Channel Seven’s Sunrise has been accused of ‘copying’ a segment from their breakfast show rival Today.
On Tuesday, Brekkie Central’s Liam Tapper presented a story on Sydney’s heatwave while shoulder-deep in the Parramatta River.
He did the amusing segment by plunging into the water and holding the microphone above his head.
The stunt came just a day after Nine’s Jack Hahn stunned his Today teammates when he finished a live cross on Sydney’s water quality by jumping into a swimming pool in Barangaroo fully clothed.
‘Some very creative television from Sunrise this morning, sending their Sydney reporter into the water, one day after the Today show did. Lol,’ moaned one arm chair critic on TV industry blog Media Spy.
Another viewer chimed in to slam Sunrise, even though the content of each segment was unrelated.
Viewers have accused Seven’s Sunrise of ‘copying’ a segment from breakfast show rival Today after Brekkie Central’s Liam Tapper presented a story on Sydney ‘s heatwave. (Pictured)
The stunt came just a day after Nine’s Jack Hahn stunned his Today teammates when he finished a live cross on Sydney’s water quality by jumping into a swimming pool at Barangaroo fully clothed
‘Always chasing that viral moment for the 7News website to overblow,’ sneered another viewer, adding: ‘Especially after Today’s [story] went viral.’
Meanwhile, Sunrise co-host Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington was clearly amused by Tapper’s stunt segment.
‘Careful with that microphone,’ he said in a fit of laughter as he watched Tapper sink into the river.
‘[He] looks like a submarine,’ Shirvo joked.
It come after a bizarre new theory has emerged over an old nickname used by Weekend Sunrise host David Woiwod.
The 40-year-old Seven stalwart, who joined the breakfast team last year, has been known on air as ‘Woi’ since he joined the network in 2016.
And now critics have noticed that the Sunrise team has taken to use the affectionate ‘brand’ this week.
However, some armchair critics wonder whether the move was a ‘directive’ from management.
Armchair critics at TV industry blog Media Spy accused Sunrise of ‘chasing the viral moment’ over Liam Tapper’s amusing stunt.(Pictured)
Today’s Hahn (R) launches himself into Barangaroo on Monday’s show
Commenting on the TV industry blog Media Spy, one viewer pointed out that Woiwod had been called ‘Woi’ by weatherman Sam Mac and sports commentator Mark Berretta during Monday’s episode of Sunrise.
The viewer also added that Weekend Sunrise weatherman James Tobin also called Woiwod ‘Woi’.
‘So while this forum debated a while ago what he [Woiwod] should be called, it seems that the team does actually call him Woi naturally,’ they said.
‘How do you know it wasn’t a directive?’ replied another viewer on the thread.
The viewer replied, ‘Well, I don’t… but I do recall him being called Woi and Woiwod (rather than David) on his many crosses as a reporter over the years.’
Woiwod was a fill-in host on Sunrise alongside Edwina Bartholomew while regular hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington took a break over summer.
Sunrise is known for its informal and relaxed presentation style with former host David Koch being affectionately dubbed ‘Kochie’ during his two decades on the show.
Meanwhile, Koch’s replacement Shirvington is known as ‘Shirvo’ to viewers while sports presenter Mark Barretta is called ‘Berretts’ and James Tobin is known as JT.
Seven announced Woiwod as the new host of Weekend Sunrise after Matt Doran stepped back from the role in December.