ABC News is considering a major shakeup at “Good Morning America” after the show lost its long-held No. 1 ratings position last season to NBC’s “Today,” according to
The NY Post citing people familiar with the matter.
In the 2025-26 season, “GMA” averaged 2.8 million total viewers and 477,000 in the 25-54 demographic. “Today” finished ahead with 2.9 million total viewers and 612,000 in the demo — its first season on top since 2011-12, when Matt Lauer and Ann Curry co-anchored.
“Today” also benefited from a ratings spike tied to coverage of co-host Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, plus NBC’s carriage of the Winter Olympics and the Super Bowl.
Network insiders say the bigger problem at “GMA” is that co-hosts Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan and George Stephanopoulos are rarely on set together. One ABC source said the trio is “never” in the studio at the same time because someone is always on vacation, on assignment or working on another project.
“Anchors are the No. 1 reason people watch,” the source said. “Anchor chemistry is everything, but Robin and George detest each other and Robin is jealous of Michael. It’s palpable. They don’t like each other. They can’t afford to keep all those anchors.”
Each host is making more than $15 million a year, sources said. With ratings sliding and Disney looking to cut costs, one insider said the network will need significant salary reductions — and “no one wants to take a pay cut.”
A source familiar with the show offered a contrasting view: “They’re the longest running anchor team and they’re the best at what they do and it shows.”
ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic is “very concerned” and “very hands-on,” two insiders said. Executive producer Simone Swink could be at risk if the show does not rebound. “I have heard Simone is in trouble,” another source said.
A separate source familiar with the program called Swink “the best person to lead the show” and said she holds one of the network’s most important roles.
Critics inside the industry say “GMA” has also lost its edge under heavy commercialization and Disney synergy. A Sept. 15 interview in which Ginger Zee spoke with skier Lindsay Vonn about her Olympic crash recovery was sponsored by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and featured Vonn discussing the company’s non-opioid pain drug Journavx, including a recitation of side-effect warnings.
“It’s really unethical,” one TV producer said. “It looked like an editorial interview if you weren’t paying close attention.” A former ABC executive called the segment “icky,” even though it was labeled as sponsored. A third former “GMA” executive said product pitches, movie promotions and Disney cruise segments have become so frequent that the show is “unwatchable now and it’s unrecognizable.”
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