Good Morning America New Set - Video Walls Galore

[wabceyewitness 827]

Good Morning America debuted an updated set this morning, heavy on digital display screens and curvy metal, with some elements of the traditional Times Square Studio still visible in parts. Looks like a cross between a spaceship, Access Hollywood and a talk show. Doesn’t fit with the subdued feeling of the new theme and doesn’t really feel like morning TV. That’s my opinion at least. 

 

[KRAP-TV 146]

This new set is so over-the-top. It literally hurts my eyes to see it. I'm not sure this is something I can get used to. Just way too much going on...

[24994J 5632]

The depth is very interesting, but they could really tone down the graphics on the video walls. Something a little softer would make the hard set pieces pop.

 

 

[rkolsen 1686]

Okay, I’m a fan of video walls, but I have to say this is a bit much.  Probably change the graphics and remove the odd depth behind home place it would look much better.

[Action Newsroom 1304]

I like the new set. Adds so much to build on the last look (which felt empty to me, what with just a desk and a few varied video screens). I do agree that a few changes can be made to make it better though. 

[Spring Rubber 716]

At first glance, I thought they were accidentally duplicating the background over and over again on a video wall. That's actually the intended design? What an eyesore.

[Jase 1071]

Horrific. Could care less what the intent is, it's just bad. Graphics make it 1,000x worse. This will haunt me in my sleep.

[nathannah 2505]

11 minutes ago, Spring Rubber said:

At first glance, I thought they were accidentally duplicating the background over and over again on a video wall. That's actually the intended design? What an eyesore.

GMA has just lost the coveted 18-54 claustrophobic demographic . Who thinks making a set look even more confined is ever a good idea?

 

Then again, I'm sure someone out there is ranting about this set not having an American flag over a fireplace because of over-nostalgic tradition.

[wabceyewitness 827]

They also just launched an entire image campaign within the last month (the promo video you’ve likely seen on social media with Robin as the v/o). It’s heavy on b-roll of the GMA team at the now former set. Was promotions not informed a new set was about to debut? 

 

I took another look this morning at the set hoping that I’d just be used to it and over it but it’s honestly hard to watch, especially when they have Robin framed against the cascading boxes Twilight Zone background.  

 

I really hope they make some much needed improvements to this. 

[rkolsen 1686]

Did they completely cutoff views of Times Square on the first floor?

[wabceyewitness 827]

9 minutes ago, rkolsen said:

Did they completely cutoff views of Times Square on the first floor?

 

 

Yes, basically. You may see the street outside in some shots if the camera happens to move by an uncovered window when showing one of the other video walls or reporting stations. For a show so heavy on touting its Times Square location, they look like they're broadcasting the first hour out of any random studio in Manhattan.

[rkolsen 1686]

4 minutes ago, wabceyewitness said:

 

 

Yes, basically. You may see the street outside in some shots if the camera happens to move by an uncovered window when showing one of the other video walls or reporting stations. For a show so heavy on touting its Times Square location, they look like they're broadcasting the first hour out of any random studio in Manhattan.

That’s a shame, I wonder if this will cause them to loose some of the outside audience. 

 

Kind of sounds like the one window in the CBS This Morning’s studio.

[24994J 5632]

If I'm not mistaken, the home base has been spun around, and this new backdrop is a redesign of the wall and doorway to the old social media nook (with the panels closed, in this image). The video wall on George's side appears to have covered the first window, but I don't see why they'd all be covered.

[JacobC 44]

I saw a bit of their window this morning with a small audience waving outside. Not sure if their old home base changed?

[Georgie56 3327]

That is just too much for the eyes in the morning. They should learn that less is sometimes more.

[newseider 26]

Here are some screenshots from all the angles they used the first day for those who haven't seen. I can't believe they would put anything in front of those Times Square windows. At first it looked it was just a bad depth effect behind the anchors but it I guess it's actually a hallway. 

[24994J 5632]

1 hour ago, newseider said:

Here are some screenshots from all the angles they used the first day for those who haven't seen. I can't believe they would put anything in front of those Times Square windows. At first it looked it was just a bad depth effect behind the anchors but it I guess it's actually a hallway. 

 

Picture #2 is the old home base, before they moved to the U-shaped desk. Pictures 4, 5 & 6 shows an area where a window has been newly-blocked. Otherwise, NO WINDOWS HAVE BEEN BLOCKED. Everything else is new covering of existing walls.

[TheRolyPoly 2600]

And no audience?! Finally.

[newseider 26]

10 minutes ago, TheRolyPoly said:

And no audience?! Finally.

 

I believe they still go upstairs for the second hour with the studio audience. 

[MorningNews 1509]

11 hours ago, wabceyewitness said:

 

 

Yes, basically. You may see the street outside in some shots if the camera happens to move by an uncovered window when showing one of the other video walls or reporting stations. For a show so heavy on touting its Times Square location, they look like they're broadcasting the first hour out of any random studio in Manhattan.

 

I wouldn’t quite say that Good Morning America touts their Times Square location, in fact they’ve severely underused the location since they began an in-studio audience back in 2006 (save for the years in 2012-2014 when they featured the outdoor plaza often). 

 

The lack of Times Square utilization has always been a drawback for GMA compared to Today.

[TSSZNews 1052]

The way that studio is set up, it makes me wonder if they're prepping to vacate the Times Square space outright - maybe to coincide with the move of ABC News HQ from Columbus Circle.

 

That has to be an expensive place to rent out, and the easiest way to get your viewers accustomed to not seeing the TS backdrop as part of a move is to cut it out now where possible.

[rkolsen 1686]

I spoke to one prominent set designer and fabricator who called the new GMA studio “a POS” and doesn’t expect it to last five months. But added it can’t be said publicly as the community is so small and you frequently have to work with other designers and fabricators.

[KRAP-TV 146]

Not to pile on, but it really is terrible.

[brb588 114]

I think the set would look great if they soften up the colors with MUCH less blues and more warm colors. I can't see it lasting that long in its current layout.

[Action Newsroom 1304]

One day later, and already there's a small tweak to the set's main video screen's backrgoud (after many viewers reacted negatively to it).