Good Morning America

[HanSolo 198]

If you like the team, the presentation, etc, not hearing “live from Times Square” is not going to change your viewing habits one iota. No one who watches and likes the program is going to think, “wait, they’re not in Times Square? I’m out.” No one gives the show more credibility or likes the team content better because of being in one location or another. It made for an interesting backdrop at one point, but it’s not like they use it all that much, in any meaningful way. 
 

 

[24994J 5657]

They showed a teaser timelapse of the new studio, and it obviously doesn't show much, but don't be surprised if some general concepts carry over from Times Square. You get an idea of the size of the space in the first image. It's apparently the same size as The View's and Live's studios, but should feel even more open with no audience risers.

 

 

In the second pic, you can make out wood-tone beams across the ceiling, a large, possibly L-shaped video wall to the left, and a curved desk against a video wall in the foreground. The desk looks like a stand-in for the final product, but it's thankfully a lot smaller than the outgoing model. In the back corner, you can make out some kind of non-video wall feature, though the short end wall (top right) is likely to be a giant screen.

 

 

In addition to Charlie Gibson voicing a new team promo as the 50th anniversary festivities start to pick up, Diane Sawyer is likely to be in-studio on Monday, promoting a new sit-down interview she did with an actor.

Edited Thursday at 08:30 PM by 24994J

[24994J 5657]

Meanwhile, fun throwback the last few days, as Michael has been off, but they've opted to keep Robin & George as a duo.

 

[Jase 1081]

5 hours ago, 24994J said:

They showed a teaser timelapse of the new studio, and it obviously doesn't show much, but don't be surprised if some general concepts carry over from Times Square. You get an idea of the size of the space in the first image. It's apparently the same size as The View's and Live's studios, but should feel even more open with no audience risers.

 

 

In the second pic, you can make out wood-tone beams across the ceiling, a large, possibly L-shaped video wall to the left, and a curved desk against a video wall in the foreground. The desk looks like a stand-in for the final product, but it's thankfully a lot smaller than the outgoing model. In the back corner, you can make out some kind of non-video wall feature, though the short end wall (top right) is likely to be a giant screen.

 

 

In addition to Charlie Gibson voicing a new team promo as the 50th anniversary festivities start to pick up, Diane Sawyer is likely to be in-studio on Monday, promoting a new sit-down interview she did with an actor.

From what I understand, the new GMA set will not be radically different from the current one. Guess we’ll see soon enough. 

[mountainave 611]

On 6/12/2025 at 8:27 AM, Muppetman03 said:

I feel like the Hudson Square move might hurt GMA in the long run
Mainly due to the branding that they are live from Times Square for this long

 

GMA essentially phased out its use of Times Square. This was no accident.  It's expensive, there are security concerns, and most importantly, they've known since at least 2018 that they'd be moving from Times Square and wanted to gradually make Times Square less central to the broadcast so viewers didn't feel like they were watching a completely different show after the move once this day came. 

 

Ten years ago, the anchor desk sat in front of a "window" overlooking Times Square, multiple live segments and weather updates occurred in the Times Square plaza, and Times Square audience interaction was a staple of the show.  Today, they could move the studio to Oklahoma and you wouldn't notice a difference.

 

Edited yesterday at 12:50 PM by mountainave

[MediaZone4K 2285]

11 hours ago, Jase said:

From what I understand, the new GMA set will not be radically different from the current one. Guess we’ll see soon enough. 

I wish they would stop re-creating some of their less than desirable sets and just completely redesign them.

[MorningNews 1528]

1 hour ago, mountainave said:

 

GMA essentially phased out its use of Times Square. This was no accident.  It's expensive, there are security concerns, and most importantly, they've known since at least 2018 that they'd be moving from Times Square and wanted to gradually make Times Square less central to the broadcast so viewers didn't feel like they were watching a completely different show after the move once this day came. 

 

Ten years ago, the anchor desk sat in front of a "window" overlooking Times Square, multiple live segments and weather updates occurred in the Times Square plaza, and Times Square audience interaction was a staple of the show.  Today, they could move the studio to Oklahoma and you wouldn't notice a difference.

 

Yep - I remember it being speculated here years ago that they’d leave TSS as they started limiting the exposure years ago. When they did the last set update they blocked off the second floor windows and limited the views of the first floor to the two windows on the street.

 

Actually spent the morning at GMA for the send off. The cast took photos and said goodbye to the crowd. Production even let us take some of their signs home. End of an era for sure.

[Jase 1081]

47 minutes ago, MediaZone4K said:

I wish they would stop re-creating some of their less than desirable sets and just completely redesign them.

I agree. If you’re already spending money, you might as well design something different.

[HanSolo 198]

Perhaps they’re recreating elements because in their professional opinion those elements are currently fine and not “less than desirable” because a few armchair critiques deem them so. We know in time there will be updates small and large. Change is inevitable and necessary. It may be that now isn’t that time. 

[MorningNews 1528]

Sam mentioned that they’ll be able to broadcast “from anywhere in the world” because the studio is mostly screens including the floor. It’ll be interesting to see what they come up with.

[MediaZone4K 2285]

1 hour ago, HanSolo said:

Perhaps they’re recreating elements because in their professional opinion those elements are currently fine and not “less than desirable” because a few armchair critiques deem them so. We know in time there will be updates small and large. Change is inevitable and necessary. It may be that now isn’t that time. 

 

 

The point of this website is for people to offer their personal opinions and critiques on news matters.

 

Notice how I said "I wish" they would change the sets not "they should".

 

Whether or not the corporations who actually make decisions implement them is their business. But you don't have to dismiss peoples opinions by saying their just "armchair critiques" and "whatever decision the company makes is the right one."

 

Otherwise we might as well just close every  thread because "whatever decision the network makes is the right decision."

Edited yesterday at 03:28 PM by MediaZone4K

[mouseboy33 109]

1 hour ago, Jase said:

I agree. If you’re already spending money, you might as well design something different.

I 100% agree. Im not a fan of ABC News visual design. (sets/graphics). But for them to rebuild the dark cave for world news tonight instead of creating something fresh new and modern is ridiculous. I cant understand that logic. It also shows how scare the design teams are that if they make even the slightest change that audiences will run. Probably why European news sets/music/graphics are so modern. Particularly in Scandinavian countries. So Im not thinking ABC will do anything innovative or modern or different with the new GMA studio. It will be laden with wood and shiny metal and tons of various busy patterns and a shiny floor or a wooden type floor. 

[24994J 5657]

I've never known a group of people who loves talking about something they hate more than this group in this thread. A lot of assumptions are being made about something none of us have seen. Maybe we'll all be pleasantly surprised, if anyone's willing to deviate from the narrative.

 

Like, how about this? Sam was backstage at the new space, this morning, and was holding a mug with a new/modified logo.

 

[Action Newsroom 1312]

18 minutes ago, 24994J said:

Looks like the current logo and the ones from the 90s and 00s all in one. Real nice.

 

Edited yesterday at 04:43 PM by Action Newsroom

[24994J 5657]

New/modified definitely is the correct description. Looks like a little nod to the 2002 logo, but with the 2006 font. I said on the Discord that I'd like to think there's a little wink to AM America, in there, too.

 

[MediaZone4K 2285]

Most group discussion thread sites I've ever been on have people discussing things they like just as much as they dislike. It's balanced dialogue. 

[MorningNews 1528]

39 minutes ago, mouseboy33 said:

I 100% agree. Im not a fan of ABC News visual design. (sets/graphics). But for them to rebuild the dark cave for world news tonight instead of creating something fresh new and modern is ridiculous. I cant understand that logic. It also shows how scare the design teams are that if they make even the slightest change that audiences will run. Probably why European news sets/music/graphics are so modern. Particularly in Scandinavian countries. So Im not thinking ABC will do anything innovative or modern or different with the new GMA studio. It will be laden with wood and shiny metal and tons of various busy patterns and a shiny floor or a wooden type floor. 

A floor made out of screens isn’t innovative or modern? If that’s what it ends up being is quite unlike anything GMA has ever had or anything the other morning shows have.

[Jase 1081]

38 minutes ago, MorningNews said:

A floor made out of screens isn’t innovative or modern?

 

Not really given that that's not new technology. New to GMA?? Sure.., but not new within the industry. Anyway, we'll see how everything flows together on Monday. Only suggesting people may want to temper their expectations, if you will....

[24994J 5657]

Don't worry, everybody's expectations here are already low.

[GraphicsMan 155]

On 6/12/2025 at 8:27 AM, Muppetman03 said:

I feel like the Hudson Square move might hurt GMA in the long run
Mainly due to the branding that they are live from Times Square for this long

No it won’t really, honestly they never really interacted with the live audience outside except for weather hits, and also presentations outside the studio. I just hope it doesn’t hit them ratings wise.

[24994J 5657]

We might actually be seeing a fairly hard reset on the show's design language. Colors can be changes, for sure, but they seem to be committing to a VERY different look.

 

 

https://pagesix.com/2025/06/13/entertainment/gma-bids-farewell-to-times-square-studios-with-boozy-breakfast-at-irish-pub/

Edited 20 hours ago by 24994J

[mouseboy33 109]

a sea of brown wood and 5 million patterns. spot on for ABC. Expectations fulfilled. 

[nathannah 2521]

It'll be nice to look at different colors besides yellow and blue (along with those awful digital backgrounds/optical illusion blocks of the last couple years), and I suspect despite this shot, the show will not base its entire design color on a 1997 Compaq Presario.

 

I do hope they keep using Ray (their mascot), and there's still a couple of corners to be seen in this design, so hopefully the presentation/interview area will look nice. At least now the weekend crew isn't stuck in the dungeon set and everything's in one building.

 

I'm crossing my fingers the studio is named for Charlie Gibson, not only because it's so deserved, but because having to hear the announcer say 'live from Hudson Square' every day when we barely see the exterior will get generic and dull real quick.

[obxwatcher 5]

5 hours ago, 24994J said:

We might actually be seeing a fairly hard reset on the show's design language. Colors can be changes, for sure, but they seem to be committing to a VERY different look.

 

 

https://pagesix.com/2025/06/13/entertainment/gma-bids-farewell-to-times-square-studios-with-boozy-breakfast-at-irish-pub/

Kind of has that 1990s Today Show wooden vibe before they moved to 1A.

 

Hopefully this gets the competition going with some refreshes. I imagine Today show won’t do anything significant until the 2026 Olympics to 1A.

 

Someone mentioned with MSNBC soon leaving there will be a giant studio vacancy at 30 Rock. I wonder if Today is considering leaving 1A for bigger room if the ”window to world” concept has run its course. 

[rkolsen 1692]

9 hours ago, obxwatcher said:

Kind of has that 1990s Today Show wooden vibe before they moved to 1A.

 

Hopefully this gets the competition going with some refreshes. I imagine Today show won’t do anything significant until the 2026 Olympics to 1A.

 

Someone mentioned with MSNBC soon leaving there will be a giant studio vacancy at 30 Rock. I wonder if Today is considering leaving 1A for bigger room if the ”window to world” concept has run its course. 

I sincerely doubt Today leaves 1A.  They have a long lease. Plus it’s something to advertise about.