A new advertising campaign has pointed out a VERY big change to the Today show line-up.
In a new ad released on Thursday, the “all-female” line-up of Deb Knight and Georgie Gardner has been replaced with “Breakfast TV’s most experienced team of journalists. Wake up with Georgie, Tom and Deb.”
Back in January, Deb and Georgie were announced as the brand new line up, with newsreader Tom Steinfort and entertainment reporter Brooke Blurton.
But now, according to the new ad, it seems that Tom has been bumped up to anchor the desk, fuelling speculation that the network is shaking things up.
In the new ad, each of the three anchors are highlighted, including Steinfort, who previously just read the news.
“And when it matters, a voice you can rely on,” the voice over says of Tom.
“Breakfast TV’s most experienced team of journalists. Wake up with Georgie, Tom and Deb.”
(Source: Channel 7)At the beginning of the week, The Australian reported that the bosses at NINE were planning to shake up the female line-up.
“Today’s hosting duo Deb Knight and Georgie Gardner will effectively become a trio,” reported the newspaper. “Expect to see more of Steinfort in all facets of Today from now on, breaking up what viewers perceive to be a competitive dynamic between Gardner and Knight.”
The Daily Mail, who first reported on this story, reached out to channel 9 who said: “Our promos, marketing and publicity has been consistent in its messaging of “wake up with Georgie, Deb and Tom” since we launched in January. Nothing has changed.”
During their debut in January, the new team had to hose down any negativity surrounding their disappointing ratings in the first week following the sudden exit of former host Karl Stefanovic last year.
Tom Steinfort, Georgie Gardner and Deb Knight.
(Source: Channel 9)Also, one to become collateral damage to the overhaul, was Karl’s sister-in-law, Sylvia Jeffreys.
While Karl was axed from the hosting role, Sylvia was shifted to a new gig at A Current Affair while her husband Peter Stefanovic was booted off the Nine Network altogether.
And in a new interview with The Kyle & Jackie O show on Wednesday, the 33-year-old shared further insight into how tough it really was.
“I thought all sorts of things at the time because it was a really weird time to be perfectly honest and there’s no reason to be beating around the bush on there, I think it’s been so heavily documented,” she said.
“It was a strange time – mass upheaval.”
WATCH: The brand-new Today show line-up made their debut in January after mass axings. Story continues below…
The TV star also revealed that the Today cast had been blindsided by the changes, which also saw sports reporter Tim Gilbert axed and entertainment reporter Richard “Dickie” Wilkins sidelined to Today Extra.
“We didn’t see it coming. Not to that extent. I think something had to give, there’s no doubt about that and it did eventually. Externally the pressure was massive,” she said.
Now to Love has reached out to Channel 9 for comment.
