You're bleary-eyed, reaching for the coffee, and trying to find Robin Roberts on your screen before the first meeting of the day. It’s a classic morning scramble. But television schedules are notoriously fickle, and if you’re traveling or just moved, "morning" is a relative term.
So, what time does Good Morning America start?
Basically, for the vast majority of people in the United States, Good Morning America (GMA) starts at 7:00 AM. But here is the catch. That 7:00 AM start time is almost always local. If you are in New York, it’s 7:00 AM. If you are in Chicago, it’s 7:00 AM. If you are in Los Angeles, it’s also 7:00 AM. ABC uses a tape-delay system to ensure that the "morning" show actually airs when people are waking up, rather than hitting the West Coast at 4:00 AM when only the local bakers are awake.
The Weekday Breakdown: Monday Through Friday
The core of the GMA experience is the two-hour block on weekdays. From Monday to Friday, the show runs from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. This is the "Golden Window." It's when you'll see the heavy hitters: Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan. They handle the hard news, the political interviews, and the big celebrity sit-downs. Ginger Zee usually jumps in with the weather every half hour, and Lara Spencer handles the "Pop News" segments that keep things from getting too heavy.
Wait, there’s a nuance.
While the show is scheduled for 7:00 AM, some local affiliates—the actual TV stations in your city—occasionally mess with the timing. For instance, in some smaller markets or during heavy local news cycles, a station might push the start time slightly or air a "First Look" segment at 6:00 AM. But 99% of the time, 7:00 AM is your target.
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Does the Weekend Schedule Change?
Honestly, yes. Weekends are a different beast.
If you’re looking for the weekend edition, the start time remains 7:00 AM, but the duration is the part that trips people up. On Saturdays, GMA usually runs for two hours (7:00 AM to 9:00 AM), matching the weekday energy.
Sundays are more condensed. Most markets only air a one-hour version of Good Morning America on Sunday, running from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. This shorter window allows local stations to transition into their political "Sunday Morning" shows or religious programming.
Time Zones and the "Live" Illusion
Here is something most people get wrong about morning TV.
If you live in the Eastern Time Zone, you are watching the show live as it happens in Times Square. When George Stephanopoulos says "Good Morning" at 7:01 AM ET, it is actually 7:01 AM in his world.
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However, if you are in the Central Time Zone, the show is usually broadcast at 7:00 AM local time, which is 8:00 AM in New York. You are watching a one-hour tape delay. The West Coast is on a three-hour delay.
- Eastern Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Live)
- Central Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Tape Delayed)
- Mountain Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Tape Delayed)
- Pacific Time: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM (Tape Delayed)
Why does this matter? Breaking news.
If a massive story breaks at 8:30 AM ET, the East Coast sees it live. The producers then have to scramble to "patch" the West Coast feed so those viewers aren't watching outdated news three hours later. They often record "live updates" specifically for the Western time zones to keep the show feeling fresh.
What About GMA3?
You might see "GMA" listed later in the afternoon and get confused. This is GMA3: What You Need to Know. It isn't the same show. It’s a spinoff hosted by Eva Pilgrim and DeMarco Morgan, often featuring Dr. Darien Sutton for medical news.
GMA3 typically starts at 1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT. This show is much more lifestyle-heavy. It focuses on health, "Deals & Steals," and deeper dives into single topics. If you’re looking for the main news desk with Michael Strahan, you missed him by about four hours.
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Streaming and Catching Up
If you missed the 7:00 AM start, you aren't totally out of luck.
You can’t always just "rewind" live TV unless you have a DVR or a service like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV. However, ABC News Live—the network's 24/7 streaming channel—often rebroadcasts segments throughout the morning.
Also, the GMA website and YouTube channel are incredibly fast. They usually slice the big interviews and "Pop News" segments into individual clips and upload them within 30 minutes of them airing on the East Coast. If you only care about a specific celebrity interview, checking YouTube at 9:30 AM ET is usually more efficient than sitting through the whole broadcast.
Pro Tips for the Viewer
First, check your local ABC affiliate’s website. Just type "ABC [Your City] Schedule" into Google. This is the only way to be 100% sure about local delays, especially during "Special Report" interruptions or local sports parades.
Second, if you're an early bird, look for "GMA First Look." This is a pre-show that often airs at 4:00 AM or 5:00 AM on certain stations, giving you a headline sweep before the main event.
Basically, keep your dial on ABC at 7:00 AM local time. That is the universal rule for Good Morning America. Whether it’s a Tuesday or a Saturday, the 7:00 AM slot is the safest bet to ensure you don't miss the opening credits.
To make sure you're ready for tomorrow's broadcast, verify your local ABC station via the ABC Station Finder and set your DVR for 6:55 AM to catch every second of the intro.