History of Good Morning America in Timeline
Good Morning America (GMA) is an American morning television program broadcast on ABC, debuting on November 3, 1975. It expanded to weekends, initially with a Sunday edition in 1993, which was later canceled. Weekend editions returned in 2004 on both Saturdays and Sundays. Weekday and Saturday programs air from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. across all U.S. time zones. Sunday editions are an hour long, broadcast live at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time, with some markets airing them at different times. Viewers in the Pacific Time Zone receive an updated feed. A third hour of the weekday broadcast aired exclusively on ABC News Now from 2007 to 2008.
January 6, 1975: AM America Launched
On January 6, 1975, ABC launched AM America, hosted by Bill Beutel and Stephanie Edwards, with Peter Jennings as newsreader, in an attempt to compete with NBC's Today.
November 3, 1975: Good Morning America Debut
On November 3, 1975, Good Morning America, an American morning television program, debuted on ABC.
November 1975: Geraldo Rivera Joins Good Morning America
In November 1975, after Good Night America ended, Geraldo Rivera joined Good Morning America while continuing to work for ABC News and its other shows.
1975: Good Morning America Title Dispute
In 1975, after the launch of Good Morning America, WCVB station manager Bob Bennett accused ABC entertainment president Fred Silverman of stealing the title of Good Morning! which led to the Boston morning show changing its name to Good Day!.
August 30, 1976: Tom Brokaw Anchors Today
On August 30, 1976, Tom Brokaw began anchoring Today, which managed to beat back the Good Morning America ratings threat with Brokaw and new co-host Jane Pauley and Gene Shalit.
April 1977: Sandy Hill Replaces Nancy Dussault
In April 1977, Sandy Hill, previously at KABC-TV in Los Angeles, replaced Nancy Dussault as co-host of Good Morning America.
1980: Sandy Hill Leaves GMA
In 1980, Sandy Hill left Good Morning America after run-ins with Hartman and was replaced by Joan Lunden.
1982: John Coleman Leaves GMA
In 1982, John Coleman, former chief meteorologist for WLS-TV in Chicago, left Good Morning America to start The Weather Channel with Landmark Communications CEO Frank Batten.
1983: Dave Murray Provides Forecasts
From 1983 to 1986, Dave Murray provided the weather forecasts for both Good Morning America and ABC News This Morning.
August 1986: Spencer Christian Joins GMA
In August 1986, Spencer Christian, who worked at WABC-TV in New York City, replaced Dave Murray as the weather forecaster for Good Morning America and ABC News This Morning.
1986: Joan Lunden Promoted
In 1986, Joan Lunden was promoted to co-anchor of Good Morning America, gaining more equal footing with David Hartman.
1986: Jerry Hodak Provides Forecasts
Prior to Spencer Christian's arrival in 1986, Jerry Hodak of WXYZ-TV provided forecasts on Good Morning America via a split screen between Detroit and New York City.
February 20, 1987: David Hartman's Retirement
On February 20, 1987, David Hartman retired from Good Morning America after 3,189 broadcasts.
February 23, 1987: Lunden and Gibson Team Up
On February 23, 1987, Joan Lunden was paired with Charles Gibson on Good Morning America, which resulted in skyrocketing ratings.
January 3, 1993: Sunday Edition Debut
On January 3, 1993, Good Morning America expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition.
1993: Daytime Emmy Award
In 1993, Good Morning America won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
December 11, 1995: GMA Falls to Second Place
Good Morning America stumbled from its top spot in late 1995, falling to second place behind Today, beginning a 16-year streak for Today as the top-rated morning news program starting the week of December 11, 1995.
1995: GMA Placed Second
From 1995 to 2012, Good Morning America generally placed second in the ratings, behind NBC's Today.
1996: Behind Closed Doors Premieres
In 1996, ABC executives promised Joan Lunden that a prime time program, Behind Closed Doors, would premiere on the network.
September 5, 1997: Joan Lunden Steps Down
On September 5, 1997, Joan Lunden stepped down as host of Good Morning America after 17 years and was replaced by Lisa McRee.
May 1, 1998: Kevin Newman Joins GMA
On May 1, 1998, Charles Gibson left Good Morning America and was replaced by Kevin Newman, leading to a sharp decline in ratings.
January 1999: GMA Ratings Fell To Third Place
In January 1999, Good Morning America's ratings briefly fell to third place among the morning shows.
January 18, 1999: Gibson-Sawyer Team Debuts
On January 18, 1999, the Gibson-Sawyer team, paired by Shelley Ross, debuted on Good Morning America, resulting in a dramatic increase in viewership.
September 13, 1999: Show Moves to Times Square Studios
On September 13, 1999, Good Morning America moved from the ABC News headquarters to Times Square Studios, allowing for a live audience.
2001: Shelley Ross Leaves
According to Linda McLoof, executive director of news research at ABC News, the viewing momentum of Good Morning America was initially sustained after Shelley Ross left in 2001, but the audience began to decline a season later.
2001: GMA Broadcasts from The Pentagon
In 2001, Good Morning America originated a live show from The Pentagon for the reopening of the wing damaged during the September 11 attacks.
March 18, 2002: Robin Roberts Replaces Antonio Mora
On March 18, 2002, Robin Roberts, a former ESPN anchor, replaced Antonio Mora as newsreader for Good Morning America.
2002: Logo Resemblance
The new GMA logo that was unveiled loosely resembled the 2002-2006 version.
September 4, 2004: Weekend Editions Return
On September 4, 2004, weekend editions of Good Morning America returned on both Saturdays and Sundays after being cancelled in 1999.
May 23, 2005: Robin Roberts Promoted to Co-Anchor
On May 23, 2005, ABC News announced that Robin Roberts would be promoted from newsreader to co-anchor of Good Morning America, joining Gibson and Sawyer.
November 3, 2005: 30th Anniversary and HD Broadcast
On November 3, 2005, Good Morning America celebrated its 30th anniversary and became the first network morning news program to begin broadcasting in high-definition television.
December 2, 2005: Tony Perkins Leaves GMA
On December 2, 2005, Tony Perkins left Good Morning America after six years to return to his family in Washington, D.C., and join WTTG. He was replaced by Mike Barz.
June 28, 2006: Charles Gibson Departs GMA
On June 28, 2006, Charles Gibson left Good Morning America for the second time to become anchor of ABC World News Tonight.
September 5, 2006: Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion Join GMA
On September 5, 2006, Chris Cuomo became the news anchor, and Sam Champion became the weather anchor and weather editor for ABC News. The show also debuted a new graphics package and news area.
September 13, 2006: New GMA Logo Introduced
On September 13, 2006, Good Morning America introduced a new logo featuring gold Avant Garde font on a blue background, reminiscent of the original logo used until early 1987.
June 29, 2007: Death of Joel Siegel
On June 29, 2007, Joel Siegel, the program's longtime film critic, passed away due to complications from colorectal cancer at the age of 63.
July 31, 2007: Robin Roberts Announces Breast Cancer Diagnosis
On July 31, 2007, Robin Roberts announced her diagnosis with breast cancer after discovering a lump during a self-examination while preparing a tribute episode to Joel Siegel.
October 22, 2007: New On-Air Graphics Package Introduced
On October 22, 2007, Good Morning America introduced a new on-air graphics package, transitioning from a blue background to an orangish-gold setting. The opening, news ticker, and time-and-temperature bug were also updated.
2007: Daytime Emmy Award
In 2007, Good Morning America won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Morning Program, sharing the award with Today.
January 15, 2008: Diane Keaton's On-Air Remark
On January 15, 2008, during an interview with Diane Sawyer, actress Diane Keaton made a remark about Sawyer's attractiveness, which led to a quick apology and no action from the FCC.
March 28, 2008: Robin Roberts Completes Radiation Treatments
On March 28, 2008, Robin Roberts completed her radiation treatments while remaining as anchor.
September 2008: 50 States in 50 Days Tour
In September 2008, Good Morning America's anchors toured the United States via an Amtrak train as part of ABC News's "50 States in 50 Days" event, broadcasting from different locations each day. The tour's first stop was in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and featured musical guest James Taylor
2008: Daytime Emmy Award
In 2008, Good Morning America won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Morning Program.
June 26, 2009: Charles Gibson Returns to GMA Anchor Desk
On June 26, 2009, Charles Gibson returned to the Good Morning America anchor desk with Roberts while Sawyer was away.
September 2, 2009: Sawyer to Anchor ABC World News
On September 2, 2009, ABC announced that Diane Sawyer would replace Charles Gibson as anchor of ABC World News at the end of the year.
December 10, 2009: Stephanopoulos Named Sawyer's Replacement
On December 10, 2009, George Stephanopoulos was announced as Diane Sawyer's replacement on Good Morning America, with Juju Chang replacing Chris Cuomo as newsreader. The changes took effect on December 14.
2009: Daytime Emmy Award
In 2009, Good Morning America won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Morning Program.
May 3, 2010: New Graphics and Theme Music Debut
On May 3, 2010, Good Morning America debuted new "light blue and sunny" graphics and new theme music by DreamArtists Studios.
January 31, 2011: New Set Introduced
On January 31, 2011, Good Morning America introduced an entirely new set, with the weather monitor moved closer to the anchor desk. This was the first major set change since the show upgraded to high definition in November 2005.
February 25, 2011: James Goldston Moves to GMA
On February 25, 2011, James Goldston moved from Nightline to become Senior Executive Producer of GMA.
March 17, 2011: Lara Spencer Rejoins GMA
On March 17, 2011, it was announced that Lara Spencer would be rejoining Good Morning America in May in a newly created lifestyle anchor position.
March 29, 2011: Josh Elliott Named News Anchor
On March 29, 2011, ESPN anchor Josh Elliott was named news anchor of Good Morning America following the departure of Juju Chang.
September 6, 2011: New Studio Set Debut
On September 6, 2011, Good Morning America began broadcasting from an entirely new studio set located on the first floor of the Times Square studios, featuring a back-projection "window" overlooking Times Square.
April 1, 2012: Katie Couric Fills in for Robin Roberts
During the week of April 1, 2012, Katie Couric, who had recently joined ABC News, filled in for Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, marking her return to morning news after six years.
April 9, 2012: GMA Beats Today in Ratings
During the week of April 9, 2012, Good Morning America beat Today in ratings for the first time in 16 years, ending Today's streak of 852 consecutive weeks as the most-watched network morning news program.
April 2012: Good Morning America Overtakes Today
In April 2012, Good Morning America overtook Today in ratings with anchors Roberts and Stephanopoulos.
April 16, 2012: GMA Beats Today Again in Ratings
During the week of April 16, 2012, Good Morning America beat Today once again in ratings by a larger margin than the previous week.
July 9, 2012: Good Afternoon America Premieres
On July 9, 2012, a special summer afternoon edition of Good Morning America, titled Good Afternoon America, premiered as a temporary replacement for The Revolution.
August 30, 2012: Roberts Takes Medical Leave
On August 30, 2012, Robin Roberts went on medical leave after undergoing a bone marrow transplant due to her diagnosis with myelodysplastic syndrome. Amy Robach and Elizabeth Vargas served as primary substitutes.
September 7, 2012: Good Afternoon America Limited-Run Program Ends
The limited-run program Good Afternoon America, hosted by Josh Elliott and Lara Spencer, ended on September 7, 2012. The program originated from Times Square Studios.
January 14, 2013: Roberts Announces Possible Return Date
On January 14, 2013, Robin Roberts announced that she hoped to return to Good Morning America sometime in February.
February 20, 2013: Roberts Returns Part-Time
On February 20, 2013, Robin Roberts returned to Good Morning America part-time after medical leave.
December 4, 2013: Sam Champion Departs GMA
On December 4, 2013, weather anchor Sam Champion left Good Morning America and ABC News to join The Weather Channel. Ginger Zee succeeded him the following day.
March 30, 2014: Josh Elliott Leaves ABC News
On March 30, 2014, news anchor Josh Elliott left ABC News to become a correspondent for NBC Sports. He was replaced by Amy Robach later that week.
April 15, 2014: Michael Strahan Joins as Contributing Anchor
On April 15, 2014, Michael Strahan was introduced as the new contributing anchor on Good Morning America while maintaining his co-host duties on Live! with Kelly and Michael.
April 18, 2014: Lara Spencer Promoted to Co-Anchor
On April 18, 2014, Lara Spencer was promoted to co-anchor of Good Morning America, receiving top billing alongside Roberts and Stephanopoulos.
September 15, 2014: Tim Tebow Debuts on GMA
On September 15, 2014, Tim Tebow made his debut on Good Morning America as a part-time correspondent to help launch the new segment "Motivate Me Mondays".
November 19, 2015: 40th Anniversary Celebration
On November 19, 2015, Good Morning America celebrated its 40th anniversary with main anchors and news/weather anchors returning to share stories and clips from the show's history.
April 19, 2016: Strahan to Join GMA Full-Time
On April 19, 2016, Michael Strahan announced that he would be leaving Live! with Kelly and Michael to join Good Morning America full-time.
September 6, 2016: Strahan Begins as Full-Time Co-Anchor
On September 6, 2016, Michael Strahan began his run as official full-time co-anchor of Good Morning America. The first hour focuses on news, while the second hour is taped in front of a live audience and focuses on "soft news" and entertainment.
2016: Nine Network Broadcasts GMA in Australia
From 2016 to 2021, the Nine Network broadcast Good Morning America on all its regional affiliates in Australia. Nine Regional had begun broadcasting it before 2016.
May 23, 2018: GMA Day Announced
On May 23, 2018, an afternoon extension of GMA (originally titled GMA Day, now known as GMA3) was announced as a replacement for the cancelled cooking series The Chew.
July 3, 2018: Nine No Longer Airs GMA
As of July 3, 2018, Nine no longer airs Good Morning America in Australia.
September 10, 2018: GMA Day Premieres
On September 10, 2018, GMA3 premiered under the title of GMA Day, originally hosted by Michael Strahan and Sara Haines.
January 28, 2019: GMA3 Renamed
On January 28, 2019, GMA Day became known as GMA3, with Strahan and Sara being the subtitle.
August 26, 2019: Keke Palmer Joins GMA3
On August 26, 2019, Keke Palmer joined GMA3 as a permanent third co-host, and the show took on the subtitle Strahan, Sara and Keke.
March 2020: GMA3 Becomes GMA3: What You Need to Know
In March 2020, GMA3 became GMA3: What You Need to Know, an hour-long news program hosted by Amy Robach that originally covered the COVID-19 pandemic. The Strahan, Sara and Keke incarnation of the program was cancelled.
2021: WIN Television Broadcasts GMA in Australia
Since 2021, WIN Television has broadcast Good Morning America on a one-day delay every Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 to 5:00, Saturdays from 5:30 to 7:00, Sundays from 6:00 to 7:00 and Monday mornings from 4:00 to 5:00 a.m.
April 2022: Roberts Celebrates 20th Anniversary
In April 2022, Robin Roberts celebrated her 20th anniversary with Good Morning America, and was honored with a plaque in Times Square.
September 7, 2023: Ray the Mascot Introduced
On September 7, 2023, Ray, an anthropomorphic show mascot styled as a sun-like creature, was introduced to the viewers.
October 2023: Relocation to 7 Hudson Square Announced
In October 2023, it was announced that GMA, along with ABC News and WABC-TV's on-air studio operations, would relocate to a new Disney facility at 7 Hudson Square in Lower Manhattan.
June 16, 2025: GMA Relocates to 7 Hudson Square
On June 16, 2025, Good Morning America officially moved to a new Disney facility at 7 Hudson Square in Lower Manhattan, broadcasting from Studio C. A new logo was unveiled, and new graphics and studios combining hard scenery, virtual set extensions, and movable LED units were also revealed as part of the relocation on June 16, 2025.
November 3, 2025: 50th Anniversary Celebration
On November 3, 2025, Good Morning America celebrated its 50th anniversary, with many former anchors joining the celebration.
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