wabceyewitness

Actually, in looking at the previous broadcasts, the new theme debuted on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The weekend edition looks like it's still using the previous theme... at least it was this morning.

I noticed that, too. Just when I was getting used to the one they debuted last year. This one sounds like a different cut of it.

Late 2015 / early 2016, they removed Diana's name from the opening and Bill stopped saying he was subbing for her. This was after she had reduced her work schedule to take care of her family. They never officially announced him as the host, and his name wasn't added to the open, but he is the host. Oddly, many of the program guides and WABC's own website still list it is "UpClose with Diana Williams".

Katie Couric will fill in as co-anchor of TODAY during the week of January 2. The last time Couric hosted a morning show was for a week in April 2012, filling in for Robin Roberts on Good Morning America. Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/hollywood/la-fi-ct-katie-couric-today-20161221-story.html

This is ABC's thinking: Michael Strahan doesn't really fit in well as a co-anchor, but let's sit him next to two tried and trusted anchors and see if viewers don't really notice. The Strahan Show wasn't working well at 8:30 so let's start it at 8am and go for a full hour instead of limiting the train wreck to just 30 minutes. Maybe viewers will like that better.

Linsey Davis a full time ABC News correspondent, not a freelancer. ABC should, at the very least, suspend her.

Linsey Davis should be suspended for this. ABC has taken the producer out of the field why not Davis also? She clearly knew what was happening and, against her better judgement, allowed it to happen.

Here's his official welcome from the station: http://abc7ny.com/sports/7-things-to-know-about-new-sports-anchor-ryan-field/1574454/ Here's a Facebook Live they did after the 6pm: https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.9040-29/10000000_1185517028189168_2146735503351742464_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOjE1MDAsInJsYSI6NDA5NiwidmVuY29kZV90YWciOiJzZCJ9&rl=1500&vabr=532&oh=62a83e747d8c293c9b7d744d1800ff69&oe=581188B5

Playing devil's advocate here: Assuming like any other station, they have at least a reporter and staff on hand or on standby should something serious enough happen that warrants breaking in after midnight (or after 11pm, in WNYW's case).... Aren't you essentially getting the same newscast anyway? Why does have to be live just for the sake of being live? That's equivalent to sending the reporter to do alive shot outside of a courthouse that closed 6 hours earlier. Finally, how is this any different from what all three broadcast network news divisions do? After all, viewers out west usually get a 3 hour old morning and evening newscast with little or no updates except for days when there's breaking news or a story affecting the west. Again, just playing devil's advocate. I'm a fan of having it done live but if they feel they can save money and offer the same newscast, then why not?

Looks like they recorded his talent open video today, too.

Agreed. Billy Bush being released from NBC means nothing for Good Morning America and the fact that they're alienating viewers with the Strahan train wreck. Besides, Bush and Today's third hour competes with "Live" on most ABC stations, not Good Morning America.

I'm surprised, too.

Ryan Field of FOX Sports has been named lead sports anchor at WABC, according to twitter accounts belonging to ABC7NY, Field and news anchor Bill Ritter. Here's his FOX bio: http://www.foxsports.com/presspass/bios/on-air/ryan-field

Have noticed lately that WABC has removed a lot of the banter that happens to toss to weather and, in the mornings, to traffic. Instead, a stinger just happens and the weather or traffic anchor introduces themselves and goes on with the report. Today at 5pm, the anchors didn't even say goodbye. Diana introduced the last report and when the reporter gave her sign off, they just went straight to the 6pm open. I kind of like it especially on busy and serious news days but also kind of miss some of the chatter that would happen.

Never said he was unqualified - I said inexperienced and, as a journalist, he is. As a broadcaster, he's certainly paid his dues and gained credibility as a television host through his work on FOX NFL Sunday and LIVE. As a journalist, he has a long way to go and, comparing him right now to his co-anchors isn't a fair comparison. George Stephanopolous, the former political strategist, put in plenty of years hosting This Week, reporting for ABC News programs and subbing many times on WNT before being named anchor GMA. Robin Roberts, the former sports reporter, spent six years contributing to GMA before being made news reader first then co-anchor 4 years after that. The point is, George and Robin gained experience and credibility before being put in the anchor position -- Michael has not and there are plenty of people at ABC News - Amy Robach in particular - who are better suited right now for an anchor position. Michael might be one day, but not today.

Can you add something useful or relevant to this conversation or are you just here to add negativity to the board? On a related note, your opinion about how many times is too much for one to post about the same subject really has nothing to do with the conversation the rest of us have been having. Back the original topic of Good Morning America: I do hope they give a chance to the actual journalists working there to have the same position and billing as Strahan has received. Again I liked him a lot on "Live", but the seriousness of the news being presented and the importance it has on the daily lives of GMA's viewers is far to great to have an inexperienced journalist having a prominent role in the broadcast. And on a somewhat related topic: has anyone checked out the weekend Good Morning America anchors' live periscope broadcasts? Very funny!

Michael Strahan decided to speak to People Magazine for an on camera and print about his relationship with Kelly Ripa and did not portray the "Live" debacle in the best possible way... all that as he's describing how he's all about being a good player for the Disney/ABC team. And now, ABC execs aren't thrilled. On a related note, he's still pretty awful as pretend-news anchor for GMA. I really hope they act quickly to fix this.

They not only had Michael Strahan do a VO for the 7am open regarding the terrorist bombing in the NYC-area but then also had him at the anchor desk interviewing former NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly. Amy Robach, a real journalist, was sidelined for just about the entire first hour. GMA is a joke.

Agreed. I would have been fine with him opening up the 8am hour and leading the celebrity interviews. Sorry, he seems like a nice guy but I don't want to see him sitting next to George and Robin as they report on North Korea testing nuclear weapons and the latest news from the presidential election.

Strahan is awful on Good Morning America. It was nice seeing him report every now and then as a part timer. But at the main anchor desk at 7am and reporting serious news?! What is ABC thinking? His debut week was a dud. ABC was down double digits from last year and only 69,000 viewers separated Good Morning America from TODAY while NBC held a 20% lead in the news demo. Good Morning America is in trouble and Strahan is adding to their problems. It was great watching on Friday when Strahan was off and George and Amy (sitting in for Robin) led the show. Can't wait to watch on Monday since Strahan will be off due to football. As for the rest of the week, I'll be switching to CBS.

They should just give up. Let WABC or WNBC merge with the PIX news department and produce the shows.

Could be; good observation. Not sure about the others, but Bill planned to be in Monday/Labor Day all along.

I remember you mentioning that! I had been wondering if they still planned on doing that or not... Sounds like they are.

Looks like there's a new Good Morning America set on the way, at least according to this blog post from a NYC university: http://cms.blog.fordham.edu/good-morning-america-wants-you-in-their-studio-audience/

That posting has been up since May, probably when they began the search for the new sports anchor. They're required to post job openings publicly even if they intend to offer it to an internal candidate. That's all it means.