Samantha Armytage’s return to the Today show wasn’t the viewing figures Channel Nine had hoped for.
The breakfast show has postponed finding a permanent new presenter after Karl Stefanovic was abruptly axed earlier this year.
With usual co-host Sarah Abo away on maternity leave, the seats have been left empty and Nine has called in the big guns by bringing in Sam to surprise viewers.
Temporary hosts Tom Steinfort and Armytage have been doing their best, but ratings have continued to decline, based on the latest numbers.
Channel Seven rival Sunrise has gone from strength to strength, surpassing Today by more than 200,000 viewers on some days last month.
Sunrise averaged 438,000 national TV viewers last month, compared to Today, which attracted an average of 304,000 viewers.
Samantha Armytage’s return to the Today show wasn’t the viewing figures Channel Nine had hoped for. In the photo next to Tom Steinfort
It follows a series of setbacks for Sam, 49, who took time off from her guesthouse today after breaking her ankle while taking out the rubbish.
“I wish I had a sexy story for you, but I don’t. One morning I was taking out the trash and I just missed the bottom step and twisted it,” she said.
“And I was wearing runners, I wasn’t even wearing heels, so I tore all the ligaments off the bone and part of the bone.”
Meanwhile, Sam’s television career continues to stagnate after The Golden Bachelor Australia suffered another scheduling setback.
The popular dating series has reportedly been postponed for a third time and is now expected to premiere in March next year instead of later this year.
While insiders insist the delay is all part of a master plan, others believe there could be a much more intriguing reason behind the move: Armytage’s television future.
According to the Daily Telegraph, sources close to production claim that the highly anticipated reality show has exceeded expectations during development, prompting executives to reconsider the launch strategy.
Rather than rushing the series onto screens, producers would like to give the franchise the strongest possible start by positioning it for a more competitive viewing period next year.
Temporary hosts Tom Steinfort and Armytage have been doing their best, but ratings have continued to decline, based on the latest numbers
It follows a series of setbacks for Sam, 49, who took today off from her guesthouse after breaking her ankle while taking out the rubbish
But not everyone believes that explanation.
Industry whispers suggest the delay may have less to do with programming strategy and more to do with rumors of Armytage returning to breakfast television.
The former Sunrise star has reportedly emerged as a contender for a permanent role on the Today show, potentially leading speculative executives to handle her on-screen commitments carefully.
If Armytage joins Today in the long run, delaying The Golden Bachelor until March would certainly make sense.
Television insiders claim network bosses may be hesitant to have Armytage appear on a breakfast program every morning while also fronting a prime-time reality dating show in the evening, especially during the crucial early stages of a new hosting role.
