Australia’s long-running breakfast television ratings battle has entered a new phase, with Nine’s Today recording its lowest audience of the year following Karl Stefanovic’s departure from the program.

The latest viewing figures suggest many regular viewers have yet to embrace the show’s new line-up, allowing Seven’s Sunrise to widen its lead in the highly competitive breakfast television market.

According to overnight ratings, Today attracted approximately 265,000 national viewers on its first weekday without Stefanovic, before falling further to around 230,000 the following morning. By comparison, Sunrise drew more than 450,000 viewers on both days, extending its advantage over its long-time rival.

The figures represent the weakest audience performance for Today this year and have intensified discussion about how quickly Nine can rebuild momentum following the departure of one of Australian television’s most recognisable breakfast presenters.

Stefanovic left the network after a controversy surrounding an interview conducted on his independent podcast. Nine confirmed his departure after the interview generated significant public attention and internal discussion about editorial standards. Stefanovic later said he was disappointed by the way his long association with the network ended but thanked viewers for their support during his more than two decades on the program.

With Stefanovic no longer in the breakfast line-up, Nine has temporarily paired Sarah Abo with a series of fill-in co-hosts while the network considers its long-term plans. News presenter Tom Steinfort has emerged as one of several experienced journalists viewed as a potential permanent option, although Nine has not announced a final decision.

Media analysts say breakfast television audiences often develop strong viewing habits around familiar presenter combinations. Sudden changes can temporarily disrupt those habits, particularly in a market where viewers have multiple established alternatives.

Some industry observers also note that consistency will be important in the coming months, especially as additional presenter changes are expected later this year. Building audience loyalty may depend not only on selecting a permanent co-host but also on maintaining a stable on-air team.

Despite the recent decline, breakfast television remains one of Australia’s most competitive media sectors. Both Today and Sunrise continue to compete for audiences through a mix of breaking news, interviews, lifestyle segments and live event coverage, with ratings fluctuating throughout the year.

For Nine, the immediate challenge is demonstrating that the program can retain viewers while establishing a new identity after Stefanovic’s exit. Whether the recent ratings represent a short-term adjustment or the beginning of a longer trend is likely to become clearer over the coming weeks as the network finalises its presenting team.