Karl Stefanovic has reignited a breakfast TV feud that’s been the subject of rumours for more than a decade.
On Wednesday, the 43-year-old Today co-host publicly criticised rival Sunrise on-air for the first time since 2015, calling the panel of David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Mark Beretta, Edwina Bartholomew and Natalie Barr ‘boring.’
It appears viewers disagree with Karl, who – along with his breakfast cohorts – hasn’t won a ratings week since Lisa Wilkinson was his co-host.
The fight is on! Karl Stefanovic reignites historic feud with Sunrise by calling the whole panel ‘boring’ – but viewers disagree as Seven continues to thrash Nine in breakfast ratings
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, a Channel Seven representative pointed out: ‘Sunrise has extended their lead further in 2018.’
‘Today has not won a single ratings week in either measure (five-city metro or nationally) this year.’
Over the last fortnight, Nine’s breakfast show has enjoyed one win in the all-important Metro 5 capital city figures – Sunrise has claimed the other 9.
![Disagree? It appears viewers disagree with Karl, who - along with his breakfast cohorts - hasn't won a ratings week since Lisa Wilkinson was his co-host](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/20/17/4D6FF89E00000578-5864727-Disagree_It_appears_viewers_disagree_with_Karl_who_along_with_hi-a-56_1529511199488.jpg)
Disagree? It appears viewers disagree with Karl, who – along with his breakfast cohorts – hasn’t won a ratings week since Lisa Wilkinson was his co-host
Today’s only victory was on Monday June 4, with the program mysteriously pipping Sunrise by just 2,000 viewers (236,000 to 234,000).
Over the past two weeks of episodes, Sunrise has averaged a daily figure of 262,600 metro viewers, well ahead of Today with an average of 231,600.
Despite the huge deficit, Karl has voiced his belief that Sunrise’s panellists are ‘boring’ and unwilling to support local content and the hardworking staff behind the scenes.
![Grinners! Over the last fortnight, Nine's breakfast show has enjoyed one win in the all-important Metro 5 capital city figures - Sunrise has claimed the other 9](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/20/17/4D6FA98200000578-5864727-Grinners_Over_the_last_fortnight_Nine_s_breakfast_show_has_enjoy-a-53_1529511199099.jpg)
Grinners! Over the last fortnight, Nine’s breakfast show has enjoyed one win in the all-important Metro 5 capital city figures – Sunrise has claimed the other 9
The embattled groom-to-be hadn’t publicly criticised his ratings-dominant rivals since 2015, when he criticised Sunrise for broadcasting in Hawaii for a week.
‘I don’t know why they’ve gone there when they could be holidaying and doing their thing in Australia, and promoting Australia,’ he told News Corp in March that year.
Sunrise’s executive producer Michael Pell hit back at the accusation, saying broadcasting from the US holiday island is like ‘bringing our viewers with us on a holiday’.
!['Boring': On Wednesday, the 43-year-old Today co-host publicly criticised rival Sunrise on-air for the first time since 2015, calling the panel of David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Mark Beretta, Edwina Bartholomew and Natalie Barr 'boring'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/20/17/4D6DACD700000578-5864727-_Boring_On_Wednesday_the_43_year_old_Today_co_host_publicly_crit-a-54_1529511199103.jpg)
‘Boring’: On Wednesday, the 43-year-old Today co-host publicly criticised rival Sunrise on-air for the first time since 2015, calling the panel of David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Mark Beretta, Edwina Bartholomew and Natalie Barr ‘boring’
![Fight is on! For the first time in three-years, Sunrise producer Michael Pell, 35 (Left), found himself labelling Karl a hypocrite, lashing out on Twitter shortly after Today finished airing on Tuesday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/20/17/4D6F6C3000000578-5864727-Fight_is_on_For_the_first_time_in_three_years_Sunrise_producer_M-a-55_1529511199481.jpg)
Fight is on! For the first time in three-years, Sunrise producer Michael Pell, 35 (Left), found himself labelling Karl a hypocrite, lashing out on Twitter shortly after Today finished airing on Tuesday
Karl’s comments were perceived as somewhat of a contradiction since the Today Show team went to the US themselves six-months earlier.
They broadcast the show from several location including Times Square in New York and Universal Studios in California.
Just like back in 2015 it was Michael, 35, who was the only member of the Sunrise team to publicly condemn Karl’s latest comments.
‘I hear our opposition isn’t coming this year. What, they’re too good to support the local industry?’ Karl said of Sunrise’s decision to boycott the Logies on the Gold Coast this year.
‘[Are they too good] to support their own network colleagues who have been lucky enough to be nominated for their hard work?
‘Well, we don’t want you there anyway. You’re all boring!’
For the first time in three-years, Michael found himself labelling Karl a hypocrite, the Sunrise producer lashing out on Twitter shortly after Today finished airing on Wednesday.
‘Bit rich, Karl. First you said you’d boycott the Logies if they moved from Melbourne. Now you’re slamming Sunrise for not attending?’he wrote on Twitter.
‘The exercise is simply too costly for us in 2018. Responsible budget management [equals] supporting local industry.’
He added: ‘Let’s talk about supporting the local industry. How many producers, camera operators, sound recordists, editors, researchers, directors, DAs, lighting technicians, TDs, floor managers… actually get invited to the Logies?
‘What’s the number? That’s what we should be looking at.’
This time he was backed up by Samantha, who tweeted: ‘I agree @karlstefanovic we are boring. So boring you can’t stop talking about us on your show…’