In a massive news year that has seen lockdowns, border closures, and the vaccine rollout affect people all over the country, Australia’s big two breakfast programs – Seven’s Sunrise and Nine’s Today – have been there taking viewers through it all.
As the year comes to a close, Nine and Seven have released the stats behind the breakfast shows.
November 26 was the last day of regular broadcasting for the breakfast shows, with summer series kicking in before the two teams (Karl Stefanovic, Ally Langdon, Alex Cullen, Brooke Boney, and Tim Davies on Today, and David Koch, Natalie Barr, Edwina Bartholomew, Mark Beretta, and Sam Mac on Sunrise) return for 2022.
Sunrise
Seven says that Sunrise has marked the 18th year in a row that the breakfast show has ranked #1 in its timeslot – as well as being the #1 breakfast show every day nationally for three years.
According to Seven, Sunrise:
• Won every week in the capital cities and every week nationally in 2021
• Reaches 1,112,000 Australians each weekday, with an average national audience of 450,000 viewers
Sunrise executive producer, Michael Pell, said: “These results are absolutely outstanding and a credit to the entire Sunrise team. It has been a year of mixed fortunes for many Australians, so credible information and trustworthy storytelling have never been more crucial. But Sunrise is also a family and it’s been a pleasure to bring some entertainment to Aussies when they needed it most. Thanks to our loyal audience for making us number one for another year.”
Sam Mac, Edwina Bartholomew, Natalie Barr, David Koch, and Mark Beretta
Today
Nine’s big point of focus this year is their claim that during 2021, Today was the only breakfast show to grow its audience year-on-year across the 5 City in Total People.
According to Nine, Today:
• Was the #1 breakfast show in 2021 in all key demos of People 25-54, People 16-39 & GS + Child across the 5 City
• Was the #1 breakfast show in 2021 in all key demos in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
• Was the #1 breakfast show in 2021 along the East Coast Metro in Total People
• Was the #1 breakfast show in 2021 in Melbourne and Brisbane in Total People
• Was the only breakfast show in Australia to grow its audience YoY in Total People across the 5 City (5.30am – 9.00am & 7.00am-9.00am).
• Today’s audience is up YoY in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide in Total People. (5.30am – 9.00am)
Nine’s director of morning television, Steven Burling, said: “It’s been a challenging year as the pandemic and repeated lockdowns have taken their toll on Australians of all ages. During this time of crisis more and more viewers have made Today their breakfast program of choice for their daily news updates, and some much-needed laughs along the way.
“For Karl, Ally, Alex, Brooke and Tim (as well as the wider production team) it’s been a privilege to be welcomed into our audience’s homes, each and every day.”
Tim Davies, Karl Stefanovic, Allison Langdon, Alex Cullen, Brooke Boney