Today has delivered its lowest ratings of the year so far, less than two months after the return of beloved host Karl Stefanovic.
Despite a strong start at the beginning of the year, the Channel Nine breakfast show pulled in a metro audience of just 173,000 on Wednesday.
They fell almost 100,000 viewers behind their biggest competitor, Channel Seven’s Sunrise, which pulled a metro audience of 272,000.
Dropping: Today has delivered its lowest ratings of the year so far, less than two months after the return of beloved host Karl Stefanovic. Pictured with co-host Allison Langdon
The metro ratings measure TV viewers across five capital cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
In Sydney alone, Today’s audience measured 52,000, still behind Sunrise with 69,000.
According to a report by News.com.au on Wednesday, the ratings mark the show’s lowest viewership since Karl, 45, returned in early January, and is close to its lowest ever.
It also marked the second day in a row Today’s viewership has been below 200,000, with the average lower than last year, when Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner were at the helm.
In an interview with News.com.au, media analyst Steve Allen hinted that Karl would have to find a way to win back the audience’s trust.
‘The majority of the breakfast audience is female, and they were the ones that reacted greatly against Stefanovic’s various missteps in 2018,’ he said.
Struggling to keep up: They fell almost 100,000 viewers behind their biggest competitor, Channel Seven’s Sunrise, which pulled a metro audience of 272,000. Pictured (L-R) Sunrise’s Natalie Barr, Samantha Armytage, David Koch and Mark Beretta
‘Our knowledge of that audience is that they don’t forgive easily. We were never convinced his return after a year and a bit of PR boosting would rebuild the bridge.’
Karl was famously axed from the program in December 2018, after 14 years of hosting the long-running TV show.
Asking for forgiveness: In an interview with News.com.au, media analyst Steve Allen hinted that Karl would have to find a way to win back the audience’s trust. Pictured at a Logies brunch on the Gold Coast in July 2019
His departure was effective immediately, with Channel Nine’s director of news, Darren Wick, saying it was ‘time for him to step off’, as reported by The Guardian.
The announcement came shortly after his wedding to Jasmine Yarbrough, 36, amid growing scrutiny surrounding his personal life.
‘Thanks to our viewers mostly, you are what matters most. It’s been a tough time. Thanks for hanging in there,’ Karl said in a statement after the announcement of his departure.
In comparison: It also marked the second day in a row Today’s viewership has been below 200,000, with the average lower than last year, when Deborah Knight (left) and Georgie Gardner (right) were at the helm
Shortly afterwards, it was announced Deb, 47, and Georgie, 49, would be assuming the roles of hosts of the breakfast TV show.
But their run was short-lived, with the series plummeting to some of its lowest ratings on record.
The program’s metro ratings dropped below 200,000 in 2019, with the ABC’s News Breakfast drawing in more viewers for the first time ever.
Taking the plunge: According to News.com.au on Wednesday, the ratings mark the show’s lowest viewership since Karl, 45, returned in early January, and is close to its lowest ever
In November last year, the show suffered its worst ratings for the entire year, with just 155,000 viewers across five capital cities.
That same month, it was announced Deb and Georgie would be departing the program, with Karl returning once again alongside Allison Langdon, 40.
‘Yes, I am as shocked about this as everyone else. It’s not something that I thought would come up again,’ Karl told The Sydney Morning Herald in November upon hearing the announcement of his return.
Marching orders: Karl was famously axed from the program in December 2018, after 14 years of hosting the long-running TV show