings hadn’t always been the case, as the show began the year beating ABC News Breakfast – which is hosted by Lisa Millar and Michael Rowland.
Ratings loss: Channel Nine’s Today show officially became the third-rated breakfast show in Australia after being overtaken by its ABC rivals (ABC News Breakfast) in July
‘We’re committed’: Today’s Director of Morning Television, Steven Burling, explained that he ‘wouldn’t be happy’ until they topped the ratings – but was ‘extraordinarily proud of his staff’
While ABC News Breakfast went on to overtake Today, Samantha Armytage and David Koch have been sitting pretty at the top spot thanks to Sunrise pulling in sensational ratings over the last few years.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted a representative for Channel Nine for further comment.
Offering his insight into why the Today show has been struggling with ratings, Sunrise boss Michael Pell said it could be due to its continually changing panel.
He said: ‘I’m quite surprised at how all of that’s gone down with that show. Not to talk too much about them, but I’ve never seen that many people sacked that quickly for no apparent reason.
‘I think the audience is punishing them for that still. The audience doesn’t like a company that treats people badly.’
Karl, 46, was sacked from Today in 2018 before being reinstated as co-host in January this year alongside 41-year-old Allison.
Rocky path: Karl, 46, was sacked from Today in 2018 before being reinstated as co-host in January this year alongside 41-year-old Allison