The Today Show

KARL AND LISA LIVE AT THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE

From Monday, June 4, at 5.30am on Channel Nine Continue reading »

In a television coup, on her first visit to Australia, singing superstar Susan Boyle will perform three songs live before a studio audience on TODAY next Thursday November 10.

Susan will also chat exclusively to TODAY hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson about her extraordinary life and career since being discovered on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.

More than14 million album sales later, Susan is making her first trip Down Under to promote her new album Someone To Watch Over Me.

Next Thursday, Susan will perform two tracks from the new album – Both Sides Now and Autumn Leaves – plus the song that shot her to international stardom, I Dreamed a Dream.

On her planned TODAY appearance, Susan Boyle says: I’m really looking forward to visiting Australia, I’m having to pinch myself that I’m finally going to be there.

“I’m looking forward to performing on the Today show immensely. It is a real privilege.”

TODAY host Karl Stefanovic says: “This woman, who came from nothing and became a global phenomenon, is the music story of the decade and to be in her presence will be humbling – and everyone knows how much I love a good sing-along!”

Lisa Wilkinson adds: “Australia has wanted to meet Susan Boyle ever since she stunned the world with that first unforgettable performance. 

“She’s living proof it’s never too late to make a dream come true.

“We’re so excited to have her perform live – it is a treat for us and most importantly for all our viewers.

The TODAY Show is now the number one breakfast TV show up and down the Australian east coast.

The show has won 23 of the 40 survey weeks in 2011, giving it an unbeatable lead over Sunrise.

This year TODAY has won Melbourne for the fourth year in a row, Sydney for the first time in eight years, and now the East Coast for the first time in nine years.

TODAY Executive Producer Tom Malone says: “We’re very grateful to our loyal audience and our new viewers for making us the most watched breakfast television show on the East Coast.

“It’s something we’ve been striving for, for several years and we’re humbled by it.

“But the job’s never done – we’ll keep producing the best possible television: first and accurate for news and entertainment.”

Next week, the TODAY team heads to New York City for a huge week of shows.

Broadcasting live from the Good Morning America studios on Times Square, the show will feature performances from Alicia Keys and Beyonce, and special guests Tony Bennett, Kim Kardashian, The Trumps, your favourite Sesame Street characters, and plenty more surprises.

Karl Stefanovic is especially happy about the trip: “They say it’s the city that never sleeps, and I’ve promised Lisa I’m going to test that theory for the whole week!”

Karl Stefanovic produces a fail while telling a joke to the Dalai Lama.

The Today Show has claimed its first national weekly ratings win over rival breakfast series Sunrise in more than seven years.

 The Channel Nine series topped the ratings in the morning timeslot over Sunrise on Monday, Thursday and Friday last week.

The margin of victory was narrow, with an extra 3,600 viewers taking in The Today Show across the week after Sunrise has edged them by 2,400 the week before.

Until last week, The Today Show hadn’t won a normal week outright over Sunrise since 2004.

Source: The Spy Report

Karl Stefanovic’s Silver Logie acceptance speech for Most Popular Presenter last night has angered one or two people who have accused him of sexism.

The Today Show host accepted the award after racing back from the UK where he was covering the Royal wedding for Channel Nine.

When thanking his wife Cas, Stefanovic said: “She has been a great influence on my life and has also got the best arse I have ever seen.”

Seven’s Johanna Griggs called Stefanovic out on it, saying to him during her acceptance speech for Better Homes and Gardens: “Karl, we don’t have bum and boobs jokes; it’s just nice family viewing.”

Griggs went on to tell The Australia afterwards that the ceremony “”didn’t have to be like that… I was just saying, ‘C’mon, guys, it’s a really smart room just lift it a little bit’”.

Source: News.com.au

A week-long study of breakfast television has been conducted by Molkstvtalk.com where Sunrise and The Today Show were analysed for their strengths and weaknesses.

To ensure an unbiased analysis, every episode of both shows were watched and critiqued, meaning 32.5 hours of breakfast TV was consumed the website’s Steve Molk.

While there is no overall “winner” at the conclusion to the study, many valid points are raised which helps us understand the ways in which breakfast television involves its viewers through its hosting style and the reasons it is so addictive.

Head-to-head comparisons are made for the presenters of both shows as well as news, sports, weather and entertainment reporters amongst other things.

For the complete analysis, check out Molkstvtalk.

With two minutes to fill, the presenters of the Today Show engaged in a conversation which on the surface appeared to be about self-protection in the home.

Karl Stefanovic soon found the conversation too much when it veered towards something else.  

The TODAY show launched “March with Magda” this morning, to help Magda Szubanski in her quest for Australia to lose one million kilos!

TODAY has joined the Jenny Craig and Women’s Weekly “Australia’s Greatest Weight Loss Challenge”. Every Monday for the next four weeks, Magda will be visiting cities around Australia and will lead a “march” in the last hour of the Today Show. Everyone is welcome!

TODAY host Karl Stefanovic says the idea was inspired by Magda, “Everytime we’ve had Magda on the show, the response has been amazing. There are a lot of people trying to improve their eating and exercise habits, and we want to help Magda, help them. When we called her she said ‘Great – let’s do it’.”

TODAY viewers will also receive a special joining offer if they call Jenny Craig and mention the Today Show.

But you don’t have to join Jenny Craig to be part of “Australia’s Greatest Weight Loss Challenge”, you can register yourself www.greatestweightlosschallenge.com.au and join thouands of other Aussies who have already joined.

For details on TODAY’s “March with Magda” go to ninemsn.com.au/today.

The Today Show has enjoyed it’s best summer ratings in more than 5 years, posting big wins in Sydney and Melbourne, and steady growth across the 5 city metro market.

Nationally the Today Show is up more than 25% for the same period in 2009. (January on January, Total People), and has already posted 3 national wins. (Jan 1, Jan 7, Jan 8).

The Today Show has won all but one day in Sydney in 2010, enjoying a 36.8% share, compared with Seven’s 31.8%. (Total People)

The Today Show has won every day in Melbourne in 2010, with a huge 42.6% share, compared with just 25.0% for Seven. (Total People)

The Today Show is also winning the key 25-54 demographic in Sydney and Melbourne.

Today’s Executive Producer Tom Malone says the whole team is buzzing about a big year ahead. “The ratings are a great tribute to everyone who’s worked so hard through the summer break to deliver the best shows for our viewers, but we’re only just getting started in 2010.”

Host Karl Stefanovic says it’s great the whole team is working so closely “Lisa, Cameron and Georgie have done a terrific job hosting over summer, and with our reporters in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, Today will be the place to come for your best local news, sport, weather  and entertainment in 2010.”

Lisa and Karl reunite from January 25, with a special summer broadcast from Burleigh Heads in Queensland.

(NB – Today has also enjoyed audience increases in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth but changing schedules due to the cricket on Nine and the tennis on Seven make comparisons inaccurate)