Today show topples to third place in ratings after ABC News Breakfast and Sunrise

Just a few months after hosts Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon were ordered to “shape up” by Nine bosses, the Today show has been hit with a worrying new report.

Channel 9’s Today show has toppled down the ratings ladder this week as the networks ramp up election coverage.

The morning program came in third after rivals Sunrise on Channel 7 and ABC’sNews Breakfast every day this weekaccording to OzTAM ratings reported by The Guardian.

It comes just a few months after reports Today co-hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon were told to “shape up or ship out” after a disappointing 2021 spent struggling to keep up with competitors.

Today is trailing behind competitors in the lead-up to the election. Picture: Channel 9.

Meanwhile, Sunrise, hosted by David “Kochie” Koch and Natalie Barr, dominated in the ratings game this week, making the gap with Today even wider, and the likelihood of another successful year for Channel 7 stronger.

The Guardian’s Media Diary reported that on Wednesday, the Sunrise breakfast team had 234,000 viewers tune in, while News Breakfast had a total of 192,000 combining the main channel’s 116,000 and the news channel’s 76,000.

Today, on the other hand, pulled in 170,000 viewers in the five metro markets.

On Thursday, Sunrise had 238,000 metro market viewers, while News Breakfast, co-hosted by Michael Rowland and Lisa Millar, had 197,000 and Today had 185,000.

Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon were reportedly given a stern talking to at the beginning of this year. Picture: Twitter

In January, the Sunday Telegraph 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.

It comes 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.

Speaking to news.com.au about the year of wins, Channel 7 CEO James Warburton said it came as no surprise that Sunrise, with Natalie Barr as Samantha Armytage’s replacement, maintained its top position.

“Natalie Barr is a superstar, we knew her research, we’ve seen her pretty much fill in pretty much any time,” Mr Warburton said.

“It wasn’t a surprise that she’s as strong in terms of research in the market compared to any other host in that breakfast television area. We knew that refreshing from that perspective would achieve that result.”

Sunrise has been the number one morning show for 18 years.Pictures by Julian Andrews.

But all is not lost for Today.

According to an insider who spoke to Yahoo! News earlier this year, Today has only recently “found its mojo”.

“Even though they didn’t win overall last year, Today had a pretty successful 2021 and claimed wins on the east coast in some markets. They will definitely provide strong competition this year,” the industry expert said.

And while it seems morning viewers have been getting their election fix elsewhere, the co-hosts have been making waves for their political interviews as the tense campaign continues.

This week, Langdon was engaged in a fiery discussion with Labor leader Anthony Albanese, grilling him after he notably stumbled over details of one of his party’s major policies in a press conference.

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).”