ABC News breakfast presenter Michael Rowland sends warning to his breakfast show rivals: ‘I want to break Kochie’s record’
The ABCs’ Michael Rowland wants to be the next ‘king’ of Australian breakfast TV.
The 55-year-old News Breakfast star said he wants to surpass the 21 years that David “Kochie” Koch spent hosting Seven’s Sunrise.
“I want to break Kochie’s record,” Rowland joked of the recently retired Seven star in a new interview with industry blog TV Tonight.
Rowland has already spent 13 on the couch at News Breakfast and he expects to be good for another 9, beating Koch’s record.
“I’m probably feeling the fittest I’ve been in a few years,” said Rowland, who co-hosts the News Breakfast with Lisa Millar.
ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland has sent a message to his rivals on the morning show, telling TV Tonight that he’s keen to beat the 21 years that David “Kochie” Koch has spent as the host of Seven’s Sunrise. Pictured: Rowland with News Breakfast co-host Lisa Millar
Rowland has already spent 13 hours on the couch at the News Breakfast and believes he’s good for another 9 hours, which will beat Koch’s record. Pictured: David Koch, who retired earlier this year alongside Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr
Rowland shared his challenge on his Instagram on Friday (pictured)
“There are ups and downs with crazy hours,” he added.
“But I love the show. I’ve always told people, “This is the best job in broadcasting… I’m so lucky to be in this position.” I love it. Look, Kochie, I’ve come for your file.’
Elsewhere in the chat, the popular host said the Melbourne-based ABC breakfast show was embroiled in a ratings dispute with Nine’s Today, hosted by Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo.
And News Breakfast has even given the #1 morning show Sunrise a ratings scare since its debut in 2008.
“We beat Sunrise once,” Rowland boasted, adding, “Not that they’d take credit for it, but we did.” But Today and we’ve been in a constant battle for second place for several years now.”
According to figures from OzTam, NewsBreakfast toppled Sunrise in May 2022, with one episode winning the coveted award but only 2,000 viewers.
ABC News Breakfast is a regular ratings match with Nine’s Today
Meanwhile, News surpassed Breakfast Today in TV ratings in 2019.
Rowland isn’t afraid to let his commercial rival know.
One week in May 2022, the “Breakfast” news beat today for the first time each day.
After the ratings were released, Rowland took a look at Today and told TV Tonight, “The result reflects our crucial difference from the other shows.” We don’t put “news” in the title for nothing.”
However, News Breakfast regularly seems to lag behind its commercial competitors.
In Thursday’s ratings, the ABC show came in a distant third with 148,000 Metro viewers, while Today drew 203,000.
News Breakfast toppled Sunrise’s ratings once in 13 years. Pictured: Sunrise presenters Natalie Barr and Matt “Shirvo” Shirvington
One week in May 2022 News Breakfast hit Today for the first time ever (pictured: Today co-hosts Karl Stefanovic, left, and Sarah Abo, right)
Sunrise won the breakfast fight in front of 208,000 spectators in the major centers.
Seven’s Sunrise, hosted by Natalie Barr and Matt “Shirvo” Shirvington, regularly takes first place in the Breakfast Wars.
But Team Seven suffered a surprise defeat last week when Today scored a rare win over Sunrise in Metro ratings, topping 195,000 viewers on Wednesday.
Sunrise reached 193,000 fans for the same slot.