Channel 9 says Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson are safe despite Today’s slump against Sunrise

TODAY and Sunrise were neck-and-neck in the ratings a year ago, but nearly 100,000 viewers have ditched Lisa and Karl since then. Are their jobs safe?

CHANNEL Nine insists Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson are safe, even though Today appears to be on the skids, with the network conceding it’s “worried” about recent ratings.

The ratings gap between Nine’s breakfast show and rival Seven’s Sunrise is growing wider by the day.

Last Wednesday Sunrise, hosted by David Koch and Samantha Armytage, averaged 378,000 viewers across the five capital cities — nearly 100,000 more than Today’s 282,000.

And it wasn’t a fluke. Today was also easily beaten every other day of the week.

Melbourne is the only city where Today grabs an occasional win. Last Wednesday, Today averaged 105,000 viewers compared to Sunrise’s 85,000 there.

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Facing the chop? Not so, says Seven of Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson.

In every other city, Today is consistently getting smashed. It is worst in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth where it sometimes gets half the Sunrise figure.

“Am I worried about this sort of stuff — yes I’m always worried,” Darren Wick, Nine’s Director of News and Current Affairs said.

“Am I stressed about it? No. I’ve realised with this sort of stuff — don’t panic. Does that mean we’ve got our heads in the sand about it — not at all.

“It is still a great show. We will get this thing back on track.”

And he said Stefanovic and Wilkinson’s jobs were both secure.

“We’re not up for chopping anyone’s head off.”

There’s just something about Sam ... Seven says replacing Melissa Doyle with Samantha Armytage has paid off.

The figures are a big turnaround from a year ago when Today and Sunrise were neck-and-neck on around 350,000 viewers nationally.

Since then, Sunrise has steadily risen and Today has gone backwards. Today’s drop has been especially steep over the past three months.

That puts pressure on Stefanovic and Wilkinson, but Wick insists their positions are safe.

“The one thing I’ve learned … is that if you’ve got to make change, make it for the better,” Wick said.

Lots to smile about ... Seven says Sam has made Kochie “a little less daggy”.

“I do not see a better combo than Karl and Lisa in television at the moment. When Karl is on his game with strong breaking news, he is brilliant. He also gives people a smile and a bit of a laugh. Lisa is very strongly admired as well.”

Sunrise executive producer Michael Pell says Seven’s decision in June last year to replace Melissa Doyle with Armytage has been a game changer.

“Sam has made Kochie a little less daggy,” Pell said.

“She has brought out a whole different side to him that we haven’t seen (before).

“They (Armytage and Koch) have great chemistry and you can see that from watching. There is a dynamic at the moment which is a pleasure to watch and that can’t be faked.”

Getting smashed ... Today team (from left) Steve Jacobs, Sylvia Jeffreys, Karl Stefanovic, Richard Wilkins, Lisa Wilkinson and Ben Fordham.

Media analyst Steve Allen says it is clear that viewers have responded positively to the Sunrise shake-up.

“I think Sunrise is far more approachable, warm and friendly (than Today) — like the folk next door,” Mr Allen said.

“Today is more entwined with its historic news leadership heritage and therefore can sometimes talk at or down to viewers.”

Earlier this year Nine CEO David Gyngell was forced to quash speculation that Wilkinson, with Today since 2007, would be replaced.

Doing the smashing ... Sunrise team (from left) Mark Beretta, Samantha Armytage, David Koch, Natalie Barr and Edwina Bartholomew.

Stefanovic, who reportedly has about 12 months left on his contract, is on record as saying he has no plans to leave Today.

The 40-year-old has been with the show since 2005 and won the Gold Logie in 2011.

But the figures don’t lie. Right now Today is on the downward slope.

Something has to change — but Nine is taking a slowly, slowly approach.

“I don’t think the (Today) brand is wrong and I don’t think the people (Karl and Lisa) are wrong,” Wick says.

“(Instead) we need to reconnect and get a message out to the audience that this is still a great show.