Today Show suffers its worst ratings in four years as rivals Sunrise continues its success

A YEAR of drama, including Lisa Wilkinson’s departure, Ubergate involving Karl Stefanovic and his brother Peter, has resulted in shock audience numbers for Channel 9’s breakfast show Today.

A YEAR of drama has resulted in devastating audience numbers of Channel 9’s breakfast show Today.

After the shock departure of popular host Lisa Wilkinson and the now famous Ubergate where Karl Stefanovic and brother Peter slammed their colleagues, Today has struggled to compete against its Channel 7 rival Sunrise hosted by David Koch and Samantha Armytage.

Confidential can reveal Today has suffered its worst ratings in four years.

After a drama-filled year, the Today Show has suffered its worst ratings in four years. Picture: Supplied

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Going on the most weeks won of the 40 weeks in the ratings year, Sunrise can already claim to be the No. 1 Aussie breakfast show for 2018.

For the survey year to date Sunrise has won 22 of 23 weeks across the five metro city audiences. When taking in the ­national audience Today has failed to pull a bigger audience in any week.

The numbers bode particularly poorly for Today executive producer Mark Calvert, who is said to be on the ropes.

Lisa Wilkinson departed from the show last year after a pay dispute. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

This year Ubergate cause controversy among the Channel 9 headquarters. Picture: Instagram

A media insider said while the numbers would not ­impress the bosses at Nine, they would be aware of the negatives.

“Bosses would be well aware that this was a hard sell. It was widely known that Karl and Georgie were not close and then when the Uber story came out it went worse,” the media insider said.

Channel 7's Sunrise are the No. 1 breakfast show on TV. Picture: Adam Head

“It would be disappointing to be beaten so consistently but probably not totally ­surprising.”

A spokesman for Channel 7 said they were pleased with the numbers but would not be making any grand statements.

“This is the strongest performance for Sunrise in four years,” the spokesman said.

“But no crowing from us just yet. We remain focused on the next half of the year.”

Confidential contacted Channel 9, but it did not comment in time for publication.