ABC News (United States)

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ABC News is the news division of the American television network ABC. Its flagship program is the daily evening newscast ABC World News Tonight with David Muir; other programs include morning news-talk show Good Morning America, Nightline, 20/20, and This Week with George Stephanopoulos. The network also includes daytime talk shows The View, Live with Kelly and Mark, and Tamron Hall. In addition to the division's television programs, ABC News has radio and digital outlets, including ABC News Radio and ABC News Live, plus various podcasts hosted by ABC News personalities.

History

20th-century origins

ABC began in 1943 as the NBC Blue Network, a radio network that was spun off from NBC, as ordered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1942.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The reason for the order was to expand competition in radio broadcasting in the United States, specifically news and political broadcasting, and broaden the projected points of view. Only a few companies, such as NBC and CBS, dominated the radio market. NBC conducted the split voluntarily in case its appeal of the ruling was denied, and it was forced to split its two networks into separate companies.

Regular television news broadcasts on ABC began soon after the network signed on its initial owned-and-operated television station (WJZ-TV, now WABC-TV) and production center in New York City in August 1948. Broadcasts continued as the ABC network expanded nationwide. Until the early 1970s, ABC News programs and ABC in general consistently ranked third in viewership behind CBS and NBC news programs. ABC had fewer affiliate stations and a weaker prime-time programming slate to support the network's news operations compared to the two larger networks, each of which had established their radio news operations during the 1930s.

Roone Arledge

Logo used from 1978 to 1999

By the 1970s, the network had effectively turned around, with its prime-time entertainment programs achieving more substantial ratings and drawing in higher advertising revenue and profits for ABC overall. With the appointment of the president of ABC Sports, Roone Arledge as president of ABC News in 1977, ABC invested the resources to make it a significant source of news content. Arledge, known for experimenting with the broadcast "model", created many of ABC News' most popular and enduring programs, including 20/20, World News Tonight, This Week, Nightline, and Primetime Live.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> ABC News' longtime slogan, "More Americans get their news from ABC News than from any other source." (introduced in the late 1980s), was a claim referring to the number of people who watch, listen to and read ABC News content on television, radio and (eventually) the Internet, and not necessarily to the telecasts alone.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

In June 1998, ABC News (which owned an 80% stake in the service), Nine Network and ITN sold their respective interests in Worldwide Television News to the Associated Press.Template:Citation needed Additionally, ABC News signed a multi-year content deal with AP for its affiliate video service, Associated Press Television News (APTV), while providing material from ABC's news video service, ABC News One, to APTV.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

1985 Marilyn Monroe scandal

Scandal erupted on October 7, 1985, over a decision by Arledge, president of ABC News and Sports, to kill a 13-minute report about Marilyn Monroe, possibly due to his close ties to Ethel Kennedy. 20/20 drew criticism from the program's co-anchors, Hugh Downs and Barbara Walters, and the executive producer, Av Westin. Arledge said that he had killed the piece because it was "gossip-column stuff" and "does not live up to its billing." Downs, however, took issue with Arledge's judgment. "I am upset about the way it was handled," he said in an interview. "I honestly believe that this is more carefully documented than anything any network did during Watergate. I lament the fact that the decision reflects badly on people I respect and it reflects badly on me and the broadcast."<ref name="Smith-1985">Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, Westin said: "I don't anticipate not putting it on the air. The journalism is solid. Everything in there has two sources. We are documenting that there was a relationship between Bobby and Marilyn and Jack and Marilyn. A variety of eyewitnesses attest to that on camera." Two other aspects of the unaired report, according to an ABC staff member who has seen it, are eyewitness accounts of wiretapping of Monroe's home by Jimmy Hoffa, the teamster leader, that reveal meetings between her and the Kennedy brothers, and accounts of a visit to Monroe by Robert F. Kennedy on the day of her death. Fred Otash, a detective who said he was the chief wiretapper, is interviewed on camera, and ABC staff members said three other wiretappers corroborated his account. In addition, several people not in the book say on camera that Monroe kept diaries with references to meetings with the Kennedy brothers, according to a staff member who has seen the report. "It set out to be a piece which would demonstrate that because of alleged relations between Robert Kennedy and John F. Kennedy and Monroe, the presidency was compromised because organized crime was involved," he said. "Based on what has been uncovered so far, there was no evidence."<ref name="Smith-1985"/> Arledge's decision to kill the broadcast resulted in the subsequent decision of Geraldo Rivera to leave ABC entirely. Rivera was a 20/20 correspondent but did not work on that story. He had been publicly critical of Arledge's decision. Arledge, a champion and defender of Rivera, said he thought the story needed more work. The story probed purported affairs between actress Marilyn Monroe, President John F. Kennedy, and his brother Robert F. Kennedy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

21st century

On August 7, 2014, ABC announced that it would relaunch its radio network division, ABC Radio, on January 1, 2015. The change occurred following the announcement that Cumulus would replace its ABC News radio service with Westwood One News (via CNN).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On September 20, 2019, ABC Radio was renamed as ABC Audio as the network has evolved to offer a podcast portfolio and other forms of on-demand and linear content.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In April 2018, it was announced that FiveThirtyEight would be transferred to ABC News from ESPN, Inc., majority owned by The Walt Disney Company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On September 10, 2018, ABC News launched a second attempt to extend its Good Morning America brand into the afternoon with GMA3: What You Need to Know. In May 2019, ABC News Live, a news focused streaming channel, was launched on Roku.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following a reorganization of ABC's parent company, The Walt Disney Company which created the Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International segment in March 2018, ABC News Digital and Live Streaming, including ABC News Live and FiveThirtyEight, were transferred to the new segment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In an October 2018 Simmons Research survey of 38 news organizations, ABC News was ranked the second most trusted news organization by Americans, behind The Wall Street Journal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In December 2024, ABC's owner, the Walt Disney Company, settled a defamation lawsuit brought by Donald Trump against ABC News, by agreeing to donate $15 million to Trump's future presidential library foundation and paying $1 million in Trump's legal fees. Disney also agreed to ABC and anchor George Stephanopoulos publishing a statement saying they regretted that Stephanopoulos, in an interview, had repeatedly said that Trump had been found liable for raping E. Jean Carroll.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Programming

Current ABC News programs

Former ABC News programs

Newscast programs

Newsmagazines

Public affairs

  • College News Conference (1952–1960)
  • Answers for Americans (1953–1954)
  • Issues and Answers (1960–1981)

Digital programs

  • The Debrief (2018–2019)
  • The Briefing Room (2018–2019)
  • 10% Happier (video broadcast of 10% Happier podcast) (2015–2017)
  • Real Biz with Rebecca Jarvis (2014–2017)

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Other programs

Other services

ABC News Radio

Template:Main ABC News Radio is the radio service of ABC Audio, a division of the ABC News. Formerly known as ABC Radio News, ABC News Radio feeds through Skyview Networks with newscasts on the hour to its affiliates. ABC News Radio is the largest commercial radio news organization in the US.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

ABCNews.com

ABCNews.com launched on May 15, 1997, by ABC News Internet Ventures, a joint venture between Starwave and ABC formed in April 1997.<ref>ABC News takes on the Net Template:Webarchive, CNET, May 15, 1997</ref><ref>ABC News – Bugs and All – Arrives on the Web Template:Webarchive, Wired, May 15, 1997</ref> Starwave had owned and operated ESPNet SportsZone (later known as ESPN.com) since 1995, which licensed the ESPN brand and video clips from ABC's corporate sister ESPN Inc. Disney wanted more control of their Internet properties, which meant ABCNews.com was operated as a joint venture with ABC News having editorial control.<ref>A Barometer for New Media: ABC News Begins Online Service Template:Webarchive, The New York Times Cybertimes, May 12, 1997</ref> Disney had also bought a minority stake in Starwave before the launch of ABCNews.com and would later buy the company outright.<ref>IQ News: That's A Wrap: Disney Completes Starwave Purchase Template:Webarchive, Ad Week, May 4, 1998</ref>

The website initially had a dedicated staff of about 30.<ref>ABC News Digital Turns 18: What Happened When We Started a Website Template:Webarchive, ABCNews.com, May 15, 2015</ref> In addition to articles, it featured short video clips and audio from the start, delivered using RealAudio and RealVideo technology.<ref>ABC News Internet Ventures, Starwave, and Progressive Networks Team Up to Deliver RealAudio and RealVideo Content for ABCNEWS.com Template:Webarchive, May 15, 1997, Progressive Networks</ref> Some content was also available via America Online. In 2011, ABC News and Yahoo News announced a strategic partnership to share ABC's online reporting on Yahoo's website; the deal expanded in 2015 to include the Disney/ABC Television Group.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, ABC News, and Good Morning America specifically, ended the hosting partnership with Yahoo, instead opting to continue separate web presences.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Although Disney retired the Go.com branding in 2013, ABC News' website has the Go.com branding, with its URL reading ABCNews.Go.com.

ABC News Live

Template:Main ABC News Live is a 24/7 streaming video news channel for breaking news, live events, newscasts and longer-form reports and documentaries<ref name="ap0">Template:Cite news</ref> operated by ABC News since 2018,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The channel is available through DirecTV Stream, Disney+, FuboTV, Google TV, Haystack News, Hulu, LG Channels, Pluto TV, Prime Video Live TV, Samsung TV Plus, Sling Freestream, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Vizio Watch Free+, Xumo, and YouTube TV.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The service is under the direction of Justin Dial, Vice President of Streaming Content, Seniboye Tienabeso, Executive Director of ABC News Live, Chandra Zeikel, Executive Producer and Eric Ortega, Executive Producer.<ref name="ap0"/>

This unit is producing:

  • ABC News Live First, a daily four hour live morning show anchored by Diane Macedo from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
  • ABC News Live, a daily three hour afternoon show anchored by Kyra Phillips from 1:00–4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
  • ABC News Live Reports, a daily two hour afternoon show anchored by Kayna Whitworth from 5:00–7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) (September 2023–)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • ABC News Live Prime, a nightly 90 minute news programmed anchored by Linsey Davis starting at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) (February 2020–)<ref name="ap0"/>
  • GMA: The Third Hour, a weekday, hour-long daytime news program on ABC. It premiered in March 2020 as Pandemic: What You Need To Know, as a temporary replacement for its talk show Strahan, Sara and Keke to cover the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic in the United States. It has since replaced indefinitely.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The program is currently anchored by various ABC News personalities following a major overhaul.<ref name="Variety">Template:Cite web</ref>

Former

Satellite News Channel

Template:Main Satellite News Channel was a joint venture between ABC News and Group W that launched on June 21, 1982, as a satellite-delivered cable television network. SNC used footage from ABC News and seven Washington, D.C.–based crews and stories from other overseas networks to provide a rotating newscast every 20 minutes. However, this channel had difficulty getting clearance from cable systems, so ABC News and Group W decided to sell it to its competitor, CNN (a subsidiary of Time Warner's Turner Broadcasting System). CNN ceased Satellite News Channel's operations on October 27, 1983. SNC was either replaced by CNN or CNN2 on most cable systems.

ABC News Now

ABC News Now was a 24-hour cable news network that launched on July 26, 2004, as a digital subchannel by ABC News, being the company's second attempt in the 24-hour cable news world after Satellite News Channel. It was offered via digital television, broadband and streaming video at ABCNews.com<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and on mobile phones. It delivered breaking news, headline news each half hour, and a wide range of entertainment and lifestyle programming. The channel was available in the United States and Europe. Its Talk Back feature allowed viewers to voice their input by submitting videos and personal thoughts on controversial issues and current topics. It was shut down as a digital subchannel after its experimental phase ended with the Presidential inauguration in 2005. ABC News Now was replaced on cable providers with Fusion on October 28, 2013.<ref name=latimes>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fusion

Template:Main Fusion was a digital cable and satellite network owned and operated by Fusion Media Group, LLC, which was a joint venture between ABC News and Univision Communications. ABC and Univision formally announced their launch on May 2, 2012. Launched on October 28, 2013,<ref name=latimes/> Fusion features a mix of traditional news and investigative programs along with satirical content aimed at English-speaking Hispanic and Latino American adults between the ages of 18 and 34.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The network replaced ABC News Now, a mainly streaming service of ABC News content. In December 2015, it was reported that Disney was in talks to sell its stake in Fusion to Univision.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The split was complete on April 21, 2016;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Univision alone would continue to operate Fusion until December 31, 2021, when it shut down the network.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personnel

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Current television anchors, correspondents, and reporters

New York (Main Headquarters)

Washington, D.C.

Atlanta

  • Steve Osunsami – Senior National Correspondent (1997–present)
  • Elwyn Lopez – Correspondent (2020–present)<ref name="ABC News Public Relations-2020" />

Chicago

Dallas

Los Angeles

London

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Hong Kong

Mexico City

Miami

Paris

San Francisco

  • Becky Worley – Consumer Correspondent; Technology Contributor (2005–present)

Current ABC News Radio personnel

Contributors

Former

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In Australia, Sky News Australia airs daily broadcasts of ABC World News Tonight (at 10:30 a.m.) and Nightline (at 1:30 a.m.) as well as weekly airings of 20/20 (on Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., with an extended version at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays) and occasionally Primetime (at 1:30 p.m. on Thursdays, with extended edition at 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays). Coincidentally, that country's public broadcasting, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, operates its unrelated news division that is also named ABC News. The U.S. ABC News maintains a content-sharing agreement with the Nine Network, which also broadcasts GMA domestically in the early morning before its own breakfast program.

In New Zealand, ABC World News was broadcast daily at 5:10 p.m. and again at 11:35 p.m. As with the BBC in the U.K., TVNZ 7 (owned by Television New Zealand) aired the program commercial-free until the channel ceased operations on June 30, 2012.

References

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