Kochie reveals the very surprising ‘typical Sunrise viewer’
Kochie reveals the very surprising ‘quintessential Sunrise viewer’ the show wanted to appeal to in their rise to the top of the ratings
She is a fan favorite on Channel Seven’s Home and Away, known for keeping the peace and always doing the right thing by her family.
And now David Koch has revealed that Irene, a fictional character played by actress Lynne McGranger on the hit soap opera, was the role model for the Sunrise team’s “ideal viewer.”
Koch, 67, who is about to quit Channel Seven’s Friday breakfast show, says that even after 21 years of playing Sunrise, he still calls audiences “Irene.”
“Early on, we talked about who our viewer was, the main viewer that we were going to build the show around,” Koch explained in an interview with TV tonight on Thursday.
Funnily enough, she’s still around today: we came up with Irene from Home and Away. Even now, we still colloquially and affectionately refer to our viewers as “Irene.”
David Koch has revealed the role model for the Sunrise team’s ‘ideal viewer’
Koch said the Sunrise team called the breakfast show audience Irene, a fictional character played by actress Lynne McGranger (pictured) in the hit soap opera
Mom operates the remote control in the family, Koch told TV Tonight on Thursday. Pictured: Lynne MacGranger as Irene in Home and Away. The character is known as a ‘peace keeper’ who always makes the best decision for her family
“Because moms control a morning’s zapper,” he continues. “You have to get moms to turn you on, but that shouldn’t cause a fight with the rest of the family.
It has to be a good decision that Mum can live with… We’ve got the sport for Dad and some news, but first and foremost we had to make sure Irene excite us and make it a good decision for the family.”
The approach certainly paid off, with the team taking Sunrise to the top of the TV ratings ahead of rival Today.
Elsewhere in the chat, Koch, who is commonly known by his nickname “Kochie,” talked about the highlights of his 21-year career on the highly-rated breakfast show.
The veteran cited his broadcast from Antarctica, an Anzac Day special of the Kokoda trail and coverage of the devastating 2006 Far North Queensland cyclone as key milestones.
Meanwhile, Koch revealed his new career move on Wednesday.
The Australian television juggernaut said it would publish a financial advice newsletter called Your Money & Your Life.
He announced the news to his Instagram followers, saying the bulletin will “filter” all financial news into an “easy-to-understand” publication.
David Koch (second from right) will bid an emotional farewell to Sunrise on Friday after co-hosting the highly-rated breakfast show for 21 years
‘I publish a newsletter every Friday. It’s called Your Money & Your Life,” he said in the video post.
“I’m filtering all the important money news I think you need to know into one easy-to-understand newsletter that can really change your life.”
In the post’s caption, Kochie suggested his newsletter could help readers make “smarter money moves” as they “build a prosperous financial future.”
It appeared that the publication will be one aspect of the financial news reporter role he will occupy for the last 18 months of his Channel Seven contract.