Key Points
- ABC is one of the Big Three in American television and can be accessed by anyone with a signal across the United States.
- ABC has been a popular destination for TV lovers since the 1950s, airing some of the most popular and memorable TV shows of all time.
- ABC provides viewers with over 80 hours of scheduled programming each week, including morning talk shows, primetime series, and unscripted content.
- ABC News is the news division of the network and has been home to key figures in the industry over the years.
- ABC is the only network where you can find games from all four major professional leagues in the United States, along with other sports coverage.
ABC is part of the Big Three in American television and a channel anyone with a signal can access across the United States. That includes consumers who prefer satellite to cable or cord-cutting. ABC on DISH Network is easy to find regardless of where you reside, and you’ll find a wealth of content from the alphabet channel at any given time.
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From $4.99.mo. | From $64.99/mo. | $25/month |
Description: Pick your choice of ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Plans start as low as $4.99/month for ESPN+ only. | Description: Free trial available. Watch 75+ channels, including local channels and special premium channel offers. | Description: Take a 7-day free trial and stream more than 70 channels live. Record your favorites with unlimited DVR. |
Pick your choice of ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Plans start as low as $4.99/month for ESPN+ only.
Free trial available. Watch 75+ channels, including local channels and special premium channel offers.
Take a 7-day free trial and stream more than 70 channels live. Record your favorites with unlimited DVR.
ABC on DISH Network Channel Guide
| Channel Name | Channel Number |
|---|---|
| ABC | 7 |
ABC on DISH Network: What You Need to Know
As one of the older networks in the United States, ABC has been a part of daily life for millions of Americans for more than 60 years. It was also originally a product of NBC. It was known as NBC Blue, a radio station from RCA, until the FCC jumped in, and the station was sold. The ABC we know today was founded by Edward J. Noble and launched in 1948 as a television station.
While ABC took a while to get off the ground, they have been a popular destination for TV lovers since the 1950s. The Lone Ranger was one of their first hits, and those hits kept coming in the decades that followed. The network has aired some of the most popular and memorable TV shows of all time. NYPD Blue, Lost, Doogie Howser, M.D., Wagon Train, Rosanne, Bewitched, and the classic Batman are just a handful of hits from the ABC.
The home of Happy Days was acquired by Disney in 1996. While they’ve undergone some changes, and you won’t find Moonlighting airing in the evening anymore, the network still has some of the most popular shows on the planet.
ABC Programming on DISH Network
ABC provides viewers with more than 80 hours of scheduled programming throughout the week. That includes morning talk shows and primetime series — something the network is well known for. They have aired some of the longest-running series on television over the years. It’s where you’ll find General Hospital and Jeopardy, along with newer programming.
Most of ABC’s programming is a mix of unscripted content and originals, including the fan favorite Grey’s Anatomy. The show has put out more than 400 episodes across 19 seasons, well ahead of The Good Doctor. That’s the network’s second longest-running primetime show behind The Rookie and Station 19. While ABC has hosted a variety of fantastic comedies, their current selection is sparse, with The Conners, Abbot Elementary, and Not Dead Yet.
In recent years, ABC, along with other networks, has set its sights on more unscripted content. Before YouTube existed, there was America’s Funniest Home Videos. The show is headed into its 34th season, while American Idol closes in on season 21. Idol has been one of the network’s biggest hits of the past 20 years, but you can also take in hits like Shark Tank, Dancing with the Stars, and The Bachelor.
ABC often airs holiday content and specials throughout the year. That includes Disney-themed events featuring Toy Story and other properties, along with Dick Clark’s New Year’s special. Game shows are still popular on the network, with a half-dozen properties airing at any given time. ABC has a handful of talk and late-night shows as well, like The View and Jimmy Kimmel Live!
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ABC News
Like the other two major networks, ABC has always been involved with the news. ABC News is the news division of the network. It has been host to a variety of key figures in the industry over the years. Connie Chung, Peter Jennings, Diane Sawyer, and David Muir are just a few recognizable names from the station’s 70-year history.
Good Morning America is a show most people will recognize by name, even if they’ve never watched an entire episode. It’s more of a light-hearted take on events compared to ABC World News Tonight. Both of those shows have been on the air since the 70s, along with 20/20, which was created to replicate the success of 60 Minutes on CBS.
ESPN on ABC
Disney and ABC have a long and storied history. ABC Sports was the go-to destination on the network for a decade before rebranding to ESPN on ABC. That kicked off after the Disney merger. Since that time, sports coverage on the network has been better than ever.
Thanks to ESPN, ABC is the only network where you can find games from all four major professional leagues in the United States. That means you can watch baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, along with NASCAR and a variety of other events.
Tennis matches from the U.S. Open returned to the network in 2023, and they will have plenty of SEC coverage thanks to a $3 billion deal with ESPN and the SEC. There is mixed coverage of soccer and other international sports throughout the year depending on ESPN’s current rights.
