Sunrise’s new host Matt Shirvington has what it takes to outshine rival Karl Stefanovic according to an industry expert who thinks the former Aussie sprinter is “relatable.”
As David Koch prepares to retire from an epic 21-year reign, the focus is now on whether or not Shirvington can continue Sunrise’s victory over Today.
A former Olympian, network darling and audience favorite – he’ll take over from Koch and push for a 19th consecutive ratings win when he takes on the hosting gig on June 12.
Not surprisingly, the industry is abuzz with speculation over whether or not “Shirvo” and co-host Natalie Barr will be able to maintain Koch’s loyal fan base and withstand another onslaught from the current hosting pairing of Stefanovic and Sarah Abo. .
Veteran media analyst Steve Allen, of independent media agency Pearman Media, agreed that the new host gives Shirvington Today the best chance in years to finally turn the ratings in their favor.
Matt Shirvington will face self-proclaimed larch Karl Stefanovic in the breakfast wars
Karl Stefanovic, who attended the Golden Slipper in March, has another chance to own Sunrise
However, he said Shirvington is a fitting successor to Koch, largely due to the fact that both men are “really relatable” and don’t seem prone to personal life dramas like Stefanovic.
“Because let’s face it…Karl doesn’t always seem to be authentic,” Allen told Daily Mail Australia.
“It seems like he’s always busy with something naughty he’s done.
“Hardly a year goes by that Karl isn’t involved in some kind of cunning.
And while he may be trying to sound relatable, at the end of the day his personal life suggests otherwise…he’s always present at social events with a silver spoon, attends celebrity weddings, and seeks out a bunch of friends on the street. A-list.
“[Producers now]may not want us to judge him for that, but the reality is that the audience does and that’s a letdown.”
By comparison, Shirvington is “really down to earth,” Allen said.
Matt Shirvington just doesn’t seem like the kind of person interested in that world.
“It may not be very urbane, but it is certainly recognizable.”
Shirvington (with co-host Natalie Barr) will permanently host Sunrise on June 12
Karl and his wife Jasmine Stefanovic are having a blast on a recent night out
Matt is married to a high school sweetheart and famous romance novel author Jessica Shirvington
Allen believes Seven will give the audience a “slow slow burn” phase to warm up to Shirvington, but predicts that Today will “throw it all” at dawn in hopes of catching some early defectors.
“Today a million dollar giveaway could be launched on (Shirvington’s) first day or something like that to try and shake the cages a little bit,” Allen said.
“But I don’t see them making a huge, long-lasting dent.”
Sunrise is now overseen by morning TV boss Sarah Stinson – following the departure of former executive producer Michael Pell in 2021 – and has already clocked up a 22-week unbeaten run to start the year.
However, Today has had a handful of significant wins recently, most notably a surprise victory over Sunrise in February, which saw 200,000 viewers across the five capitals compared to Sunrise’s 197,000.
Shirvington was track champion before switching to a career in broadcasting
“We’ve had changes over the years and the show really hasn’t skipped a beat,” says Koch
Today’s numbers are also solidifying along the east coast and so far into 2023 it holds the number one position in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane’s combined numbers.
However, Sunrise remains dominant in Adelaide and Perth.
Seven has yet to formally announce Shirvington’s appointment, but Koch revealed on radio this week that he was happy with the replacement’s choice.
“Yes, I am,” he told 4BC’s Sophie Formica.
“I can absolutely guarantee that they will be younger and prettier than me, so that doesn’t really rule anyone out.
“Sunrise has always been greater than an individual person.
“We’ve had changes over the years and the show really hasn’t skipped a beat — that’s the kind of show we’ve tried to build.
“Viewers feel comfortable with the Sunrise family whether they are working on Weekend Sunrise or weekday Sunrise.
“We have a formula, we have a set of values that we really stick to and that seems to resonate.”