Good Morning America heads downtown to Robert Iger Building
I still recall shuffling past the jumbo screens on Broadway at dawn, latte in hand, staring up at those bright windows where Good Morning America beamed its first hello.
Now—twenty‑six roller‑coaster years later—the neon kingdom says farewell as the show rolls 2.6 miles south to a glass‑and‑copper hive called the Robert A. Iger Building.
My heart ping‑pongs between nostalgia and raw curiosity, and that emotional cocktail fuels this deep dive into the move, the strategy and the future of America’s favorite alarm clock.
The long goodbye: Why Times Square had to let go
The blinking billboards soaked up GMA’s energy for nearly three decades, yet walls age and fiber cables envy the next generation.
Disney’s brand‑new HQ promised seamless IP production, 4‑K LED stages and a newsroom wired for streaming from minute one —features simply too heavy to bolt onto a 1990‑era shell.
Add rent pressure, duplicate crews and a post‑pandemic hybrid workflow, and the choice felt obvious even before ABC News penned its 2023 memo.
Nostalgia hits and headline myths
Rumor #1 claimed ad‑revenue slumps forced the exit. False, say finance insiders—GMA’s morning dominance actually rose 3 % year‑over‑year.
Rumor #2 whispered that Times Square tourism lost its sparkle. Partly true: post‑COVID foot traffic still lags 2019 by roughly 15 %.
A table of shifting numbers
| Metric | 2022 | 2025 YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Average daily viewers | 3.12 M | 3.38 M |
| Times Square rent (est.) | $22 M | $24 M |
| Hudson Square lease | n/a | $16 M |
“And suddenly you know: it’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.” —Meister Eckhart.
Times Square was the spark; Hudson Square is the embers that keep us warm for the sunrise ahead.
Inside the Robert A. Iger Building
Step off the sidewalk at 7 Hudson Square and sensors greet your ID‑badge before the guard even looks up.
Studios float on isolation springs to hush subway rumbles, while 360‑degree LED walls let producers pop anchors into virtual Athens at sunrise, Rio by noon and Mars at 5 p.m.
A shared “town square” atrium curves beneath a skylight shaped like a camera iris—endless metaphor, anyone?
The inaugural broadcast from Hudson Square lands Monday, June 16, 2025, 7 a.m. ET—circle the calendar and set a double alarm.
What changes on‑air?
Expect crisper graphics, augmented‑reality weather maps floating like Pokémon over Robin Roberts’ shoulder, and more crossovers with ESPN’s First Take just two floors up.
Yet the heart—the morning handshake, the empathetic interviews, the spontaneous dance breaks—stays put.
Disney says special event broadcasts—think New Year’s Eve or election nights—may still pop back into the old studio window.
No. Viewers still catch GMA weekdays 7–9 a.m. ET and on‑demand via Hulu right after.
Nearly 18 000 square feet dedicated to GMA, including two stages, a green room that actually looks green, and a flex podcast nook.
Absolutely—apply online as before, but prepare for security using Disney’s new facial‑scan kiosks.
The View, Live with Kelly & Mark, Tamron Hall, a fresh Hulu pop‑culture nightly and ESPN’s NYC newsroom.
Execs hint at an “immersive Disney‑NYC experience,” but leases remain fluid until 2028.
Strategy lessons and future playbook
First insight: colocating editorial and tech teams slashes decision lag from minutes to real‑time Slack taps.
Second insight: downtown brand‑alignment signals ABC News’ evolving identity—less tourist attraction, more digital first‑responder.
Third insight: synergy with Disney’s streaming units unlocks cross‑promo bundles, exactly what Wall Street craves in a post‑cable world.
GMA’s essence isn’t a street address—it’s the chemistry of hosts, the heartbeat of viewers and the discipline of broadcast craft.
If Times Square taught resilience, Hudson Square may teach reinvention.
Tomorrow’s coffee feels hotter already.
Morning icon finds fresh home in Hudson Square media campus
Good Morning America, GMA move, Robert Iger Building, Hudson Square studio, ABC News relocation, Times Square farewell, Disney headquarters, live broadcast innovation, morning show history, downtown Manhattan