Morning TV fans get ready for a change! After being a fixture in the heart of New York City for almost 26 years Good Morning America is packing up its bags and saying goodbye to its famous Times Square studio. Yep you heard that right GMA is moving!
Moving On Up... or Down: GMA Heads to New Digs in Hudson Square This Summer
Don't worry the show is not going off air. Instead Good Morning America will be joining a bunch of other ABC News programs at the Robert A. Iger building located in 7 Hudson Square. Think of it as a big family reunion for ABC News all under one roof.
This new building is named after the head honcho of ABC's parent company Disney so it's a pretty significant location. It sounds like ABC News is consolidating a lot of its New York operations there including news production editorial teams and even the tech and business folks. Lots of these teams used to be based at the old ABC News headquarters on the Upper East Side at 47 West 66th Street.
A Quarter Century in Times Square: Looking Back at GMA's Iconic Era
Good Morning America has been broadcasting live from Times Square since way back in September 1999. That's a whole generation growing up with GMA in that iconic spot! Back then the hosts were Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson. Talk about a power duo!
Tennis superstar Serena Williams was actually one of the very first guests at the brand-new Times Square studio. She was interviewed by Sawyer and Robin Roberts who was a sports anchor at ESPN back then. How times change!
In 2019 GMA celebrated its 20th anniversary in Times Square. Robin Roberts George Stephanopoulos and Michael Strahan were hosting at that point. The party included a fun video montage looking back at old footage a Broadway-style musical performance and even bringing back a wooden American flag from a previous GMA studio location. It was a real celebration of GMA's history in Times Square.
Joining the Club: GMA Follows Other ABC Shows to Hudson Square Hub
Good Morning America is not the first ABC show to make the move to 7 Hudson Square. The View actually paved the way as the first show to relocate there. Other ABC News programs have followed since then. Even WABC the local ABC affiliate station in New York has moved to Hudson Square. WABC had been broadcasting from the West 66th Street location since 1979 so that was a big change too.
Why the Big Move? Change in the Air for Morning TV
While the article does not explicitly state the reasons for GMA's move some can guess there might be a few factors at play. The article mentions that CBS Mornings is also leaving its Times Square studio around the same time due to cost-cutting by their parent company. It is possible that similar considerations are influencing ABC's decision even if it is not directly stated.
Moving to a consolidated hub might offer more efficiency and updated facilities for ABC News overall. Times Square real estate is also famously expensive so a move could potentially be a strategic decision for the network.
Key Details: GMA's Times Square Exit
- Show: Good Morning America (GMA)
- Old Studio Location: Times Square Manhattan New York City
- New Studio Location: Robert A. Iger Building 7 Hudson Square New York City
- Time in Times Square: Nearly 26 years (September 1999 - Summer 2025)
- First Hosts in Times Square Studio: Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson
- First Guest in Times Square Studio: Serena Williams
- Reason for Move (Inferred): Consolidation of ABC News operations potential cost efficiency
End of an Era But a New Chapter Begins for GMA
It's definitely the end of an era for Good Morning America in Times Square. That studio has been a familiar backdrop for millions of viewers for so many years. But as they say in TV news things are always changing. GMA is heading to a new location and starting a new chapter in Hudson Square. It will be interesting to see how the show evolves in its new home while still keeping its place as a morning TV staple.