Today hosts sign off after big year in news

Today show hosts Karl Stefanovic, Allison Langdon, Alex Cullen, Brooke Boney and Tim Davies signed off this morning, taking a month off air after a very big year in news.

They return in January.

While Sunrise led the year in Total People and weeks won, Nine also talked up some 2020 gains:

• Today is the #1 breakfast show across the 5 City Metro with People 16-39, up 51.6% YoY (Today 31,000 v 30,000 Sunrise)
• Today is the #1 breakfast show in South East Queensland in 2020 with a Total People share of 38.5% compared to Sunrise’s 37.5%. Today won 20 weeks in the 40-week official survey calendar and on averages across the year won overall. (Today 56,000 v 55,000 to Sunrise)
• Today has YoY increase of 10.7% across the 5 City Metro
• Today has YoY increase of 51.6% in 16-39 across the 5 City and up 67.6% in Sydney
• Today has YoY increase of 20.8% in 25-54 across the 5 City, and up 30.5% in Melbourne

Today Extra, hosted by David Campbell, Sylvia Jeffreys and Belinda Russell, has also seen strong growth this year, up 24.5% YoY across the 5 City; up 80.9% in 16-39 across the 5 City and 25% in 25-54 across the 5 City. Weekend Today, hosted by Richard Wilkins and Rebecca Madden, has seen a YoY increase of 8.3% across the 5 City and up 11.9% in the 16-39 across the 5 City.

Nine’s Director of Morning Television, Steven Burling, said: “It’s been a tough year, arguably the toughest year we’ve experienced in a generation. Through this challenging period more and more Australians have returned to Today for not only their daily fix of news, sport and weather – but also to share their breakfast table with a team who are not just experienced journalists; they also know how to have a laugh, invariably at themselves!”

Karl Stefanovic said: “It has been the most testing of years right from the very start all the way through to Christmas, and I just hope that everyone gets the chance to be with their family and friends this festive season. We all love each other a little bit more after the year that’s been, we’ve all missed each other a little bit more and we thank you for waking up with Today.”

Allison Langdon said: “In a year that’s given us everything – and probably worst of all, families that haven’t been able to see each other – this Christmas is more important than any we’ve ever experienced before. For those lucky to be reunited with loved ones, hug your parents, hug your kids, hug your grandparents just that little bit tighter this year. And for all those still divided by geography, may the new year bring much deserved reunions and hugs. Have a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to catching up with everyone in 2021.”

The team began on air on January 5 covering one of the darkest weekends of bushfires this country has ever seen. Back then, masks were being used for protection from thick smoke and the thought of a compulsory lockdown seemed impossible.

As Today broadcast from the Australian Open and then from bushfire affected areas including Kangaroo Island, Mallacoota and Bateman’s Bay, the sinister shadow of COVID-19 hit Australia in March. As the country went on a toilet paper buying binge into lockdown and companies shed jobs in the midst of a brutal recession, viewers tuned into Today. With Karl launching Karl’s Classifieds to help struggling local businesses and the pandemic worsened, Today’s coverage of the violent Black Lives Matters protests in America earned Nine camera operator Adam Bovino a Walkley Award. As the footy seasons came to an end, the rollercoaster US election had the nation gripped.

So after nearly 250 early mornings this year, the Today hosts are taking a well-deserved sleep in over the festive season. From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas, a happy new year and we look forward to waking up with you in January 2021.