ABC Information president Kim Godwin’s days may very well be numbered after staffers quietly cheer her demotion: sources

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By Alexandra Steigrad

Embattled ABC Information president Kim Godwin’s days may very well be numbered regardless of getting her contract renewed — as staffers quietly cheered her efficient demotion, The Submit has realized.

The Disney-owned community elevated veteran exec Debra OConnell on Wednesday to helm a brand new division that will embody ABC Information — placing Godwin beneath her — amid softening scores at top-ranked reveals  “Good Morning America” and “World Information Tonight with David Muir.”

The transfer was extensively cheered at ABC Information headquarters on the Higher West Aspect, with multiple staffer overheard saying: “Ding Dong! The Witch is Lifeless,” as others “celebrated on the bar” and breathed a sigh of reduction that the “dictatorial” tradition beneath Godwin would quickly come to an finish, a number of sources informed The Submit on Thursday.

“The temper after the announcement was very mild and glad. Persons are relieved,” one supply stated. “They really feel community can get again to its glory days with Debra coming in.”

The rejoicing got here regardless of Godwin getting a three-year extension shortly after Disney introduced OConnell’s new position, which can even embrace oversight of ABC’s native associates and cable channels like FX and Disney.

“That is the start of the transition [of Godwin’s exit],” stated one supply near the community. “Everybody will get renewed after which dumped. It’s the ABC Information and Disney manner.”

The supply pointed to former Disney CEO Bob Chapek, whose contract was renewed months earlier than he was ousted and Bob Iger was introduced again to switch him.

“It’s referred to as the price of doing enterprise,” stated a former Disney exec. “Renew her. Assure three years of cash after which let her de-select and determine it’s time to go write her management e-book, which she is planning.”

ABC Information declined to remark.

OConnell, in the meantime, turned up at “Good Morning America’s” studios in Instances Sq. earlier than the daybreak — simply 12 hours after information of the shakeup — to greet the workers and anchors and to ship a transparent message that “she is in cost,” a supply informed The Submit.

In keeping with the insider, Godwin was licking her wounds and had cleared her schedule for the remainder of the week even earlier than Wednesday’s beautiful announcement.

She was a no-show throughout OConnell’s “GMA” look.

“Godwin hardly ever visits ‘GMA’ studios until it’s for a photo-op for her Instagram web page,” stated one ABC insider.

“Exhibits like ‘GMA,’ you want somebody on the prime driving competitors,” one other supply stated.
“There hasn’t been a pushed particular person on the prime since Ben Sherwood and James Goldston, who have been producers. They have been within the management room. They have been pushed to compete, which makes a distinction.”

An ABC supply near Godwin disputed that she cleared her schedule for the week, however had rescheduled conferences forward of the reshuffle.

The supply added that the exec is usually on set and within the management room, however confirmed Godwin skipped Thursday’s powwow.

“Everybody right here is aware of that Kim Godwin is on e mail at 4:30 morning, within the constructing working nonstop 24 hours a day and out there 24/7,” the supply stated.

Godwin did be a part of OConnell for an editorial assembly at 9 am at ABC Information headquarters, at 47 W. 66th St., the place she launched hew new boss to staffers.

“She’s at all times been a champion of what we do right here,” Godwin stated of the 27-year Disney veteran, in accordance with a supply on the assembly. “She has deep roots at our sister station WABC and I’ve collaborated together with her quite a few occasions over time.”

OConnell added a short: “You guys are one of the best staff there may be,” the insider stated.

Godwin’s two-and-half-year tenure on the community has been a bumpy one, crammed with missteps, authorized threats from laid-off staffers and softening scores at “GMA” and “World Information Tonight.”

Sources stated that prime brass was anxious about scores slips on the marquee morning and night reveals, which have misplaced some floor to rivals NBC Information and CBS Information.

“A drop from first place to second place can occur in a single day,” stated a former TV exec. “However getting again to first place might take years.”

Rankings apart, Godwin had additionally made a collection of gaffes, together with taking part in down the salacious affair between “GMA3” hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach.

Particulars of the affair spilled out in November 2022, however Godwin permitted the “GMA3” pair to stay on the air, inflicting a spectacle which led to extra information tales.

As extra lurid tidbits got here out, Godwin benched the duo however defended them on a Dec. 5 interoffice name, saying they “had not violated firm coverage.”

ABC launched an inner probe quickly after, as extra juicy tales have been leaked to the tabloids about Holmes’ different affairs at ABC. After a chronic suspension, ABC settled with the pair to exit the company. 

Monetary particulars of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Different missteps included the awkward dealing with of Whoopi Goldberg’s suspension after she made what have been construed by many to be antisemitic feedback on “The View.”

She additionally fired 50 staffers — a lot of whom have been well-respected and high-level — and put in place her new management staff, which sources described as “yes-men” who didn’t dare to query their chief.

A supply near the scenario stated beneath Godwin, the community’s tradition had “been run like a police state” with staffers fearing that they have been being monitored by their boss and her deputies.

Some staffers stated they have been afraid of being “overheard” within the hallways and infrequently would meet in again stairwells to speak, consequently.

A supply near ABC disputed that characterization, saying that Godwin has an open-door coverage and is a collaborative chief.

“Kim has created an inclusive tradition and for some individuals which may be totally different and uncomfortable,” the supply stated.

However staffers griped that Godwin wasn’t hands-on sufficient when it got here to driving scores and outcomes.

“There hasn’t been a pushed particular person on the prime since Ben Sherwood and James Goldston, who have been producers. They have been within the management room. They have been pushed to compete, which makes a distinction. Exhibits like ‘GMA,’ you want somebody on the prime driving competitors,” a supply stated, noting that after listening to information of OConnell’s promotion Wednesday, “individuals have been celebrating on the bar.”

“The temper after the announcement was very mild and glad. Persons are relieved,” added one other supply. “They really feel community can get again to its glory days with Debra coming in.”

As for Godwin, the exec is publicly placing on airs that she’s in cost with many staffers calling her memo saying the adjustments “Nixonian.”

The long-winded memo, which was obtained by The Submit, leads together with her saying she’s staying on as president of ABC Information, and buries the information that OConnell will lead the information division.

Workers are already anticipating a conflict between the 2 execs, with one insider noting: “The floodgates are going to open. Something that’s essential goes to run by Debra. No agent, no expertise goes to undergo Kim, not if it’s essential.”

With contributions from Carlos Greer