Karl Stefanovic’s early return to Today brings in 231,000 metro viewers
Nine’s decision to bring back Karl Stefanovic even earlier than planned has brought an average of 231,000 metro viewers to the network.
Stefanovic, alongside new co-host Allison Langdon, was originally scheduled to return to the chair today, however appeared over the weekend as part of Nine’s rolling bushfire coverage.
The early part of Saturday’s Weekend Today had 169,000 metro viewers.
Stefanovic returned to the prominent position on Saturday morning
Rival Sunrise on Seven was split in three for ratings purposes, with 216,000 for the ‘early’ part, 312,000 for the main program, and 225,000 for the ‘late’ edition.
Stefanovic was previously with the embattled Today show for 14 years. For a large chunk of his time there, he sat next to Lisa Wilkinson.
Wilkinson announced her departure in 2017 after contract negotiations broke down, and very quickly revealed her next gig with Network Ten.
Wilkinson was replaced by Georgie Gardner, but Stefanovic was next on the chopping block.
His departure was announced at the end of 2018, and by January 2019, the new line-up of Gardner, alongside Deb Knight and Tom Steinfort had been announced.
The ratings throughout 2019 however, struggled to make an impression on Seven’s Sunrise.
Knight and Gardner won’t host Today in 2020
Back in 2017, 301,000 metro viewers tuned in to see the unexpected aftermath of Wilkinson’s immediate departure.
Then Gardner’s first outing alongside Stefanovic in 2018 had 256,000 metro viewers.
After Stefanovic’s departure became public, 239,000 metro viewers tuned in.
The 2019 line-up of Gardner and Knight had just 197,000 on debut.
It then consistently sat below the 200,000 metro viewers mark throughout 2019.
Elsewhere on Saturday, 1.144m metro viewers tuned in to watch Seven News, making it the most-watched program. The Latest: Bushfire Crisis from Seven News had 738,000.
Also on Seven, day two of the third cricket test between Australia and New Zealand averaged 510,000 metro viewers for session one, 775,000 for session two, and 762,000 for session three.
Overall, Seven won the evening with a 21.3% share for the primary channel and 28.9% for the network.
ABC was second with 15.3% for its primary channel. Its 24-hour news channel, ABC News, had a 6.6% share, helping the ABC Network to maintain second position with 25.6%.
Nine was third with 11.8% and 22.4%, ahead of Ten’s 7.8% and 13.6%.
SBS had 5.8% and 9.5%.
It was the right decision to bring Karl back to the Today show. Also Ali. She is one of the best female television presenters! Her and Karl will be a great team.
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It really was, Deb was OK but they did not have good chemistry there for they failed. Karl is witty with great humor. The new line up was good. But i really wish they got rid of Brooke Boney. She is to full of her self. Anyways i will be watching now Karl is back. All the best channel Nine.
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I am so glad Karl is back, he’s funny, have a good rapport with people, and he also knows how to interview people from different background.. Welcome back Karl.. I never like the other line up, so cease watching Channel 9..now Karl is back I’m happy…
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WELCOME BACK KARL! YOU HAVE BEEN SORELY MISSED? ALSO WELCOME ALLISON. WHAT A WONDERFUL HAPPY CHEERFUL LADY YOU ARE. WHAT A TEAM WE NOW HAVE. I WILL BE BACK TO WATCHING EVERY MORNING! LOOOOOVED THE SHOW THIS MORNING.
CHEERS. JENNI.
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Opportunist by 9 to slip the new team in a day earlier than every promo run over weeks suggested so with respect people who watch 9 breakfast would have watched full stop. In my humble opinion Karl and Ali had nothing to do with the ratings. Let’s see by Easter how they are going against sunrise. No I don’t work for anyone.
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I do not like the guy have never watch it I love sunrise I am a big fan of that show I am really a big fan of cheannl 7 fan keep up the great work sunrise and I hope you win this year
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Well come back Karl!!!!
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Good to see ya back Karl put sunrise to a sunset guys . Karl go a little easier on Scomo as we can all make mistakes like you and channel 9 have ….Come together and suppprt each other it’s the best way forward…
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Love love love Karl, he’s down to earth and funny…….LOVING Alison . She witty, smart and will keep Karl on his toes…. not so sure about Brooke……I definately will be waking up with TODAY….
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Great to have you back on the morning breakfast show and Ally you both make the show .
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Great to have you back on the morning breakfast show and Ally you both make the show .
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Great to have you back on the morning breakfast show Karl and welcome to Allison l love watching the show.
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Welcome back Karl it just wasn’t the same with out you.
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Welcome back Karl. You and Allison make a great Team. Your both real and human like the rest of us. We invite you in our home every morning. You share the news with us you make us laugh you are both enjoyable to watch. It’s a great start to our mornings. THANK YOU ?
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So glad to have you back Karl. Love Allyson also. You make a great team. I have been in limbo for the last year. Dont get me wrong, I like Deb & Georgie individually, but not as a team. They just didn’t gel together as a team.
Hate Sunrise, especially Kochie….So thank God your back. I will enjoy waking up and turning the TV straight onto Channel 9 every morning
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The minute they got rid of Karl I switched to channel 7 now they Karl is back I’m loving today again he knows how to interview and how to have a joke
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Did you not see sunrise show off their homes while people lost their homes never watch sunrise again shame on you
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Welcome back Karl! I always thought you were a tad over the top silly before – even annoying, but you have toned down a bit & so far I think you’re doing great! Keep up the good work. I’ve always liked Alison – a lovely bubbly personality. You two go very well together. I’ve been watching Channel 9 every morning for many years, & since Lisa left, & that was sad, I think you’ve got it right. Sorry Channel 7, not keen on Kochie.
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So happy Karl and Alli are working together just need Tracy to laugh less louder so we can hear Alli finish her remarks on Karl
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Prepared to give Karl another go and with Alison, he may not always carry on as a clown.
Brooks should have gone, Tim, will have to get used to, but sports reader immature . Who is news reader??
Will watch for a while until again we turn over to 7.
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have missed Karl, so glad you are back.
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After Ubergate “Stufanovics consigned to the black void at CH9. At last I cried and returned back from Seven. Crass individuals with inflated opinions on their value. But alas CH9 desperate for ratings bought two back so CH7 here I come again. You never let the same dog bite you twice.
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Not that keen on karl but I will give him a chance but if he starts his smart mouth remarks to make him look good and others fools then I’m out of there
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Karl and Allison are good , we have plenty of good newsreaders here, surely u could have chosen one of them and left the current one in W A. Sport ok and weather ok. Brooke loves herself but much [edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] than Dickie.
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Get rid of Boney and bring back Dickie otherwise it’s all good
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Welcome back Karl and welcome to Ali. Haven’t missed a morning since you came back. Tried countless times to watch Deb and Georgie but couldnt stand the constant giggling and annoying, not even funny, carry on. Had to change the channel every time or I’d turn it off. Have to say Brooke is still an annoying giggler though.
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Early days I know, but think the today show is heading for a bigger crash than the ratings of 2019.
Karl and Alison are good but should be allowed to run the show themselves without the continual interference from Tracy and Alex.
Tracy should head back to the west as her performance today was in a word, childish. Did she think that she joined up for episodes of Play School?? Her constant giggling is annoying. She should just be what she is supposed to be, a news reader. Alex is almost as bad.
May be turning back to 7 earlier than hoped
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Absolutely love the 2020 line up on Today.
Congratulions Channel 9 .
Best decision you’ve made to bring Karl back..
He truly is King of T.V.
He knows how to create balance ..
Serious with empathy when called for , but brings fun to breakfast television. .
Together with Alli, Jackie , Brooke and Alex they make a great team
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I agree with you Violet regarding Brooke. She’s not suitable for the show at all and I struggle to watch her. She’s immature and too giggly and hopeless at interviews.
The best team would be Karl, Alison, Steve and Richard Wilkins. Always loved Tim Gilbert with the sport. That’s the perfect team!!!!??
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Yes Brooke should definitely have gone.
Stevie and Dickie should be there to make an awesome team.
Tim Gilbert made a good fun sports guy and we miss him.
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Who is Jackie???
Or you you such a great fan of the new lineup that you mean Tracey?
If you have that wrong then you’ve got the rest wrong as well.
The show won’t be so popular in another month or two just wait and see!!
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It’s great to have Karl back. Now we are going back to Channel 9. Ali is great too.
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Totally agree, cant stand him, I was happy to watch Today after he was sacked. Now I refuse to watch Today until he is sacked again
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Sorry I disagree, you think he know how to interview and have a joke? Basically he sucks up to the viewers by stirring the pot, you can see it a mile away, and have a joke.. its all fake, fake snorting laugh too. Totally makes my blood boil, I change the channel straight away even if he is on an Advert.
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Mabel & Ryan, you are so right, Im not a fan either. Its Todays loss to have him back. I wont watch Today until he is gone
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I and everyone I know dont like him. Karl is not kicking goals, he is just offends us. You think Chanel 9 would learn there lesson.. obviously not, they should have listened to the public. He will be gone as soon as they see the ratings drop again and Sunrise ratings increase or his verbal blah blah gets him sacked.
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Karl and Ali are great bring back Tim and Richard and it will the best the others are ok but not the same
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