ABC host's subtle swipe at the Today show: 'Really pleasing'

ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland has taken a subtle swipe at his breakfast show rivals Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon on the Today Show.

After beating Nine's breakfast show every day last week for the first time in 13 years, Michael, who co-hosts the show with Lisa Millar, told TV Tonight, "The result reflects our key point of difference to the other shows. 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!"

Sports presenter Tony Armstrong is a fan favourite on the show, as is weatherman Nate Byrne and finance expert Madeleine Morris.

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Sunrise managed to win the week with 241,000 metro viewers with ABC's News Breakfast coming in second with 195,000 viewers.

The Today show brought in an average of 176,000 viewers, coming in third.

It comes after Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon were reportedly told to "shape up or ship out" as they kicked off the show for 2022.

The Sunday Telegraph reported in January that executives plan to throw "everything but the kitchen sink" at the show to ensure ratings improve.

One source suggested Nine was looking at making Schecri-Lee Biggs a permanent weather presenter and having Brooke Boney become a "roving reporter".

However, one insider said it wasn't all bad news, saying the show still had some wins last year.

"Today has found its mojo," the source told the publication. "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."

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