Dominant morning show Sunrise keeps same team for 2019

Channel 7 has locked in six personalities for 2019 to continue its flagship breakfast show’s dominant run in the ratings against Channel 9’s Today show.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it is the approach Channel 7 is taking to Sunrise next year, with the network locking in all six personalities for 2019 after a dominant run in the ratings.

David Koch, Samantha ­Armytage, Natalie Barr, Mark Beretta, Edwina Bartholomew and Sam Mac will all return to the show, with executive producer Michael Pell at the helm, offering stability to viewers at a time when change is in the air for its rival.

The year hasn’t been without its controversies, with Armytage at the centre of national outrage after a segment aired on indigenous children.

Sunrise have locked in Edwina Bartholomew, Natalie Barr, Samantha Armytage, David Koch, Mark Beretta and Sam Mac for 2019. Picture: Seven Network

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In September, the Australian Communications and Media Authority found the discussion, moderated by ­Armytage, “provoked serious contempt on the basis of race”.

Armytage and ­producers were slammed for the handling of the segment, in which commentator Prue MacSween outrageously said “we need to do (the Stolen Generation) again perhaps”.

Protesters subsequently rallied at the Sunrise studio in Sydney’s Martin Place and again on the Gold Coast during the Commonwealth Games.

Earlier this year protesters slammed the morning show after a controversial Stolen Generation comment. Picture: AAP Image/Peter Rae

Controversy aside, the show has continued to dominate breakfast television ratings.

The re-signing of Sunrise’s hosts comes after rival Today show executive producer Mark Calvert stepped down from the role last week after a horror year of ratings and “tension” with its star presenter, Karl Stefanovic.

Today’s ratings have continued to decline this year amid a string of unflattering reports centred on Stefanovic.

Karl Stefanovic is missing from Today as he is on his honeymoon. Picture: Instagram

The absence of both of Today’s hosts (Stefanovic is currently on his honeymoon and Georgie Gardner is on annual leave) hasn’t been lost on the competition.

Sunrise executive producer Pell provocatively took to Twitter to declare that his team “haven’t all flown off” despite it being the non-ratings period.

For the year, Sunrise averaged 454,000 viewers nationally, compared to Today at 347,000.