Good Morning America is adding an hour, in the afternoon.
Beginning in September, the ABC morning show will add an hour at 1 p.m. ET, replacing The Chew, which ends its 7-season run this summer.
“Over the past six years ‘Good Morning America’ has solidified its place as America’s No. 1 morning show,” said Ben Sherwood, president of Disney | ABC TV, and a former executive producer of the show.
“We believe there is great opportunity for viewers and advertisers in expanding to a third hour,” said Sherwood, who was president of ABC News when the network experimented with Good Afternoon America in 2012. The one-hour show, which was hosted by Josh Elliott and Lara Spencer aired for 9 weeks in the summer of 2012 ahead of the launch of Katie.
ABC says the new third hour “will feature even more news, pop culture, compelling interviews and the program’s signature, epic live events.” The show’s name and anchors will be announced in the coming months.
“While this is the right decision for our business, it is also bittersweet,” said Sherwood. “For seven years The Chew has delighted audiences by delivering innovative food segments in an entertaining atmosphere. We applaud and thank Gordon Elliott, Aimee Householder, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and the entire cast and crew for their great work and amazing run.
Another The Chew regular, Mario Batali, was fired from the show last December following allegations of sexual harassment.
Adding another daytime hour gives ABC News oversight of 7 hours of ABC’s daily programming: GMA from 7 to 9 a.m., The View at 11 a.m., a third hour of GMA, World News Tonight, Nightline, 90 minutes of World News Now during the overnights, and a half hour of America This Morning. And add another hour on Fridays for 20/20.