The Daily Telegraph reports
The official ratings season may be a month
away but it hasn't stopped a few champagne corks popping over at Channel 7 with
Sunrise enjoying its strongest start in five years.
Ratings figures show the morning staple, which is currently being hosted
by David Koch (pictured) and Sam Armytage while Melissa Doyle is on leave, has
opened the year with a 40 per cent national advantage on Nine rival Today and
almost double the figures of Today in Sydney.
This Wednesday's episode of Today, hosted by David Campbell and Alicia
Loxley in the absence of Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson, was thrashed by
Sunrise, attracting a measly 250,000 to Sunrise's figures of 359,000
nationally.
In Sydney just 66,000 viewers tuned in, compared to 118,000 watching
Sunrise.
And surprisingly Today's new EP Neil Breen yesterday gave a frank
assessment of Today's dismal start, admitting Seven's decision to keep its
regular hosts on air throughout the summer break was a smart one.
"I think Seven have played it well. They had Mel Doyle on air right
up to Christmas and then they brought David Koch back right after that ...
they've done the hard yards over the summer," Breen told Confidential.
"Channel 9 has made the decision to let Karl and Lisa have a break. I've
been on the job for five weeks and in that time Karl hasn't been on air at
all."
Breen confirmed Today would have its entire "A-team" back on
deck on January 28, but admitted he faced some serious competition from Sunrise
given it has won every ratings year since its arrival back in 2002.
"They have won every year for a decade for a reason. They are
good," Breen said.
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