For nearly five decades, Good Morning America has been one of the country’s most trusted and highest-rated morning news programs. However, over the past couple of years, ABC and its top-rated morning show have been seeing their fair share of struggles. The network, Disney (its parent company), and Good Morning America itself have frequently been targeted by Donald Trump and his administration.
Last year, Trump sued ABC for defamation when longtime GMA anchor George Stephanopoulos said that Mr. Trump was found “liable for rape.” Mr. Trump was technically found liable for sexual assault. In a shocking last-minute decision, Disney CEO Bob Iger decided to settle the lawsuit, donating $15 million to Trump’s presidential fund and paying $1 million in lawyers’ fees.
Related: After $16 Million Settlement, ‘Good Morning America’ Anchor Calls Donald Trump Corrupt
Just last month, ABC fired Terry Moran after the veteran journalist sent out a tweet calling Donald Trump and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller “world-class losers.” Despite the fact that the quickly deleted tweet cost him his job, Moran stood by what he sent out, saying that everything he said was “accurate and true.”
As if that is not enough, Good Morning America has also reportedly been struggling behind the scenes.
Rumors have been circulating that George Stephanopoulos and Robin Roberts do not speak. It’s also being reported that Michael Strahan will be taking a largely reduced role later this year, once his contract is up. ABC has been struggling to find a suitable replacement for him.
Related: ‘Good Morning America’ Reveals Shakeup After 50 Years!
Then, there is the struggle with GMA3: What You Need to Know. Two years ago, anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes were fired when their affair became public. They were replaced with DeMarco Morgan and Eva Pilgrim, but the show hasn’t seen the same success, and last week, it was announced that Eva Pilgrim was leaving the show and replacing Deborah Norville as the host of Inside Edition.
Around the same time, it was revealed that DeMarco Morgan — who had not been seen on the air since June — had also left to “begin a new journey.”
For weeks, fans have been questioning if GMA3 will find new hosts or if ABC will just decide to cancel it. While ABC has not confirmed that the show will be canceled, they have apparently decided to try something new and see how viewers respond.
Related: ABC and ‘Good Morning America’ “Gutted” Amid Huge Layoffs
On July 14, Disney and ABC News announced a new show that will stream exclusively on Disney+, called What You Need to Know. The show will be ABC’s first original daily program created for Disney+.
What You Need to Know is the fast, fresh way to stay ahead of the conversation as viewers start their day. From breaking headlines and the day’s biggest stories to entertainment buzz and viral videos, the show has everything you need to know. Each daily episode of What You Need to Know will be available on demand on Disney+ for 24 hours before refreshing with the next day’s news and headlines.
“What You Need to Know is reimagining what a news experience can look like for Disney+ subscribers — delivering smart, bite-sized commentary on the stories that matter most,” said Alisa Bowen, president of Disney+. “With the trusted voices of ABC News at the helm, this show marks an exciting evolution of our news offering.”
What You Need to Know will begin streaming on July 21, with new episodes premiering daily at 6 a.m. ET.
While What You Need to Know will be ABC News’ first original series created for Disney+, it is not the only news program Disney+ subscribers have access to. Subscribers can watch replays of both Good Morning America and World News Tonight, while also being able to livestream breaking news.
Inside the Magic will keep readers updated as we learn more about the future of GMA3: What You Need to Know, including its possible cancellation.
Are you excited that Disney+ will now have an original news program? Do you think Disney and ABC should work collaboratively to create more original news programs? With the departure of DeMarco Morgan and Eva Pilgrim, do you think GMA3 has run its course, or would you like to see someone new take over? Share all your thoughts with us in the comments!
The post ABC Launches New Morning Show, Potential ‘GMA’ Replacement appeared first on Inside the Magic.
