Page 29 - ATD 05 DEC,2015

PEOPLE & ARTS A29
Saturday 5 December 2015

‘Good Morning America’ wondering where viewers went

They turned to social me- like the cast was having fun going on with the show
dia, for example, to heavily and was quickest to laugh and, privately, they’re not
promote Roberts’ interview at the latest viral pet video fully sure what has hap-
with Kobe Bryant this week. may say, “this isn’t what I pened to the “Good Morn-
“Good Morning America” signed up for.” ing America” audience.
has suffered turnover the ABC executives aren’t talk- They don’t feel it is a rejec-
past couple of years, with ing publicly about what’s tion of the show.q
Josh Elliott leaving for NBC
George Stephanopoulos appears on ABC’s “Good Morning Sports and Sam Champion
America” show in New York. The show is in its first prolonged for The Weather Chan-
slump since overtaking NBC’s “Today” in popularity three years nel. The short-term ratings
ago. “GMA” is losing viewers, most rapidly among a younger impact was minimal, but
demographic that advertisers eagerly seek, where NBC has long-term may be differ-
wrested back the lead from its rival. ent.
“It’s really who you want
(AP Photo/Charles Sykes) to spend time with for two
hours in the morning,” said
DAVID BAUDER “Today” now leads among Brad Adgate, an analyst for
AP Television Writer that group not because it Horizon Media, “and they
NEW YORK (AP) — For the is surging — the NBC show may have done something
past few years, turning is down 4 percent from last to change the mix of what
on ABC’s “Good Morning year — but because it is los- people are comfortable
America” was like happen- ing audience more slowly. with.”
ing upon a joyous party. The demo number is the One thing beyond a tele-
Robin Roberts, George key to a vault, since ad- vision producer’s control is
Stephanopoulos and their vertisers check it first when the cultural zeitgeist, and
pals all seemed nice, and making spending deci- a sense that a program is
looked like they loved be- sions. no longer in tune with the
ing together. It was almost “Today” is feeling bullish. Its times.
always a good time. team is clicking, with Matt To some, the “GMA” cel-
The party isn’t over. But it’s Lauer appearing more ebration of its 40th anniver-
getting late. comfortable than he has in sary last month less than a
Television’s top morning years. The show’s aggres- week after the Paris attacks
show is in its first prolonged siveness in seeking inter- felt jarring. This is a serious,
slump since overtaking views has paid off, most re- newsy stretch of time, with
NBC’s “Today” in popular- cently with Charlie Sheen’s people on edge over ter-
ity three years ago. “GMA” revelation that he is HIV- rorism and mass shootings
is losing viewers, most rap- positive. on an endless loop. Next
idly among a younger de- But ABC’s bigger concern year’s presidential election
mographic that advertisers may be smartphones on has attracted unprece-
eagerly seek, where NBC the bedside table. Morning dented attention a year in
has wrested back the lead television usage peaked advance. Morning shows
from its rival. at 40.7 million viewers are a combination of news
The search is on for those three years ago and has and entertainment, and
missing viewers, many of dropped by two million nothing annoys ABC exec-
whom ABC executives sus- since, Nielsen said. Some utives more than a sugges-
pect have turned off morn- people who used to turn tion they don’t have the
ing television altogether, on TV for a quick check of news chops to compete.
and for ways to lure them the headlines and weather Yet while “GMA” ratings
back. now likely do that online. are down this season, the
The “Good Morning Ameri- To that end, “GMA” ex- more sober and traditional
ca” typical daily audience ecutives are emphasizing “CBS This Morning” is up 7
is 4.9 million, or 11 percent live events and features percent in viewers.
smaller than last season, to convey a sense that “The show should become
the Nielsen company said. people will be missing out George-centric again,”
Among 25-to-54-year-olds, on something important if said former ABC and CBS
the decline is 19 percent. they don’t turn on the TV. morning show producer
Shelley Ross, suggesting
Stephanopoulos’ political
expertise is an asset for an
election year.
The risk in shifting to a heavi-
er news emphasis is that
the people who came to
“GMA” because it looked