Good Morning America is leaving its home studio of the last twenty-four years in Times Square and heading to a new Walt Disney Studios headquarters in Lower Manhattan.
The Hudson Square complex will be Disney’s new headquarters, which will house 1.2 million square feet of offices and production facilities in a twenty-two story tall building. The company plans to move in 2025 and will continue to send hosts and anchors out to local spots around the city.
The move is part of cost cutting measures Disney has been rolling out since Bob Iger resumed his position as CEO last year. The company is consolidating operations to Hudson Square, including Live With Kelly and Mark. Disney had been considering selling ABC News, but this move suggests staffers will continue in their roles at a new location.
“Good Morning America is defined by the strength of our team in front of and behind the camera, quality of our reporting, and the long, trusted relationship with our viewers,” an ABC News spokesperson told Cord Cutters News in a statement. “Moving all ABC News teams to our new state-of-the-art building was a strategic decision that will allow for more collaboration and innovation.”
Good Morning America will continue to use New York City locations and other places around the U.S. for broadcasts. The show has been filmed out of Times Square since 1999, establishing a solid foothold in the morning news. It’s a prime spot for covering events as Broadway performances nearby draw a large crowd of fans and tourists to the building.
Good Morning America averaged 3.15 million viewers last season, which completed its run in September, placing it ahead of other morning shows such as CBS Mornings, which had 2.35 million, and NBC’s Today, averaging 2.82 million viewers.