Nine bosses ‘genuinely concerned’ about the future of Today after it debuts with nightmare ratings

‘It’s a terrible position to be in’: Nine bosses ‘genuinely concerned’ about the future of Today after it debuts with nightmare ratings… amid claims ‘disgruntled employees are sabotaging the network by leaking secrets’

The future of Today’s new-look panel may already be in jeopardy. 

According to The Daily Telegraph, network bosses were left ‘genuinely concerned’ about the program’s future are it debuted with a week of nightmare ratings that trailed behind that of rival show Sunrise.  

‘They had two things working for them — all the press and the noise of a relaunch,’ a Nine insider reportedly told the publication on Sunday, 

Bad start: Network bosses were left ‘genuinely concerned’ about Today’s future after it debuted with a week of nightmare ratings, according to The Daily Telegraph. Pictured: Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner 

‘Also (Nine) expected a big curiosity factor with an all-new team. However that didn’t materialise at all. In fact, it was DOA (dead on arrival),’ the insider said.  

According to the insider, Nine’s problems are being exacerbated by an increase in information leaks by disgruntled employees at the network.  

‘There are a few too many people within the network who actually want this to fail. And that’s a terrible position for Nine to be in,’ the source claimed. 

'There are a few too many people within the network who actually want this to fail': That's not very nice! According to the insider, Nine's problems are being exacerbated by an increase in information leaks by disgruntled employees at the network. Pictured (left to right): Brooke Boney, Tony Jones, Deborah Knight, Georgie Gardner and Tom Steinfort

‘There are a few too many people within the network who actually want this to fail’: That’s not very nice! According to the insider, Nine’s problems are being exacerbated by an increase in information leaks by disgruntled employees at the network. Pictured (left to right): Brooke Boney, Tony Jones, Deborah Knight, Georgie Gardner and Tom Steinfort

When contacted for comment on claims made by The Daily Telegraph, a Nine spokesperson said: ‘Those claims are rubbish. Those assertions are not true.’ 

Overall, Today earned an average of just 211,000 in week one, a whopping 61,000 less than Sunrise’s rating, the Daily Telegraph has reported. 

Following the controversial axing of former host Karl Stefanovic in December, Today’s much-anticipated relaunch with Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner debuted on Monday with disappointing ratings. 

Fizzling out already? Overall, Today earned an average of just 211,000 in week one, a whopping 61,000 less than Sunrise's rating, the Daily Telegraph has reported. Pictured: Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner

Fizzling out already? Overall, Today earned an average of just 211,000 in week one, a whopping 61,000 less than Sunrise’s rating, the Daily Telegraph has reported. Pictured: Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner

The program was smashed that day by Channel Seven rival Sunrise, with Today drawing in a paltry 197,000 viewers, compared to Sunrise’s 266,000.

Tuesday saw another disappointing result, with Sunrise increasing its lead even further, drawing 275,000 viewers compared to the Today show’s 202,000 viewers. 

The outcome was described by Newscorp as Today’s ‘lowest in 10 years’.   

Noticeably absent: Following the controversial axing of former host Karl Stefanovic (left) in December, Today's much-anticipated relaunch with Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner (right) debuted on Monday with disappointing ratings

Noticeably absent: Following the controversial axing of former host Karl Stefanovic (left) in December, Today’s much-anticipated relaunch with Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner (right) debuted on Monday with disappointing ratings

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