Today pulls 191,000 viewers for its final outing with Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight
Friday morning marked the last outing of the Today show’s current hosting line-up on Nine, with 191,000 metro viewers tuning in.
The news that former host Karl Stefanovic would be returning to the desk in 2020 alongside Allison Langdon – replacing current hosts Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner – didn’t officially break until late on Friday night, however it has since been revealed Friday’s show was Gardner’s last.
Run, Adam, run! Brisbane dad Adam has been running for 2,000 CONSECUTIVE days to get fit and lose weight! #9Today pic.twitter.com/ZtDLyUC5Rv
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 8, 2019
The Today show’s ratings have spent 2019 well below that of rival Sunrise on Seven, which yesterday had 267,000 metro viewers.
In the regions, Today had 87,000, compared to Sunrise’s 176,000 – bringing their totals to 278,000 and 443,000 respectively.
In the earlier segments of the shows, Today had 122,000 metro viewers (191,000 total), while Sunrise was on 163,000 (263,000 total).
It is understood Knight will stick around at Today for the remainder of 2019, alongside fellow contributor Tom Steinfort, before Stefanovic and Langdon take over in 2020.
Stefanovic was sacked at the end of 2018 after a string of negative headlines and a seemingly never-ending spotlight on his personal life.
239,000 metro viewers tuned in to watch the aftermath of his departure. The new 2019 line-up had just 197,000 on debut.
Elsewhere in television yesterday, Seven’s success in breakfast was replicated in the evening news battle, with 843,000 metro viewers tuning in for Seven News. Its national figure was 1.288m.
Nine News had 755,000 in the metro markets, and 986,000 in total. It did, however, win in Sydney and Melbourne.
Nine’s A Current Affair had 592,000 metro viewers, and 828,000 total.
The most-watched entertainment offering in the metro markets was Grant Chester on the ABC (466,000). Its national figure was 702,000.
Nationally, however, The Chase Australia on Seven was most popular. It had 458,000 in the cities, but 763,000 overall.
Ten’s most popular program for the night was The Living Room on 401,000 metro viewers, and 562,000 total.
In the total people battle, Nine took the win, with an 18.4% share of viewing, ahead of Seven’s 16.9%, and Ten’s 12.0%. ABC had 13.3%, and SBS 4.3%.
With the addition of multi-channels, the rankings remained the same, with Nine on 28.4%, Seven on 27.5%, ABC on 18.8%, Ten on 17.9%, and SBS on 7.4%.
Excellent that Karl is returning. Love Allison too. Good luck for 2020. I’ll be watching
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Awsome!
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Extremely disappointed that the network is replacing Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight on today show.
I will no longer favour channel 9 for breakfast television.
Karl Stefonovic is not as popular as you seem to think. He has lost the respect of most people I communicate with.
If the 2 ladies have had a drop in ratings I suggest you take a hard look at the material you have fed them .
Channel 9 is losing the plot NOT Georgie or Deb.
You have lost my support and at least 50 of my friends.
Perhaps you should have done a survey if viewers before axing GG and DK
Sad as I have been a 9 supporter for more than 50 yrs.
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What do you mean by respect? Because his marriage ended and he found happiness elsewhere? What has that got to do with how he performed professionally. Oh the disgrace ..he must be taken off immediately to please those viewers who were envious of his decision to move forward in a positive way! So if this is the main reason he was sacked it is pathetic.
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Yeah Karlos!
Looking forward to a decent brekky show once again
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You have [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] bringing [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] Karl back, and Alison is [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]. I agree with replacing Deb she is [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] But Georgie she is much liked & will be dearly missed. We won’t be watching this breakfast show anymore!??????
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The ratings was the survey.
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I am very happy they decided to remove Georgie and Deb. they were boring [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]. I believe 190,000 viewers a week was deeply because of the producers misunderstanding with the show. I think they should also change the set. Very electronic look alike. A bit too 20th century. Something more alive, like Sunrise on Seven, would do the trick. Karl had that character that was unmissable on live tv and gave a real reason to watch Today. It would be great if they could also bring Lisa back.
Anyways Nine are taking a step in the right direction. Hopefully, they can continue to do so!
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So true
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I can’t wait for Karl to come back…thank God I don’t have to watch the terribly awkward Deb and the sour Georgie anymore ? The stiff finance guy on Sunrise needs a personality transplant.
Karl is funny, funky, irreverent, cool and quirky…I’ve missed watching Today
WELCOME BACK KARL x
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It’s the right decision though if I was in the the Exec producers role I would have argued to delay bringing him back until the move to the new North Sydney studio. It would have delivered a clean relaunch leaving the baggage of that abysmal Artarmon studio set behind.
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Best news! Had to watch Sunrise for SO LONG! Have to say I’ll miss Sam Mac, but it’s back to Today in 2020!
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How about they remove that ridiculous Brooke [Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy] who has no idea and Tony ‘[Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy]‘ sports guy. I would then watch.
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I will really ‘Miss Georgia & Deb they ‘worked so ‘Hard to keep the Show going.
‘Maybe Channel Nine have done them a ‘Favour & they will ‘move on to ‘Better Things & be Appreciated for their Professionalism & Presentation Skills.
‘Good Luck to ‘Both of them .
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disgusted these women are professionals I have been a 9 watcher & family virtually since birth, the ratings were low because Karl is a [edited under Mumbrella’s comment policy] women turned away yes he married the woman still does not heal wounds with female viewers, towards end Karl was nasty also [edited under Mumbrella’s comment policy] to Georgie, do not think I will be watching 9 now that he is coming back, 2 years ago nine said to Karl we will give you a 2 year hiatus and then bring you back, they have, ceo needs [edited under Mumbrella’s comment policy], absolutely disgusted with 9, 67 in January have been watching 9 since 5 yrs old, I rang 9 a couple of weeks ago, gave them my feedback, absolutely fell on deaf ears.
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I believe Karl was given the heave because of his back stabbing of Fellow workers, not his marriage breakup
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Absolutely delighted Karl is coming back.
Thank goodness those two fake people have gone. Will now watch nine again. Look forward to the cheeky Karl’s return.
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I won’t be watching as I don’t like Karl but did like Deb Knight
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So sorry to see Georgie go. When Lisa left I felt that the only person who could fill her spot was Georgie and she did that with grace and style.
Unfortunately she wasn’t matched with an appropriate co presenter. Ben Fordham would have been a perfect match but channel nine will never the know the success rate that the two of them could have produced.
I literally do wake up with Today and have done so for many years but now sadly I feel that it is just another morning show, and I don’t care if I tune in or not.
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Nine should be ashamed of themselves Karl is a descrace I will not watch go seven or ABC talk with your voice
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