Sunrise bloodbath It’s war
Rivalries, feuds and backroom deals set the scene for an explosive year for Seven
Once heralded a saviour for helping resurrect Sunrise, Samantha Armytage went into hiding last week – checking into a health retreat in Queensland – as rumours again surfaced she could be facing the axe.
And as many experts insist that will be just the beginning of a huge shake-up at Seven, she’s not the only one who may be nervous.
“There’s a whisper that Kochie [David Koch] has gone to the top dogs and told them they need to really consider Sunrise’s Monday to Friday line-up,” reveals one Seven insider.
“Today beat Sunrise in all of Australia’s major cities in 2016, and he’s worried they’re losing their handle on viewers. He and Sam have never really bonded, and the bosses have already secretly lined up Eddie [Edwina Bartholomew] to step up if Sam gets the chop. There’s going to be blood on the studio floor this year. No one is safe.”
Seven insiders say the atmosphere at the network during the past six months has been “toxic”. Big-name stars are worried about job security as rumours of budget cuts swirl, and thanks to the perceived need for “fresh faces” to bolster ratings.
If Sam does go there’ll be no shortage of talent waiting in the wings to replace her. Close friends of Eddie, 33, say she’s already been asked by Seven execs if she’d be interested in Sam’s role.
“Eddie doesn’t want to take Sam’s job off her, but of course it’s what she’s been working towards,” confirms our Seven insider. “Seven had seen her as their entertainment lead, like Richard Wilkins is for Nine, but they’ve realised how popular she is and they now see a much bigger role in her future.”
Even seasoned star Natalie Barr’s job might not be safe.
“Nat is itching to replace Sam, and she’d love to be the one to take the show back to its glory days – but there are whispers that
‘There’s going to be blood on the studio floor this year’
the execs think she’s getting a bit stale. There’s even speculation they might bring a weekend newsreader in to cover her role,” adds the insider.
Sam has previously admitted she felt insecure about landing her position on Seven’s top show, revealing that right before she got the job she thought they were firing her from her afternoon news-reading slot.
And while her appointment initially paid off, with executives celebrating a spike in ratings shortly after the swap, more and more viewers are turning over to watch Karl Stefanovic, 42, and Lisa Wilkinson, 57, on Today. As Today goes into 2017 with its strongest ratings figures in over 10 years, there’s speculation within Seven ranks that the network might even completely overhaul the Sunrise line-up, with some even tipping that Nine defector Michael Usher, 46, may land 60-year-old Kochie’s coveted role on the breakfast show. “Everyone has noticed how much hype there’s been around Michael joining the team, and no one would be surprised if he steps into Kochie’s role – even as soon as next year,” tells our industry insider. “He’s been tipped to be the new host of a re-booted Today Tonight, but he’d also be brilliant on Sunrise. It’s no secret Kochie wants to slow down and concentrate on financial and travel pieces. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some major changes at Seven before 2017 is out.”