Disney’s ABC News Studios is launching a new production unit, which is going to be led by Robin Roberts, who is the presenter of “Good Morning America” and the Disney+ Original series, “Turning Tables”.   According to Variety, this is the latest move by ABC News to increase the number of projects it creates for its linear networks and streaming services, including Disney+ and Hulu.

Robin Roberts explained:

“The creation of this unit offers a unique opportunity to tell new and compelling stories in a wide range of formats, and we’ll also explore genres people might not expect from me,”

Jonathan Blakely, executive producer of Roberts’ new unit, added:

“We are committed to developing projects across formats and genres. It could include everything from pop culture to true crime, and some things that might surprise some people that will come from Robin.”

The new division will report to Mike Kelley, who is the head of ABC News Studios. Katie Conway, a veteran producer at “Good Morning America,” will be a senior producer for the unit, overseeing development and production from Los Angeles. Producer Danielle Genet and production coordinator Kayla Simmons will also join the new unit.

Kim Godwin, president of ABC News, said in a statement.

“Robin Roberts’ career is a masterclass in powerful storytelling that, over the years, has left an indelible mark on ABC News and people around the world.  This dedicated ABC News Studios production unit will make it possible for Robin to seamlessly produce more premium, original content about extraordinary people and places like only Robin can.”

The first project to be released by this unit will be a special edition of “20/20″, ” which will air on ABC this Sunday, on September 24th 2023, at 10 p.m. and will be available the next day on Hulu.   The special is called “Kerry Washington: Thicker Than Water – A Conversation with Robin Roberts” and features a one-on-one interview to promote the upcoming memoir, “Thicker Than Water”.

With many of the major studios changing their strategy, from a linear focus to a dual release strategy across both linear and streaming, plus with reports that Disney could even sell ABC, it makes sense that Disney is also shifting the focus to creating new specials for streaming.

Will you be checking out the new “20/20” episode?  Let us know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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