Today show is overtaken by ABC News Breakfast to become Australia’s third-rated breakfast show six months after Karl Stefanovic’s return… as Sunrise continues to hold the top spot
Channel Nine’s Today show became the third-rated breakfast show in Australia after being overtaken by its rivals last week.
The Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon hosted program pulled in 195,000 metro viewers during last Wednesday’s episode, while ABC News Breakfast attracted 200,000 viewers and Channel 7’s Sunrise took the top spot with 257,000 viewers.
After falling in third place, 14 out of 28 weeks this year, Today’s Director of Morning Television Steven Burling told The Daily Telegraph he ‘wouldn’t be happy’ until they topped the ratings, but was ‘extraordinarily proud of his staff’.
Ratings loss: Channel Nine’s Today show has officially become the third-rated breakfast show in Australia after being overtaken by its rivals
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.
‘Not to mention a 19.6 per cent lift in the 25-54-year-old demo,’ he said, while also gushing that the Today show topped ratings in Melbourne and Brisbane on Monday.
‘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 hasn’t always been the case, as the show began the year beating ABC News Breakfast – which is hosted by Lisa Millar and Michael Rowland.
Figures: The Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon hosted program pulled in 195,000 metro viewers during last Wednesday’s episode, while ABC News Breakfast attracted 200,000 viewers and Channel 7’s Sunrise took the top spot with 257,000 viewers
‘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.
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
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, 45, was sacked from Today in 2018 before being reinstated as co-host in January this year alongside 41-year-old Allison.
Rocky path: Karl, 45, was sacked from Today in 2018 before being reinstated as co-host in January this year alongside 41-year-old Allison