ABC star Michael Rowland’s sledge after smashing Today in ratings war

Popular ABC host Michael Rowland has taken a very subtle dig at his rivals’ expense after winning the breakfast TV ratings war.

ABC star Michael Rowland has taken a subtle shot at his arch rivals after his program smashed Today in the latest ratings results.

After more than 13 years, ABC News Breakfast – lead by Rowland and co-host Lisa Millar – finally beat Nine’s Today show every day last week, coming in at second place behind Sunrise, fronted by David “Kochie” Koch and Natalie Barr.

On average, Sunrise pulled in 241,000 metro viewers last week, followed by 195,000 for News Breakfast – and just 176,000 for Today, which has Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon at the helm.

Over the years, News Breakfast has managed to build up a huge fanbase, with viewer favourites Tony Armstrong on sport, weatherman Nate Byrne and finance expert Madeleine Morris also helping to boost the show’s popularity.

“The result reflects our key point of difference to the other shows,” Rowland told TV Tonight.

“We don’t have ‘News’ in our title for nothing.

“It is really pleasing to see viewers coming to us for information and analysis, particularly in the election campaign. And of course they still get some laughs!”

It has taken more than 13 years for News Breakfast to smash Today.

The hotly-anticipated results will be a fresh blow for Stefanovic and Langdon, who were reportedly told to “shape up or ship out” recently after a disappointing 2021 spent struggling to keep up with competitors.

In January, the Sunday Telegraph’s Sydney Confidential reported that Nine executives were planning to throw “everything but the kitchen sink” at the Today show in 2022 to boost ratings and catch up to Sunrise, after Channel 7 won the ratings war in 2021, with Sunrise securing top breakfast show for the 18th year running, despite Today hot on its tail during some weeks of the year.

It also comes soon after the Today hosts were dealt a massive blow by their own network, with The Australian’s Media Diary column recently revealing the pair were reportedly snubbed by Channel 9 after applying for the coveted gig of leading the network’s election night coverage on May 21.

It’s just the latest blow for Today’s Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon. Picture: Channel 9/Today

Their regular interviews with Australian leaders were allegedly a major part of their pitch – but weren’t enough to get the pair over the line, Nick Tabakoff reported last week.

That’s despite the fact that Stefanovic also managed to pull off major interviews with both Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese in the lead up to the election for 60 Minutes – including Mr Morrison’s now-infamous ukulele stunt.

Instead, Nine has confirmed that the network’s election coverage will be fronted by stalwart Peter Overton, and Alicia Loxley, who replaces Deb Knight, who covered the 2019 election with Overton.

Bill Shorten and Julie Bishop have also been recruited as expert guests on the night.

The latest controversy also comes just days after Stefanovic hit back at persistent rumours he was preparing to walk away from hosting Today, telling 3AW’s Neil Mitchell the claims were “absolutely bullsh*t”.

And it follows a fiery exchange between Langdon and Labor leader Anthony Albanese, with the Today host grilling him on-air after he stumbled over details of one of his party’s major policies in a press conference.

Sunrise stars David Koch and Natalie Barr came out on top yet again. Picture: Channel 7/Sunrise

Langdon opened the bruising interview by asking: “Do you think the Australian people think you’re up to it?”

“I ask that question because I’ve noticed on several occasions you hand over economic questions to someone else,” she continued, listing examples of times Mr Albanese deflected to shadow ministers like Jim Chalmers, Jason Clare and Tony Burke.

“Why don’t you know the answers?” she went on to ask.

Later in the interview, Mr Albanese slammed Langdon’s “absurdity” as she continued to press for an answer.

“Stop reading from the Liberal Party notes that they send through to people all of the time, Ally,” he said.

“This is just an absurdity. I do (know the answers).”

– with Bella Fowler