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“I’m going to miss it enormously”: David Koch quits Sunrise

Kochie to sign off Sunrise after 21 years as the longest-serving breakfast television host in Australian history.

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David Koch has announced his departure from Sunrise, ending a 21 year run on the Seven breakfast show.

Kochie will wrap in two weeks as the longest-serving breakfast television host in Australian history, having broadcast a record 16,000 hours of live TV across more than 5300 shows and some 50,000 interviews.

“I have loved every single minute of my time at Sunrise, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved over the last 21 years,” Kochie said. “I’ve been privileged to experience so many adventures, to meet so many incredible people and to cover so many moments of history in the making. It really is the world’s best job,” he told viewers this morning.

“What I’ll miss most is working with the amazing Sunrise team, especially Nat, Beretts and Dave Walters who have been with me for virtually the entire time on the show. I reckon I’ve spent more time with them than my family and it has been an utter joy. I’ll miss the Sunrise viewers who have energised me every single day.

“I’ve also appreciated the support of the Seven Network, from the Chairman down, for allowing me to be myself, for their understanding when I’ve stuffed up – which is more often than I’d like to admit – and for their constant encouragement and respect,” he said.

“I know I’m going to miss it enormously, but it’s time for me to work business hours, and for Libby and I to have a bit more flexibility to enjoy our burgeoning family, to travel and focus on our family business interests in Pinstripe Media and the Ausbiz business channel. As everyone knows, I’m a finance nerd so you’ll still see me pop up every so often on RBA board meeting days or covering other big financial news, but as a guest rather than host.

“Coming up to 20 consecutive years as Australia’s most-watched breakfast show is a nice moment to exit stage left with an enormous sense of pride and gratitude. Thank you for the privilege,” Kochie said.

Seven West Media Chairman, Kerry Stokes AC, said: “David has played a central part in turning around the fortunes of the Seven Network over the past two decades to where we continue to dominate the ratings from dawn with Sunrise, a program he has been with since October 2002.

“I will personally miss David, as he is a thorough professional and a wonderful human being, particularly in the manner he has mentored so many Seven people. I wish David and his wife Libby the best after what has been a rigorous work schedule, which has also included many pro bono roles in the sports and charity arenas.”

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said: “Kochie has been the king of breakfast TV for two decades, taking Sunrise to #1 and helping to keep it there year in, year out. It’s an extraordinary achievement, one that he should be very proud of. But all good things come to an end, and I admire and respect his decision to step away from Sunrise while he’s at the top of his game.

“Kochie is the ultimate team player and I’m going to miss seeing him on screen every morning. I wish him, Libby and the family all the very best for the future, and thank you from everyone at Seven.”

The news comes despite Koch signing a two year contract in October 2022 when he said James Warburton & Kerry Stokes agreed to some flexibility for him, going forward.

“I’ve had long chats with both of them, and they asked me is there a way to come up with a plan that gives you the flexibility you want, and gives you a connection to the network and a continuing focus on Sunrise. I love it dearly. So I’m really fortunate to have the best of all worlds,” he said last year.

A replacement is yet to be announced with rumoured names including Matt Shirvington, Chris Brown and Matt Doran.

This post updates.

29 Responses

  1. I’m not sure it’ll be Chris Brown. Putting a host – even one with a profile – into the context of a show he’s never presented before and where viewers have never seen him is a huge risk. They may well have screen tested him with the rest of the cast and it might work beautifully, but that was the big talking point before ‘Wake Up’ debuted about how fantastic the chemistry between the three of them was and when they actually went to air it was a disaster and one of them was gone 2 weeks later. Matt Shirvington would be the safer option I think.

  3. Interesting that Michael Roland from ABC Breakfast has just gone on leave….could Michael be the replacement for Kochie ?
    The time is right for more speculation as the rumours mill hoes into overdrive.

      1. Yep, 30+ year career at ABC and is also senior reporter for news specials eg US elections – due to his foreign correspondent experience. His leave was long planned and he even had to post on twitter confirming this after news.com.au ran a story about it.

  4. Surely Matt Shirvington has to be #1 pick to replace Kochie. His chemistry with everyone else on the show is wonderful and a joy to watch. He’s a good and knowledgeable interviewer on serious topics and a barrel of laughs on the less serious. Easy on the eye too as you’re waking up eating your corn flakes haha. Whenever he is filling in hosting I tend to stick around and watch longer.
    I don’t feel Dr Chris would be a good fit. Can’t see him interviewing on serious topics and have the knowledge to know the back ground on political topics etc.
    Matt Doran is a good journalist but doesn’t have the easy chemistry with the others like Shirvo has and looks a bit wooden.
    Please leave the brilliant Michael Usher hosting The Latest. I watch it every night he hosts it. His calm delivery style works perfectly at night time.
    Just need James Tobin to replace Sam Mac and I’ll enjoy my cornflakes much more.
    Vote 1 Shirvo please

  5. Surely Chris Reason should get first crack at it. He was, afterall, supposed to be host until he got sick and Kochie was selected to replace him.

  6. Best wishes Kochie for the future. Your last day will be a really sad show. 😥 Sunrise won’t be the same without you. 😭 It would be great if Mel Doyle could say goodbye as they made wonderful duo. The two Matt’s may alternate until July then Dr Chris to take over. Go Power!!!

  7. I personally feel Michael Usher is a great fit…with Nat and for the show….Having said that….I watch ABC News Breakfast, that is when I am up to watch morning shows…I would definitely consider watching the above combination though 👌

  8. It’s been one of the worst kept secrets of 2023 that Kochie was going to pull the plug some time this year, mostly due to his burgeoning workload outside of his Sunrise commitments. Not to mention him wishing to spend more time with his steadily growing family.

    …and good luck to him, too. He’s been one of Australian TV’s most consistently successful talents in the past 20+ years and he deserves to be able to put his feet up when he feels like it.

  10. Best replacement would be Michael Usher. He is so good and works well with Nat but he may not want it. Shirvo is good also and would be a contender. I don’t see Anyone else on the horizon. My guess is that they will rotate it until they find the one.

  11. Such a long run! Good to go out on a high, plus still have him pop up now and again.

    Inevitable in picking his replacement but I think Seven have enough talent to choose from. It’s just getting the all important chemistry fit with the Natalie Barr. I like Michael Usher, perhaps the safe option but different too. Might be a breath of fresh air.

  12. I’m tipping “the square jawed brick with a face” to quote Margaret Pomeranz a few weeks ago on The Weekly because he has a lot of appeal, has plenty of experience at hosting and a very good fan base. Besides he has probably been well rested after his trip to the jungle….. and I for one would start to watch a bit of morning tv again if that be the case.

  13. Wow! This is a shock for a Monday morning! Thanks for your service Kochie, enjoy your retirement!

    I suppose the three candidates to replace him are Matt Shirvington/Matt Doran/Dr Chris Brown?

  14. Good timing for a transition as audiences aren’t warming to the Stefanovic/ Abo duo. So it will take a lot for audiences to leave Sunrise and go to Today.

    1. Disagree. Just because it isn’t winning doesn’t mean the duo isn’t working. I’ve seen very little comments to support your argument, most have been welcoming of Sarah Abo in the role.

  16. I thought he just signed a new two year contract at the start of the year? I like Kochie, it’s the other half of the hosting duties that got me to turn over to Today most of the time. I wish him well in his TV retirement. I follow him in Insta so know how much his family means to him.

  18. So glad to see Kochie off our screens. Funny that I picked Matt Doran to replace Karl on Today when he was let go.
    If Sam Mac goes I could probably put up with Nat enough to watch Sunrise occasionally.
    Still a fan of Today & Sarah has been a great fit.

  19. It’s hard to appreciate now, almost 20 years later just how much Kochie and Mel ‘disrupted’ brekkie TV in this country back in the day. He’s certainly left a legacy. Good luck to him for the future.

  20. I think Matt was groomed for the gig, but the Adele thing may have scuttled that. Shirvo looks made for the gig, but Dr Brown might just pip him…

    1. + 2. I don’t want to see Matt front any show. He’s just not up to it. Matt Shirvington has delivered the goods, is young, charismatic and has strong brand pedigree. I have no problem with Dr Chris Brown but I don’t think logistically can he front a breakfast television program and the new show being produced by Endemol Shine Australia. Michael Usher should be put in contention as well. He is a treasure. Sunrise is the king and queen of breakfast television, and may Kochie enjoy his very well deserved time off. Family is everything.

  21. Wow .. big news . Surely putting Chris brown straight in would put a lot of noses out of joint so you’d have to imagine either shirvo or Matt Doran .. interesting times

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