REVEALED: Ratings spike for Karl Stefanovic’s return to the Today Show after Nine brought his comeback forward by two days – but Weekend Sunrise powers ahead
Karl Stefanovic‘s return to the Today show on Saturday proved popular, after Nine brought his comeback forward by two days to cover the bushfire crisis.
According to TV Tonight, Saturday’s special Weekend Today drew an audience of 231,000 across the five-cities, up 34,000 viewers from the Saturday before that.
However, Weekend Sunrise still managed to triumph on Saturday, with 312,000 viewers across the five-cities, up 28,000 from the previous weekend.
He’s back! Karl Stefanovic’s (pictured) return to the Today show on Saturday proved popular, after Nine brought his comeback forward by two days to cover the bushfire crisis
The slight Weekend Today spike will surely delight Nine bosses, who only announced Karl, co-host Allison ‘Ally’ Langdon and their new team would be fronting the special Saturday edition of the breakfast show on Friday afternoon.
Karl, Ally and the revamped line-up were also at the helm of Sunday’s Weekend Today, continuing to lead Nine’s coverage on the breaking bushfire crisis.
Nine initially planned on introducing the new Today team on Monday, January 6.
The real ratings battle will begin on Monday, when Today goes up against the weekday version of Sunrise, with Samantha Armytage and David Koch.
On the up! Saturday’s special Weekend Today drew an audience of 231,000 across the five-cities, up 34,000 from the Saturday before that. Pictured: Karl and co-host Allison Langdon
Rivals: However, Weekend Sunrise (pictured) still managed to triumph on Saturday, with 312,000 viewers across the five-cities, up 28,000 from the previous weekend
Karl was famously axed from the Today show in December 2018, and replaced on the panel by Deborah Knight, who took his seat next to Georgie Gardner.
In November, Nine announced Karl would return in January alongside Allison.
The pair are joined on the revamped panel by newsreader Tracy Vo, weatherman Tim Davies and former Sunday Night reporter Alex Cullen, who will present sport.
Brooke Boney has remained as Today’s entertainment reporter.
History: Karl was famously axed from the Today show in December 2018, and replaced on the panel by Deborah Knight (left), who took his seat next to Georgie Gardner (right)
Fresh: In November, Nine announced Karl would return in January with Allison, newsreader Tracy Vo (left) and former Sunday Night reporter Alex Cullen (right), who will present sport
After the group made their debut on Saturday, they were praised by viewers.
‘So unbelievably good to have the main man back @karlstefanovic back on #9Today Just hearing your voice, the show is already 10 times better,’ tweeted one fan.
‘I’ve missed @karlstefanovic so much. He is the perfect person for this situation. He just has such a gentle way with people,’ wrote another viewer.
Many more complimented Karl and Allison’s ‘great chemistry’ on air.
‘I’ve missed Karl so much’: After the group made their debut on Saturday, they were praised by viewers across Twitter and social media platforms