Good news for Seven as Shirvo’s first week on Sunrise sees ratings win

Brekky TV viewers have weighed in on Matt Shirvington’s first week on the Sunrise couch as the latest ratings dropped.

Sunrise has continued to reap the rewards a week on from Matt Shirvington starting full-time on the morning show, increasing its share in the breakfast TV ratings war.

Some 245,000 metro viewers tuned in to see new host Shirvo join Natalie Barr on Seven’s brekkie show, up from 235,000 last Monday.

Nine’s Today is also slightly up from 188,000 last week to 192,000 in the metro market, while ABC’s News Breakfast had a huge jump to 137,000 metro viewers from 104,000 at the same time last week.

The largely positive reactions continued online for the former sprinter who had been touted to be David Koch’s successor from last year.

“I need to watch someone I trust. On that count Shirvo beats the rest hands down including Kochie,” one posted

While another said “Shirvo has filled in on the Sunrise program many times and when I have watched him you wouldn’t have thought he was only a part timer, he was quite the natural. He’ll do just as well as Kochie.”

Although some viewers shared their support for Today, with one posting “I changed over to Channel 9’s Today show a while back because of getting sick of Kochie. Since Sarah Abo started on the Today show it has been really good so I have stayed with channel 9. I also started watching the Weekend Today show a long time ago because I could not stand the hosts of the channel 7 Sunrise on the weekend.”

Matt Shirvington is receiving positive feedback. Picture: Sunrise

SHIRVO’S FIRST DAY SEES RATINGS WIN FOR SEVEN

Seven maintained its stranglehold on the breakfast TV ratings with some 235,000 metro viewers tuning in to see Shirvington on his first day at the morning show desk.
Nine’s Today drew 188,000 in the metro market, while 104,000 watched ABC’s News Breakfast.
And it was all positive reactions and well-wishes on social media for the former sprinter who was announced as David Koch’s successor.

“Your first morning Shirvo, great, So natural,” a viewer posted on Instagram.

Another added “Matt Shirvo is exactly what Sunrise needed.”

“The best person to replace Kochie” said another.

While one viewer acknowledged the difficult news morning the team had covering the breaking news of the Hunter Valley bus tragedy, posting “Tough gig for your first day today Shirvo. You need to go home after this and hug your gorgeous family.”

Sunrise’s new line up of Sam Mac, Natalie Barr, Matt Shirvington, Mark Beretta and Edwina Bartholomew has continued Seven’s dominance in the brekkie ratings. Picture: Richard Dobson

The 44-year-old took over the coveted job alongside Natalie Barr officially from last Monday, after co-host of 21 years Kochie finished up.

“It is a surreal but really excited feeling. To have the honour and privilege of co-hosting a show like Sunrise is just a dream,” Shirvington said.

“I’ve been in television now for almost 15 years and it has been kind of a second career for me and the idea of taking on a job like this is just a phenomenal thing. It is such a well respected show. It is of value for so many Australians and it is daunting in the sense that you want to continue its amazing success and I am really excited to do that.”

The second fastest Australian sprinter of all time has been a regular fill-in for Koch for about a year, having signed with the Seven Network in 2021.