Disney/ABC to Launch Open Access Preview of Live Streaming Service

BURBANK, CA - Disney/ABC Television Group announced that, beginning May 14 its "WATCH ABC" authenticated service will be available to all viewers in the New York City area via WABC-T and in Philadelphia via WPVI as part of a special open access preview, running through the end of June.

For the first time the new WATCH ABC service provides viewers with live access to their favorite ABC shows and local market programming, as well as a variety of on-demand content at home and on the go. The new service will also include the on-demand, full-episode viewing experience that the ABC Full-Episode Player and ABC Player app have offered, respectively, online and via tablets and phones. Viewers can access WATCH ABC online at ABC.com or by downloading the WATCH ABC app on their iOS or Kindle Fire devices. The WATCH ABC app will be available on Samsung Galaxy devices this summer.

Currently Disney/ABC Television Group has agreements in place for its authenticated WATCH products with a variety of multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs), including Comcast, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Midcontinent Communications and AT&T U-verse.

More New Markets Rolling out this Summer
Following the end of the open access preview, the WATCH ABC live streams will continue to be available in NYC and Philadelphia to authenticated users. Additionally, this summer WATCH ABC will roll out in the other six ABC-owned station markets, which include Los Angeles (KABC-TV), Chicago (WLS-TV), San Francisco (KGO-TV), Houston (KTRK-TV), Raleigh-Durham (WTVD-TV) and Fresno (KFSN-TV).

In addition to launching in the eight ABC-owned markets, the network has reached an agreement with Hearst Television to launch the WATCH ABC service in their 13 ABC station markets, which include Boston, Pittsburgh, Kansas City and Milwaukee, in the coming months. Agreements with other station groups are expected to be announced prior to the launch of the new fall season.