Viewers reveal the simple reason ABC’s News Breakfast can never ‘expect to be treated seriously’ as a Sunrise and Today competitor
An upset fan of ABC News Breakfast has put forward a bold theory about why the broadcaster’s morning show will never pose a threat to its commercial competitors.
On Tuesday, the viewer took to the MediaSpy forums to claim that the ABC allowing its News Breakfast hosts to take time off work to work on other projects threatens its overall credibility.
‘How can News Breakfast expect to be treated seriously as a competitor to Sunrise and Today if they allow their presenters to take extended periods of time off to work on other projects?’ They began.
‘If Tony Armstrong or anyone else wants to do additional projects it should be in addition to their breakfast TV role. They’ll be off the air at 9am, so I have the rest of the day to work on these projects!’
Their outrage was directed at sports presenter Tony Armstrong, 34, who returned to the show on Wednesday morning after two months off to work on a new project.
An upset fan of ABC News Breakfast has put forward a bold theory about why the broadcaster’s morning show will never pose a threat to its commercial competitors. Pictured: ABC News Breakfast Hosts
Armstrong co-hosts the popular program with Michael Rowland, Lisa Millar and Nate Byrne.
On Monday, the breakfast slot was led by Sunrise with 379,000 viewers, followed by Today with 325,000 viewers.
News Breakfast, meanwhile, lagged far behind, with ratings not even in the top 30.
Although the presenters from News Breakfast’s commercial competitors – Seven’s Sunrise and Nine’s Today – occasionally work on other projects, they usually find time to juggle this with their presenting duties.
For example, today’s 49-year-old Karl Stefanovic filmed a cameo for the Stan series C*A*U*G*H*T last year, while continuing to co-host his program with Sarah Abo.
On Tuesday, the viewer took to the MediaSpy forums to claim that the ABC allowing its News Breakfast hosts to take time off work to work on other projects threatens its overall credibility. Pictured: sports presenter Tony Armstrong
Last month, ABC presenter Madeleine Morris quit the national broadcaster’s breakfast news show after four years as a finance presenter.
Morris announced her shock departure while airing live on ABC News Breakfast.
The news and business anchor told viewers that she wanted to be more present in her children’s lives.
Their outrage was directed at sports presenter Tony Armstrong, 34, who returned to the show on Wednesday morning after taking two months off to work on a new project.
Although the presenters from News Breakfast’s commercial competitors – Seven’s Sunrise and Nine’s Today – occasionally work on other projects, they usually find time to juggle this with their presenting duties. In the photo: today’s presenters Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo
“I’d love to be there when my kids get up in the morning and I’d hate to have to go to bed before they go,” she said.
In her last decade at the national broadcaster, she spent almost six years as a 7.30 reporter, deputy editor of ABC’s specialist reporting team and as a fact checker.
Announcing her departure, Morris said it was a privilege to work as a journalist and ask questions on people’s behalf.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to all of you who have made me part of your family over the past four years,” she said.
Last month, ABC presenter Madeleine Morris (right) quit the national broadcaster’s breakfast news program after four years as a finance presenter