Paul Henry: Breakfast is a long way from its best, but it will improve
Ten Breakfast host Paul Henry has predicted the show’s struggling ratings will improve as its inexperienced production team finds its feet. But he has warned that the network will need to invest in marketing to persuade viewers to try the show.
The show is currently well behind Seven’s Sunrise and Nine. Speaking on this week’s Mumbrellacast, Henry said: “Everyone thinks breakfast is the people you see on television. Much more of breakfast is the ice under the water, and it’s new for all of them.
“The whole idea of producing three hours of live television five days a week is very new for them. Everyone is catching up to different levels as the programme is evolving and growing.”
Asked if he found working with an inexperienced team frustrating, he said: “In every way. Where do I begin? You want everybody to be on the same page at the same time. I’ll call for shots and I can imagine there are 20 people in the control room thinking ‘why didn’t that arse tell us what he was going to do?'”
He predicted that the show will improve over the coming months, although ratings might take longer.
He said: “If it is truly going to evolve properly it will take a long time to get to its best. It’s a long, long way from its best now.”
Yesterday Sunrise averaged a metro audience of 374,000, Nine’s Today pulled in 308,000. Breakfast rated 29,000.
Henry said: “I would like the ratings to be much, much better than they are now. There are two goliaths in breakfast that have been around for a long time that are doing a half decent job.
“The reality is I would hope in six months time, or within the next six months, we would be producing a product which anyone with a modicum of intelligence would be able to see is at least as good if not substantially better than the others.
“That still doesn’t mean you’re going to catch them up – it’s going to take a long time for people to find that out. It’s probably going to cost a lot in terms advertising.
“We are not as good as we should be yet we are getting better and we will continue to get better.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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I actually really enjoy Breakfast. It seems to focus on news stories a lot more than the other networks’ offerings. Yes, it’s not perfect yet, and the hosts can seem immature at times, but its something fresh in morning TV, and I enjoy it.
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So…does Paul Henry ever consider his show is rating less than one tenth of 7 & 9 might just also have something to do with viewers not liking him as a presenter? Blame promotions, blame production…but does this man own a mirror??
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Paul’s the problem alright. That kiwi accent shits me, and I’m a kiwi! Aussies can’t relate to him.
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I tuned in for a few minutes the other day and tuned out pretty quickly as Paul Henry proceeded to talk over everyone else and rudely dismiss anything that came out of the female hosts mouth, all the while spouting off right wing rubbish at every chance. He’s a jackass. He makes Kochie look like an evolved and tolerant leftie. He makes Karl look funny. Just awful.
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Sunrise took 3 years to even get a decent rating position and Seven persisted. They also took off a program that delivered advertiser friendly content (Agro’s Cartoon Connection) before that term was even used
Give them time and they’ll do ok
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I agree with Ricki, Paul Henry is terrible… can not stand to watch the show. One way they might improve ratings is by removing him…
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@ Paul.. Your optimisim is refreshing. Ever considered politics. You may also need a dose of reality though. This audience is going backwards. If it stands any chance then Ten needs to move out Mr Henry. What’s Mr Negus doing for his Ten Crust?? The people have spoken with their remotes. Ten will not fund three hours a day of live TV on a 29k audience for much longer.
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Paul Henry calls it like it is, and doesn’t sugar-coat everything. The show is definitely not as sanitised as the other morning shows. I hope 10 sticks with it – I find it quite entertaining.
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I was really looking forward to Breakfast starting. 10 is supposed to be the young, hip channel and i was looking forward to an amusing breakfast show. Paul Henry lost it for me. I’ll watch it for a while but change channels as soon as he comes on. he’s like watching your grandpa on tv – so much whining! every day it’s something new. i’m so sick of hearing about the same old things – the cost of parking etc etc. he’s like talk-back radio on tv.
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Something about workmen and tools is probably appropriate here.
I’m sure the production staff will now be extra motivated to help him out now.
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Paul’s a genius in my opinion and an outstanding morning show presenter.
Curiosity and desire to openly address topics with his honest view point, despite potential controversy make’s for brilliant viewing. I watch every morning.
Viewers will either love him or hate him though; there is no in-between.
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I enjoy Breakfast as the breath of fresh air that it is. When matched against the sanctimonious, saccharine-sweet dribblings of Kochy and co., or the Far North Queensland yob in a suit that is Stephanovic, the overt Kiwi-ness of Paul Henry ain’t too bad.
What does rile me though is his plainly pro-Abbott / Julia is the Anti-Christ rants. Tone those puppies down a smidgen and yes, I’ll still be watching a far improved show in six months time.
Also, it has the best weather commentary on television. No live crossovers to God-knows-where to some dwarfish B-Grader with not any real clue about the real subject at hand, just an expert standing in front of a weather map telling you in a very clear and precise manner whether or not you should be packin’ gumboots or breaking out the budge smugglers.
Keep it rolling on. Practice may not make perfect but it suits me fine.
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It’s so obvious, just look at the photo – he’s too grumpy for morning tv.
He belongs on 2GBullshitting the battlers with all the other Abbott suck-ups. I can’t watch it because the lack of chemistry between him and his co-hosts is embarassing- they’ve all got those weak smiles you see when the big boss from head office visits the agency. Err!
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I like my breakfast with sugar and warm milk. And I like to think the hosts want to bonk me. Paul Henry wants to hire me…to clean his shoes.
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Aussies need to wake up properly for once and stop being bombarded with SH1t news at breakfast that gives them no persepctive on whats happeinging in the wider world….stupid American gossip over and over again followed by the latest stupid P plater to wrap themselves around a telegraph pole, as tragic as this is, it is NOT news and not worthy 100 times a year..
Paul Henry might rub a few people up the wrong way but at least they are giving a very decent alternative from dumbed down nine and seven and the too boring to open your eyes with – ABC.
Keep at it Ten, Paul and the crew I say.
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Paul Henry is a pain – he”s worse than Ray Hadley and that’s saying a lot
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Pale imitation of the other plastic personality breakfast shows…
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Get rid of Paul Henry and put Sandra Sully in his spot!! She would pull in the crowd, true professionalism yet can still have a joke with her co-hosts.
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Paul Henry is not a Kiwi – he’s a Pom.
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Methinks the anchor is looking in the wrong direction.. it should be the mirror. As someone who’s been on the show as a guest.. i can tell you the problem – him. No idea of the subject matter, rude to people who give up their time to appear, and generally a no-talent waste.
I’m all for opinions and opinionated tv, but this guy is a joke
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No mention of ABC Breakfast which is currently trouncing 10’s offering by a factor of 3-1.
10 got 22,000 the other day. ABC got 60,000+. The big two had between 300K and 400K.
If 10’s show were a horse, you’d shoot it. It’s been 6 months and it’s still a very lame offering.
And IMO the worst part of the show is the bland doctor.
Though I have only seen less than 5 minutes of it in the past 2 months.
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I think Sunrise and Today are getting very same same. I dislike Kochie the most considering he puts too much if his political influence into what is broadcast.
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