ABC News, one of America’s leading news networks, is reportedly grappling with a serious internal crisis. According to insiders, the network is struggling to maintain its star power, raising concerns about its long-term stability and future direction. The issue stems from a leadership vacuum and the absence of new talent to take the reins from its aging anchor lineup.
The situation has become dire as ABC News has been without a head of talent for nearly two years. Without a strong leadership figure to guide talent acquisition and development, the network has reportedly found itself relying on its established stars, such as Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan, with no clear successors in sight.
The lack of succession planning became even more glaring after the departure of TJ Holmes and Amy Robach. Both Holmes and Robach were once seen as the future of ABC News, possessing the star power and journalistic chops to fill the shoes of the network’s veteran anchors. However, their exit in the wake of a highly publicized scandal has left a major void, exacerbating the talent crisis.
The Holmes-Robach scandal, which involved their romantic relationship becoming tabloid fodder, shook the network and led to their departure earlier this year. With their exit, ABC News lost two of its most promising personalities, leaving the network scrambling to find replacements who can carry the same weight with audiences.
Sources claim that the decision-makers didn’t take into account the broader implications when they dismissed the former “GMA 3” anchors due to their undisclosed affair. “Losing them at ‘GMA 3’ wasn’t the point. They were the primary replacements for [flagship morning show] ‘Good Morning America’! That was their real value. Michael, George and Robin take 70 to 80 days off a year. You don’t get rid of people like that so quickly,” one source explained to PageSix.
ABC is facing a shortage of successors for its morning show and David Muir’s primetime slot as well. “[ABC has] good correspondents, but they’re not stars. Linsey is not going to be the host of ‘GMA.’ She can easily be David’s replacement,” the source noted. Another insider at the network described morale as being at an “all-time high” following the debate. “It was a very proud moment,” they remarked.
ABC personalities Martha Raddatz, Rachel Scott, Mary Bruce, and Jonathan Karl hosted a special before and after the debate. However, “the elephant in the room is they didn’t have George,” the first source pointed out to the outlet. Sources indicate to PageSix that viewers will “never see [Stephanopoulos] on election night” following the network’s decision to favor Muir as the anchor for “World News Tonight.” He remains focused on his roles at “GMA” and “This Week,” along with the occasional major interview. Additionally, a production deal is included in Stephanopoulos’ lucrative contract which is currently under renegotiation.
Multiple sources revealed that Muir’s influence at ABC News is growing because star anchor Roberts, who essentially leads on “GMA,” is indifferent. “She’s the true power, but she doesn’t flex her muscles. She has her own thing, and doesn’t really give a s–t,” the first source commented.
There have long been whispers about tension between Stephanopoulos and Muir, two prominent figures at ABC News. Such dynamics often emerge in high-profile environments where anchors compete for prime positions and airtime. A network insider revealed to RadarOnline, “David has his supporters and team inside ABC, and George has his. The rivalry between David and George is real and makes for tension behind-the-scenes, and there are private celebrations from those in David’s corner that George plunged the network into an embarrassing scandal.”
Following the presidential debate, ABC’s “World News Tonight” with Muir has experienced a notable dip in viewers. The program averaged 6.7 million viewers for the episodes on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday post-debate, down from its 2024 average of 7.6 million prior to the debate according to The New York Post. This 12% drop in viewership for “World News Tonight” was significantly sharper than the minor decreases seen by “CBS Evening News” and “NBC Nightly News” during the same period.
