He could have been the perfect host for this year’s Paris Games.
But former Olympian and Seven Sunrise host Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington lost out when Nine won exclusive rights to broadcast the sporting spectacular back in 2023, fans say.
The 45-year-old former track champ has attracted plenty of plaudits for his insightful comments on Seven’s breakfast show since the Games kicked off on July 26.
However, it has left many viewers wondering what might have been, with Seven’s coverage of the Paris Olympics left seriously compromised by lack of access – with Nine holding the rights.
‘He’s really been dudded by missing out on Olympics coverage,’ posted a sympathetic fan on the TV industry site Media Spy.
They continued: ‘You know he’d have been the face [of the Games] had Seven gotten them [the broadcast rights].’
‘Totally agree,’ added another fan on the blog, which is often used by current and past network TV insiders to pass comment on the current state of commercial television.
‘Sunrise way ahead of Today on reviewing the games results even without much actual footage,’ wrote another.
Former Olympian and Seven Sunrise host Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington has been ‘dudded’ by missing out on official Olympics coverage according to fans. Pictured
‘The conversations between Katie, Beretts and the hosts (Nat and Shirvo/Matt and Mon) have been much more insightful than Karl and Sarah’s effort.’
Viewers didn’t pull any punches when savaging Shirvo’s rivals, with one writing, ‘This is what is missing from Today during these Olympics.’
Another concurred: ‘This is what I expected Today to be.’
The former runner has frequently donned the green and gold in the studio as well as staging his own ‘Olympic’ track and field contest.
He even tried to replicate the Games’ famous chocolate muffins in Sunrise’s Eveleigh studios, a world away from Paris where his Nine rival Karl Stefanovic has been living it up on Nine’s dime.
A Channel Seven spokesperson declined to comment on the social media support for Shirvo.
Shirvington began his co-hosting role at Sunrise alongside Natalie Barr in June, 2023, four months after Nine announced it has won the rights to Games.
However the former Olympian had long been groomed for stardom by the network, ever since being brought on as weekend sport presenter on Seven News Sydney in 2020.
Shirvington lost out when Nine won exclusive rights to broadcast the sporting spectacular back in 2023 (above, with Natalie Barr)
Nine’s coverage of the Games in Paris has meanwhile been slammed by viewers. Pictured: Karl Stefanovic with wife Jasmine
Nine Entertainment paid a whopping $305million for the exclusive rights to the Summer and Winter Olympics over nine years beginning in Paris and up to and including the Brisbane Games set for 2032.
Nine’s deal with the IOC comes after rival network Channel Seven backed out of making an official bid for broadcast rights in December, 2022.
Olympics coverage is highly prized among commercial networks because it guarantees millions of viewers.
‘Didn’t Shirvo originally sign with Seven because they had the Olympics rights?’ mused one viewer on the Media Spy forum on Wednesday.
The former runner has donned the green and gold in the studio as well as staged his own ‘Olympic’ track and field contest during Seven’s coverage of the Paris Games
Meanwhile, Nine’s coverage of the Games in Paris has been slammed by viewers.
Shirvington’s Today rival Stefanovic, 49, in particular has copped plenty of sledging for his comments.
Stefanovic came under fire from fans from the very first day of the Olympics for his commentary of the opening ceremony.
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They accused him of talking over important and entertaining parts of the event with many taking to social media to call for him to be quiet.
‘@Channel9 for the love of God, please tell that imbecile Karl Stefanovic to shut the hell up during the performances. Had planned to watch Channel 9’s Olympic coverage, but if this is an example of the quality of the coverage … I’ll be switching right off,’ one posted.
‘The @9NewsAUS coverage of the #Paris2024 opening ceremony is absolutely dreadful. @karlstefanovic is horrific and has zero insight to offer. Terrible casting for this moment. The ceremony itself is pretty dull. Just a few boats floating down the river,’ added another.
Yet another fumed, ‘Why the f*** would you have Karl Stefanovic as a host for the Opening Ceremony? Todd Woodbridge by himself would have been perfect.’
Shirvington has long been groomed for stardom by the Seven network, ever since being brought on as weekend sport presenter on Seven News Sydney in 2020. Pictured: Shirvington racing at the Sydney 2000 Olympics
Stefanovic is one of Nine’s most high-profile stars and is said to be earning between $1.8million and $2million per year as co-host of the Today show.
He has been with Nine for more than 20 years.
Elsewhere, Nine’s Olympic producers have been slammed for their underwhelming presentation techniques, a failure to provide subtitles for non-French speakers during the opening ceremony.
The network has also taken a hit from fans over its commentary team which includes AFL star Matt Pavlich and cricketer Mark Taylor.