LOL, News Breakfast would probably have a mascot wanting people to donate money to the ABC rather than the other way round! 
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Tassie Tiger. Donate now before we are extinct too. 
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Ouch!
Strange to post the article this week as if it was the week when the ratings record happened. It was actually in March.
I can’t be a good feeling for the show to have the owner’s newspapers going after you.
I suspect it is related to the ratings for Today this week falling back to the same levels as last year while the competition is still up.
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Darren Wick and co. wouldn’t even provide a statement to their own paper. I think that says something.
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Michael is celebrating 10 years on News Breakfast.
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ABC journalist Michael Rowland reflects on 10 years hosting News Breakfast
Ten years ago, ABC journalist and former North America correspondent Michael Rowland joined Virginia Trioli as co-host of the fledgling News Breakfast.
A decade on, the program has built a strong, loyal audience and Rowland, alongside new co-host Lisa Millar, continues to enjoy the challenge of delivering a mix of serious news and entertainment.
Here’s his reflection on the memorable on-air moments of the past 10 years.
Epic election broadcast
One of the great things about hosting News Breakfast is reporting on major news events as they unfold.
There are often unexpected developments and you need to be able to think your feet.
As I prepared to host the News Breakfast US election special from a rooftop near the US Capitol, I made sure I was full bottle on what a Hillary Clinton presidency would mean for America and the world, and how improbable it always was for Donald Trump to get anywhere near the Oval Office.
As afternoon turned to night, and key state after key state went to the New York businessman, the three-hour breakfast broadcast became a 10-hour rolling news marathon, as our coverage pivoted to the Republican’s boilover victory.
It was a night to remember.
Sausages, anyone?
The massive day began outside a Washington school, turned polling place, as I tried to bring a touch of Australia to US election day.
My colleague Andrew George had the brilliant idea of getting hold of a BBQ so I could cook ‘Democracy Sausages’ for the local voters.
Needless to say, there were more than a few bemused faces as I served up these election morning treats, smothered in ketchup.
Sadly, despite our best efforts, I don’t think the tradition will take on over there.
The taste test I came to regret
Speaking of food, my 10 years on the Breakfast couch has seen me put my body on the line on numerous occasions in the interests of morning TV.
From eye-watering chilli (I’m looking at you, Alice Zaslavsky), to steaming Haggis, to a spaghetti bolognese pie (truly disgusting), to fried insects (surprisingly tasty), I have gone where many breakfast TV hosts, and their stomachs, have feared to tread.
Seeing the drought up close
I have been on the road dozens of times for News Breakfast, but the trip that still leaves a huge impression on me is my visit last year to drought-stricken areas in Queensland and New South Wales.
Nothing prepared me for the scenes of desolation and it was sobering to spend time with farmers and business owners in the small towns as they spoke of the challenges, but also of their optimism the rain would eventually come.
And the rain has indeed arrived in many of the places I visited, but large parts of the country are still bone dry.
Bushfires
Within a few months of being on the road covering the drought, I was out there again, this time covering the summer of bushfires, first on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, and then on the South Coast as the New Year inferno raged.
I had covered bushfires before, notably the 2013 Blue Mountains fires, but these were well and truly off the scale.
A lasting memory is interviewing, live on News Breakfast, the distraught New South Wales Transport Minister and local MP, Andrew Constance, as he spoke of neighbours losing their homes.
MH 17
Over 10 years, we have been live on air as numerous tragedies unfolded, but the big one for me will always be the downing of flight MH17, in July 2014.
First came the early reports of a plane crashing in eastern Ukraine, then the sinking feeling that a Malaysian Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was bound to have a fair number of Australians on board.
It’s always a challenge in these circumstances to report the horrible news while trying to keep your emotions in check.
One day, perhaps, there’ll be true justice for this appalling crime.
Anzac Centenary at Gallipoli
One of the highlights in each of the last 10 years has been our Anzac Day specials, and none more so than in 2015 when I had the privilege of anchoring our coverage from Anzac Cove at Gallipoli of the 100th anniversary of the landings.
They were long days and even longer nights, with an abundance of technical challenges, but the shows we put to air that week have been among News Breakfast’s finest achievements.
The week of ‘madness’
Speaking of long and challenging weeks, the days that culminated in Malcolm Turnbull’s dumping as Prime Minister in August 2018 are certainly up there.
I was dispatched to Canberra straight after the first leadership spill on the Tuesday morning and spent the next few mornings broadcasting from an exceptionally chilly parliamentary courtyard, interviewing the key players in the rapidly the unfolding drama.
At least I was well prepared.
It was my fifth trip to Canberra in eight years to cover a leadership challenge — hopefully, it will be the last.
In my decade on Breakfast, I have interviewed all the sitting Prime Ministers from Kevin Rudd to Scott Morrison.
Speaking to politicians of all stripes is a key part of the show but getting straight answers from them continues to be one of our ongoing challenges.
Bulldog glory
I have a confession to make.
I have breached ABC editorial standards hundreds of times over the past 10 years through my incredibly biased support for the mighty Western Bulldogs.
A big highlight of my 10 years on Breakfast is cradling the 2016 AFL Premiership Cup, when the bleary-eyed Bulldogs President, Peter Gordon, brought it into the studio on the Monday morning after the Grand Final.
I am sure Peter thought I would never let it go.
Favourite celebrity interview
One of the great joys of the past decade on News Breakfast has been the opportunity to interview some really famous people.
My favourite celebrity interview has to be the one I did in 2016 with Alan Alda, during his visit to Australia to promote science education.
Before the cameras rolled, he had the good grace to pretend it was the first time a journalist had gushed embarrassingly over Hawkeye and M.A.S.H.
During the interview, we spoke about everything from the importance of science to the recent death of Wayne Rogers, who played Trapper John in M.A.S.H.
I was walking on air for days afterwards — now all we need to do is line up Hot Lips.
Thanks to the viewers
So, it has been an action-packed 10 years and it is incredibly fulfilling to see our audience grow markedly over the decade.
My thanks to all my fellow presenters, our hard-working team of producers and directors and, most importantly, to you, the viewers.
Without you, we are nothing.
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Interesting read from 2011. The show was averaging 31,000 viewers.
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Wow, the article says that the show doubled its audience when it moved to ABC1 so to think of it rating half of that on ABC2 is crazy that they stuck with it, but a credit to them at the sane time.
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One of Michael Rowland’s finest moments:
Sorry, couldn’t resist!
But in all seriousness, congratulations to him on a decade of presenting News Breakfast! 
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Amazing growth for the show.
Friday (12.06.2020): Madeline Morris is co-hosting with Michael today.
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Monday ratings
The equivalent day last year Sunrise was closer to 300k, Today was getting 200k and News Breakfast 150k
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Looking at that its clear News breakfast is now having an affect on both Sunrise and Today.
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