Channel Nine BLASTS a ‘completely fictional’ report claiming Today executives are plotting to steal weatherman Sam Mac from Sunrise
Channel Nine has strongly denied a tabloid report claiming the Today show is hoping to ‘poach’ popular Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac.
According to Woman’s Day, ‘bigwigs’ at Nine are convinced the 38-year-old larrikin is ‘the perfect fit for what they’re looking for’ with Today.
But the network has rubbished these claims, saying there are no plans whatsoever to replace current weather presenter Tim Davies.
Fake news: Channel Nine has strongly denied a tabloid report claiming the Today show is hoping to ‘poach’ popular Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac (pictured)
‘It’s complete fiction. Tim isn’t going anywhere. We – and the viewers – absolutely love him,’ a Nine spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
The article, which Nine insists is a fabrication, includes anonymous source quotes claiming that Today host Karl Stefanovic ‘is keen to get Sam over so they can get that fun stuff back in the mix’.
Today’s line-up consists of co-hosts Karl and Allison Langdon, newsreader and sports reporter Alex Cullen, entertainment reporter Brooke Boney and weatherman Tim.
Unpredictable: According to Woman’s Day, ‘bigwigs’ at Nine are convinced the 38-year-old larrikin is ‘the perfect fit for what they’re looking for’ with Today
Not true! The network has rubbished these claims, saying there are no plans to replace current weather presenter Tim Davies. Pictured: Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon
The show has been snapping at Sunrise’s heels in the ratings in the last few months, scoring some major victories on the east coast.
From 2016 to 2019, Today experienced a ratings slump, which was blamed in part on Karl’s divorce from his first wife, Cassandra Thorburn, and subsequent relationship with a younger woman, Jasmine Yarbrough.
The viewership plunged to crippling lows last year when Nine experimented with two female anchors, Georgie Gardner and Deborah Knight.
Here to stay! Nine is publicly standing by Tim Davies (pictured), Today’s cheerful weatherman
Today’s recent success has put the pressure on Channel Seven’s Sunrise to maintain its status as Australia’s number one.
The network has responded by reinstating Sunrise hosts Sam Armytage and David Koch on five-day weeks.
They were previously working four days a week each, with the shift patterns meaning they only shared the couch from Tuesday to Thursday.
Breakfast TV war: The Today show has been snapping at Sunrise’s heels in the ratings in the last few months, scoring some major victories in the east coast cities. Pictured: Sunrise hosts Sam Armytage (left) and David Koch (right)