Charles is really not strong enough to anchor / keep interest in today. If they want to move Karl, then they need to find another option for today, fast.
I think they should give it to Deb. Switch Deb and Jim on 2GB so Deb isn’t doing such a long day and by having Jim do afternoons he could potentially fill in on sport for Nine News if he wanted to.
Tracy hasn’t really been used to her full capacity for a while now. When she’s been called on to do some big interviews they have been great but she’s more an anchor now. The new host will needs to have similar interviewing skills. She seems to suggest she’ll be here for most of the rest of the ratings period - not clear when in November she is leaving. After that, a stand in achor would normally take over anyway, while a new host wouldn’t be needed until after the tennis as I see it.
My personal choice would be to see Liz Hayes be rewarded for her years of service at Nine. Not going to happen but she stands as my all time favourite host of Today. People forget what a great presenter she is because she’s been on 60 for so long.
It would definitely be a career making appointment and highly sought after. It will be a difficult but critical decision for Nine - ACA is really the jewel in their prime time line up easily ahead of the competition in total people. I feel they will aim to try to improve the number of younger viewers with the choice but that will be a difficult balance so as not to lose their loyal older audience.
Imagine the sad he’ll chuck if he’s not given it. The election spat was only the warm-up. Liz would be wonderful but unlikely. I’d see Sarah Abo getting the gig over the likes of Sylvia or Leila.
It would certainly have to be a sweet deal for her to give up radio and two nights of A Current Affair to host ACA weekdays. With young kids, i think she probably would prefer the flexibility that her radio shift allows.
I know its easy to dismiss ACA as lowest common denominator stuff, but you’ve to admit - 17 years hosting a primetime current affairs show five days a week is an incredible stint.
Shes seen off Naomi Robson, Anna Coren and the entire Today Tonight brand, not to mention George Negus and the news revolution, and handled the show’s switch from 6.30 to 7pm. And held the ratings up, given the declines across the board.