David Muir has officially come out on top in his ongoing battle with fellow ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos, according to a respected TV insider.
Muir, 53, has reportedly solidified his place as the network’s top star, leaving Stephanopoulos, 64, behind.
Insider Reveals the Shift in Power at ABC News
Oliver Darcy, former CNN journalist and founder of the news site Status, confirmed the tension between the two stars during an appearance on DailyMail.com’s Welcome to MAGAland podcast.
“David won,” Darcy declared, adding that there’s a clear shift in the power dynamic at ABC News.
“George used to be the lead guy for a while, but now it’s David Muir’s time,” he said.
Darcy explained that after years of rivalry, the two have reached an understanding, with Muir now firmly in control.
However, he noted that while it’s not an active feud, there’s still a sense of distance between the two camps.
“It’s like North Korea and South Korea—there’s a détente, but not much love lost,” Darcy added.
George Stephanopoulos’ Role and Influence Still Intact
Despite the shift in power, Darcy pointed out that Stephanopoulos still has considerable influence at ABC News.
He remains a prominent figure with his Good Morning America role and his own production company, which has a deal with Disney.
However, he’s clearly been relegated to a secondary position, with Muir now regarded as the network’s most valuable asset.
“George still has his own real estate,” Darcy noted, referring to his shows and ventures.
But he made it clear that there’s no denying the feud between the two, stating, “Anyone who denies it is simply being laughable.
Inside ABC, and certainly within Disney, this rivalry is well known.”
ABC News Denies the Tension, But Insider Stories Tell Another Tale
ABC News, however, maintains that everything is fine between Muir and Stephanopoulos.
An ABC spokesperson dismissed the feud rumors, telling DailyMail.com that “there are far more important things going on in the world right now. This is nonsense.”
But Darcy’s reporting suggests otherwise, with previous stories detailing how the two have barely been seen together on screen due to their strained relationship.
The Origins of the Rivalry Between Muir and Stephanopoulos
The tension between Muir and Stephanopoulos reportedly began with Muir’s rise at the network.
According to Darcy, Stephanopoulos was unhappy about being replaced by a younger anchor, and things reached a boiling point in 2021.
Disney CEO Bob Iger flew to New York to negotiate with Stephanopoulos after he threatened to leave ABC News due to Muir’s promotion to Chief Anchor.
The conflict reached a head when Muir was assigned to lead the network’s coverage of breaking news and special events—responsibilities that had previously been Stephanopoulos’ domain since 2014.
Stephanopoulos, who had been with ABC News since 1997 and served as the network’s Chief Anchor starting in 2014, felt slighted by the move, despite not holding the official title.
Muir’s Rising Influence and Success at ABC News
Muir’s career took off in 2014 when he replaced Diane Sawyer as anchor of World News Tonight.
At the time, the World News anchor role was considered the highest position at ABC, and whoever held it was seen as the network’s top star.
Muir’s success in the role has only continued to grow, with strong ratings and a salary likely well into the eight figures, though it hasn’t been officially disclosed.
Despite the growing rift between the two anchors, Muir’s ratings are solid, and ABC News reportedly considers him its most valuable asset.
With the landscape of TV news changing, particularly after the demotions of other network anchors like Nora O’Donnell and the upcoming departure of Lester Holt, ABC is counting on Muir to continue dominating the nightly news scene.
Stephanopoulos Stays on GMA While Muir Takes the Lead
Although Stephanopoulos remains the face of Good Morning America, his desire for the World News Tonight anchor position has never waned.
In 2014, after Muir replaced Diane Sawyer, Stephanopoulos, who was more experienced at the time, was reportedly upset by the decision.
Despite his ongoing success with GMA, Stephanopoulos has never fully let go of his wish to hold the coveted nightly news anchor role.
In the end, it was Muir who took the reins, and although he was less experienced, the network eventually saw him as the right fit.
With strong ratings and a growing influence, Muir has left Stephanopoulos in his rearview as the dominant anchor at ABC News.