'Chemistry of the presenters always takes a bit longer': Nine boss Hugh Marks responds to claims the network is 'under pressure' to revamp the Today show amid shocking ratings just FIVE WEEKS after its relaunch
Nine boss Hugh Marks has responded to claims the network is 'under pressure' to revamp the Today show, amid declining ratings - just five weeks after its relaunch.
Speaking to The Australian this week, Hugh said although ratings are low, there are no immediate plans for an overhaul.
'Chemistry of the presenters always takes a bit longer and we're going to invest in that,' Hugh told the publication.
'Chemistry of the presenters always takes a bit longer': Nine boss Hugh Marks responds to claims the network is 'under pressure' to revamp the Today show amid declining ratings just FIVE WEEKS after its relaunch (pictured are Today hosts Georgie Gardner, R, and L, Deborah Knight)
'This is a thing that takes many years to establish, a new show, and a new format and a new crew.'
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'I'm actually really happy with the production values of the show.'
Hugh added that he doesn't regret giving former Today co-host Karl Stefanovic the boot back in December because it was 'time for him to leave'.
Confident: Speaking to The Australian this week, Hugh (pictured) said that while things are tough for the show right now, they will stick it out
It was his time! Hugh added that he doesn't regret giving former Today host Karl Stefanovic (L) the boot from the show in December, while on honeymoon with new wife Jasmine Yarbrough, saying it was 'time for him to leave'
The ratings have been lucklustre for the new look Today, with the show only drawing in 168,000 five-city metro viewers on Monday, compared to Seven rival Sunrise drawing in 287,000 viewers.
It meant the show plummeted to its lowest ratings since 2005.
Nine came out swinging against a report on Thursday, which claimed Today co-host Georgie Gardner is perceived as 'cold' and an 'ice maiden' by viewers.
Plummeting: The ratings have been lucklustre for the new look Today (pictured), with the show only drawing in 168,000 five-city metro viewers, compared to Seven rival Sunrise drawing in 287,000 viewers
'Outrageous and bullying': Nine meanwhile, came out swinging against a report on Thursday claiming Today show host Georgie is perceived as 'cold' and an 'ice maiden' by viewers
On Thursday, The Daily Telegraph claimed secret focus groups commissioned by Nine had found viewers saw the 48-year-old as a 'smiling assassin'.
Nine's Director of News and Current Affairs, Darren Wick, hit back at the claims, branding them as a complete fabrication and 'outrageous', and accused the publication of 'bullying'.
'This is one of the most deliberate acts of bullying I've ever seen. There are no facts attached to the claims. And the reporter didn't bother to contact Nine to put the claims to me or anyone else for comment,' his statement read.
'Nine's position is that this is an outrageous, false, reckless and defamatory attack on Georgie Gardner and the Today Show.
'The claim by the Daily Telegraph reporter that Nine has conducted focus groups this year is wrong. We haven't as yet commissioned any focus groups for the Today show, let alone held them in 2019.
Hitting back: 'The claim by the Daily Telegraph reporter that Nine has conducted focus groups this year is wrong. We haven't as yet commissioned any focus groups for the Today show, let alone held them in 2019,' the statement read
'The allegations from the article that Georgie Gardner was perceived as an 'Ice Maiden' and is somehow responsible for the poor numbers of the show this year is a fabrication and irresponsible reporting.'
Today debuted its new-look panel in January after sacking former co-host Karl Stefanovic on December 19.
The new panel includes Georgie, Deborah Knight, Tom Steinfort, Brooke Boney and Tony Jones.
While Wick conceded that the new look Today show is so far struggling to pull in viewers, he said Nine were 'not about to hit the panic button'.
He added the network was 'in it for the long haul' when it came to the future of the embattled breakfast show.
Shakeup: Today debuted its new-look panel in January after sacking former co-host Karl Stefanovic on December 19 (Pictured is Today's Richard Wilkins and the show's new entertainment reporter, Brooke Boney)
