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Sunrise Under Fire: Copying Today Show Stunt or Just a Media Mashup?

BBG News

Channel Seven’s Sunrise program has faced allegations that they copied a segment from their morning show competitor, the Today show.

On Tuesday, Liam Tapper from Brekkie Central reported on Sydney’s heatwave, immersed up to his shoulders in the Parramatta River.

He did the amusing segment by plunging into the water and holding the microphone above his head.

A day following the incident, Jack Hahn from Nine surprised his colleagues on The Today Show with an unexpected move: completing a live report about Sydney’s water quality while fully dressed and then leaping into a pool at Barangaroo.

One disgruntled viewer on the TV industry blog Media Spy commented humorously, “Sunrise got quite inventive with their television today by sending their Sydney reporter into the water, a day after the Today show did. Ha!

Another viewer chimed in to slam Sunrise, even though the content of each segment was unrelated. 

A different viewer scoffed, saying, “They’re constantly seeking a trending moment for the 7News site, trying to exaggerate things,” and then added, “Especially since today’s [story] became popular online.

Meanwhile, Sunrise co-host Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington was clearly amused by Tapper’s stunt segment.

He chuckled and warned, “Be mindful of the microphone,” as he observed Tapper slipping into the river.

‘[He] looks like a submarine,’ Shirvo joked.

A fresh theory has surfaced regarding an older nickname that Weekend Sunrise host David Woiwod is known by, and this development follows.

Over a decade ago, Woi, now a valued member of our morning crew, began working with us in 2016. On air, he is affectionately referred to by this nickname.

This week, it’s been pointed out that the Sunrise team has started using their endearing brand name more frequently.

However, some armchair critics wonder whether the move was a ‘directive’ from management.

A viewer on the Media Spy blog noted that during Monday’s Sunrise broadcast, weather forecaster Sam Mac and sports commentator Mark Berretta referred to Woiwod as ‘Woi’.

The viewer also added that Weekend Sunrise weatherman James Tobin also called Woiwod ‘Woi’.

It appears that earlier, there was some discussion about what to address him as, but now it’s clear that his team refers to him as ‘Woiwod’ in a casual manner.

‘How do you know it wasn’t a directive?’ replied another viewer on the thread.

The responder stated, ‘To be honest, I’m not familiar with him using that name… however, I remember seeing him referred to as Woi and Woiwod, instead of David, on numerous occasions throughout his career as a journalist.’

During the summer vacation, David Woiwod temporarily replaced the regular hosts, Edwina Bartholomew and himself, in co-hosting the Sunrise program with her, as Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington were taking some time off.

The Sunrise morning show has an unstructured, laid-back approach, earning it popularity, with its longtime host David Koch often referred to as “Kochie” throughout his two-decade tenure.

In a friendly nickname fashion, viewers refer to Koch’s successor as ‘Shirvo’, sports presenter Mark Barretta as ‘Berretts’, and James Tobin as simply ‘JT’.

Seven officially revealed that Woiwod would replace Matt Doran, who relinquished his position as Weekend Sunrise host in December, taking on the role instead.

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2025-01-29 03:20

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