ABC names new 'Good Morning America' chief

ABC News said Friday that current "Nightline" executive producer James Goldston will slide over to take control behind the scenes at "Good Morning America."

He replaces Jim Murphy as senior executive producer. Murphy is leaving to become executive producer of Anderson Cooper's new syndicated talk show, which debuts in the fall.

ABC News President Ben Sherwood said in a memo to staff that Goldston and his team had turned "Nightline" into a powerhouse, "against all odds and speculation that (the show's) best days had come and gone." Goldston's top deputy for the past five years, Jeanmarie Condon, will take over as "Nightline" executive producer.

Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos host "Good Morning America," which competes against NBC's top-rated "Today" show.

Goldston noted that "Good Morning America" has been creeping up in the ratings against "Today," which hasn't lost a single week in the morning show ratings since December 1995.

"There is a self-confidence about the show that is appealing," he said.

Condon said ABC has asked the "Nightline" staff to produce several hours of prime-time programming for this summer.