Today viewers slam Channel Nine show for being too State of Origin focused: ‘The rest of us don’t care’
Sports Tired Today viewers are taking to social media to express their dissatisfaction that the show is too focused on NSW’s state of origin.
Thursday’s episode of Channel Nine’s hit breakfast show saw co-presenters Karl Stefanovic, 49, and Sarah Abo, 38, behind an NRL-branded desk.
Karl opened up about the QLD Maroons’ victory against the NSW Blues, telling Sarah at the start of the show: “I’m not going to gloat, but let’s start with that great taste of victory.”
Throughout the remainder of the programme, many of the Today team, including Karl, Sarah and reporter Brooke Boney, continued to discuss the State of Origin match – which quickly ruffled the feathers of uninterested viewers.
Angry fans took to the Media Spy Forums to express their displeasure at the Today show’s heavy focus on the NRL.
Sports Tired Today viewers are taking to social media to express their dissatisfaction that the show is focusing too much on Queensland’s home state. On Thursday, co-presenters Karl Stefanovic (left), 49, and Sarah Abo (right), 38, sat behind an NRL-branded desk
“I understand it’s a one-off, but today’s show was way too tough for Origin. The rest of the country doesn’t care,” one viewer snapped.
‘Of course report it, but in my opinion it was overload. I wouldn’t be surprised if viewers from Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide switched over.”
“Why is that AFL guy in Melbourne talking about Origin?” asked another viewer and a third chimed in: “They always have one NRL rep and one AFL rep. In that segment they speak both codes.’
Karl opened up about the QLD Maroons’ victory against the NSW Blues, telling Sarah at the start of the show: ‘I’m not going to gloat, but let’s start with that great taste of victory’
It comes after Peter FitzSimons called for the Australian national anthem to be changed after Dylan Wright’s State of Origin performance divided viewers on Wednesday.
The The 2024 Australian Idol winner delivered a stripped-down, guitar-based rendition of Advance Australia Fair to a packed house at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
After the performance, FitzSimons argued that the national anthem after oEvery viewer criticized the singer’s interpretation of the song.
Throughout the remainder of the programme, many from the Today team, including Karl, Sarah and sports reporter Alex Cullen (pictured), continued to talk about the State of Origin match – which quickly ruffled the feathers of disinterested viewers.
‘I thought the rendition of our national anthem was terrible. Why don’t we just stick to what it’s supposed to sound like?’ the user wrote on X.
Peter reposted the comment, saying: “Either that or get a decent anthem to work with, and there can only be one choice: I am, you are, we are Australian.”
Other viewers were also offended by the singer’s ‘diabolical’, ‘hipster’ interpretation of the national anthem written by Scottish-born Australian composer Peter Dodds.
However, other stars including Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson defended Dylan’s ‘remarkable’ performance.