About

ABC history, coverage, features

ABC is an English-language TV network in the USA owned by Disney Television Group. Founded in May 1943, it is available in formats ranging from 480i (standard definition) to 1080p.

ABC began as a radio network, emerging from NBC’s now-defunct Blue radio network, before expanding into television five years later in 1948. The network purchased ESPN in 1984 before ultimately being sold to Capital Cities two years later and to the Walt Disney Company in 1996.

The network began broadcasting live sports via its ABC Sports division; however, this division was shut down in 2006. As a result, ABC went on to collaborate with its sister cable network ESPN for sports telecasts under the branding “ESPN on ABC.”

This collaboration has included some of the largest sporting events, such as the NBA and its Christmas Day games, the NBA Playoffs, the NBA Finals, Major League Baseball, and the NHL, including the NHL All-Star Game, the NHL Stadium Series, and the Stanley Cup Finals.

ABC has also simulcast and exclusively aired NFL matches on its network, thus holding the honor of broadcasting the USA’s "big four" sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) concurrently. Additionally, it secured the rights to broadcast Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and Super Bowl LXV in 2031.

Other sporting events that have been featured on ABC include college football, men’s and women’s college basketball, the WNBA, and the X Games. ABC was also the official FIFA World Cup broadcaster in the USA from 1994 through 2014, as well as the FIFA Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003.

Despite this, ABC’s FIFA World Cup coverage predates 1994, with the network’s first telecast of a World Cup final taking place during the 1982 edition in Spain. The 1998 FIFA World Cup in France was the first time all games in the tournament were broadcast live, with ABC handling English-language coverage alongside ESPN. Furthermore, the MLS Cup was broadcast on ABC every year between 1996 and 2008 before being moved to ESPN due to low ratings.

The ABC app allowed subscribers to watch ABC and its sister networks, primarily its entertainment content, on demand. However, Disney announced its discontinuation in August 2024, with the network’s TV Everywhere content predominantly made available only on ABC.com, Hulu, and Disney+.