Today's 'new era' begins with a ratings whimper
Not even weeks of headline drama, nor curiosity over its new-look hosting lineup, nor a shot of interest afforded by Nine's return coverage of the Australian Open, could salvage Today's ratings after a tumultuous off-season.
The breakfast show, which re-launched without its polarising tabloid magnet Karl Stefanovic on Monday, was hammered in its timeslot by Seven rivals Sunrise, attracting just 197,000 viewers across the five major capital cities, compared to Sunrise's 266,000 viewers.
With regional viewership figures included, Today earned 312,000 total viewers, compared to Sunrise's 427,000 total viewers.
The figures continue a trend that emerged last September when the show fell below 200,000 metro viewers, prompting renewed scrutiny on Stefanovic's role in its flagging numbers and his eventual axing in December.
It also reverses a slight boost that greeted the show's ratings following its pre-Christmas bloodletting, which saw it briefly bounce to 240,000 viewers.
Nine declined to comment on the figures, but a source within the network shrugged off concern, describing Today's renewed ratings battle - led by hosts Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight - as "a marathon, not a sprint".
Echoing the numbers, Today's re-launch on Monday - which introduced new presenters Tom Steinfort, Brooke Boney and Tony Jones - was coolly received online, with negative feedback flooding the show's social media channels and viewers labelling the team's dynamics as "boring" and "dull".
Monday's viewership figures come ahead of the year's official 40-week ratings period, which begins on February 10.