National Daily Newspaper Publishers · Publisher & Media Owner
ABC News
Disney-owned US news publisher, broadcaster and ad-supported streaming service.
Available information varies by company and source.
Profile record updated:
Company facts
- Official name
- ABC News
- Entity type
- BUSINESS_UNIT
- Headquarters
- New York City, United States
- Company size
- 1,001–5,000
- Market cluster / sector
- National Daily Newspaper Publishers
- Market role
- Publisher & Media Owner
- Official website
- abcnews.com
What ABC News does
ABC News funds free editorial, video, app and live-streaming distribution through the sale of digital and video advertising inventory. Its journalism and broadcast programming create audience reach across web, mobile, connected TV and third-party streaming services, producing inventory for advertisers. The business also packages selected audio IP into paid subscriptions, exemplified by the 20/20 True Crime+ channel.
Category differentiation
ABC News is Disney’s US broadcast and digital news business, not an independent publicly listed news company. It is distinct from the ABC television network generally, although both operate within Disney’s television portfolio.
Strategic context
AI-supported assessment from the existing company research; distinguish interpretation from sourced facts.
ABC News is the news-business unit of The Walt Disney Company. It creates and distributes national and international journalism, breaking news, live programming, video, audio and editorial content through ABCNews.com, the ABC News App, television programming, social distribution and ABC News Live, a free 24/7 streaming channel. The business reaches consumer news audiences and monetises primarily through advertising inventory across web, mobile, video and streaming properties. It also generates direct recurring revenue through the 20/20 True Crime+ premium podcast subscription, which sells ad-free listening, early access and exclusive content.
Company news briefing
Briefing updated:
ABC News expanded its audio monetisation strategy by launching the 20/20 True Crime subscription channel on Apple Podcasts, featuring a mix of free episodes and a premium ad-free tier. In broadcast developments, ABC's Good Morning America experienced minor audience declines in total viewers and key demographics, trailing behind NBC's Today. Additionally, ABC joined major TV networks in a coordinated reduction of coverage for White House events following restricted press access.
Business model & monetisation
The primary model is advertising-supported media: free access creates web, mobile, video and connected-TV inventory sold to advertisers through Disney advertising channels. A secondary direct-to-consumer model charges $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year for 20/20 True Crime+, providing ad-free playback, early releases and exclusive bonus content.
- Digital, mobile and streaming advertising inventory
- Ad-Supported
- Premium true-crime podcast subscriptions
- Content Subscription
- Broadcast television advertising associated with ABC News programming
- Ad-Supported
Products & capabilities
No products with linked sources are available in this view.
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Competitors & alternatives
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US news publisher across web, streaming, apps and branded content.
Cross-platform US news publisher monetising audiences through advertising and subscriptions.
Public media publisher monetising journalism, podcasts, sponsorships and memberships.
Subscription-led news publisher with digital media and lifestyle products.
Subscription-led news publisher with premium advertising, games, cooking and sports.
Side-by-side comparisons
Recent recorded signals
Dates refer to the source publication. Older entries are historical context, not evidence of a new event.
CBS Mornings Gains, Today Leads Morning News Ratings
Ratings · Recorded impact score: 1/5
In the week of October 5, 2026, CBS Mornings was the only morning show to post gains in both total viewers and the Adults 25-54 demo, according to Nielsen's national live+same-day big data plus program ratings. NBC's Today also gained in the demo and extended its lead over ABC's Good Morning America (GMA) to over 170,000 viewers. Today remained the most-watched morning show with 2.859 million total viewers and 640,000 in the demo. GMA dropped 1% in total viewers and 4% in the demo, becoming the only broadcast to lose in both measurements. CBS Mornings averaged 1.735 million total viewers and 294,000 in the demo, up 1% and 7% respectively from the previous week. Year-over-year, Today was up, while GMA and CBS Mornings were down in total viewers.
- CBS Mornings grew 1% in total viewers and 7% in the A25-54 demo week-over-week.
- NBC's Today remained the top morning show with 2.859 million total viewers and 640,000 in the demo.
ABC News Launches 20/20 True Crime Subscription Podcast Channel
Podcasts · Recorded impact score: 2/5
ABC News has launched a dedicated 20/20 True Crime channel on Apple Podcasts, consolidating its true crime audio offerings. The channel, operated under ABC Audio, includes roughly two dozen shows, with free episodes and a premium subscription tier called 20/20 True Crime+. Launched in late July 2026, the subscription costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year after a free trial, offering ad-free playback, early access to new series, and exclusive bonus content like subscriber-only Q&As with anchor Deborah Roberts. The channel features established shows such as 'What Happened to Holly Bobo?' and newer series like 'Burden of Proof: Luigi Mangione.' This move positions ABC News to capitalize on the growing true crime podcast audience and leverage its production infrastructure.
- ABC News launched a dedicated 20/20 True Crime channel on Apple Podcasts.
- The premium subscription '20/20 True Crime+' costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
ABC World News Tonight Leads Evening News Ratings
Audience Ratings · Recorded impact score: 1/5
ABC World News Tonight with David Muir began the 2026-2027 broadcast season as the only evening newscast to grow or hold its audience, averaging 8.388 million total viewers and 1.153 million Adults 25-54 for the week of September 21, 2026, marking its 11th consecutive year as the most-watched and its strongest season-opening week in six years. The following week (September 28), ABC remained most-watched despite slight declines, averaging 8.346 million total viewers. NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas finished second both weeks, growing 6% to 6.894 million total viewers and 4% in the demo. CBS Evening News posted solid gains, growing 7% to 4.24 million total viewers and 18% in the demo, being the only broadcast to exceed 4 million and post double-digit demo growth. Ratings are based on Nielsen live+same-day data, highlighting a competitive landscape for advertisers.
- ABC World News Tonight was the most-watched evening newscast for the weeks of Sept 21 and Sept 28, 2026, averaging 8.388 million and 8.346 million total viewers, respectively.
- ABC was the only newscast to grow or hold its audience in the season-opening week, marking its 11th consecutive year at number one.
NBC Nightly News Wins Demo, CBS Only Show to Grow
TV Ratings · Recorded impact score: 1/5
In the week of August 31, 2026, NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas narrowly won the Adults 25-54 demo with 1.103 million viewers, edging out ABC World News Tonight's 1.102 million. ABC led in total viewers with 8.508 million. CBS Evening News was the only newscast to post gains in both total viewers (+3%) and the demo (+2%). The ratings are based on Nielsen data with different averaging periods for each network.
- NBC Nightly News won the A25-54 demo with 1.103 million viewers, just 1,000 ahead of ABC World News Tonight.
- ABC World News Tonight led in total viewers with 8.508 million.
Broadcast Networks Break In For Dolly Parton Coverage
TV (linear) · Recorded impact score: 1/5
Major U.S. broadcast news networks ABC News, NBC News and CBS News interrupted programming in the 2 p.m. ET hour to announce Dolly Parton’s death at age 80. ABC’s special was anchored by Kyra Phillips at 2:01 p.m. ET, NBC’s report was delivered by Tom Llamas at 2:06 p.m. ET, and CBS’ report was anchored by Tony Dokoupil at 2:08 p.m. ET with an obituary package from Anthony Mason. Each network produced primetime tribute specials: ABC and CBS aired tributes at 10 p.m. ET Tuesday, and NBC scheduled a primetime special Wednesday night anchored by Lester Holt featuring multiple reporters and reflections from collaborators.
- Dolly Parton died at age 80 after a brief cancer battle.
- ABC News, NBC News and CBS News broke in with special reports announcing her death during the 2 p.m. ET hour.
Explore company relationships
Questions about ABC News
What is ABC News?
ABC News is The Walt Disney Company’s US news business, distributing journalism, live programming, video, audio and streaming news across broadcast and digital channels.
Who uses ABC News?
Consumers use its website, app, broadcasts, podcasts and ABC News Live for breaking news, reporting, video and live coverage; advertisers buy its media inventory.
How does ABC News make money?
It primarily sells advertising across its free digital, video and streaming properties, supplemented by paid audio subscriptions such as 20/20 True Crime+.
Sources & coverage
This profile uses public, official and technically observable information. Missing information does not prove that a product or relationship does not exist. The list below does not imply that every profile statement has been verified.
14 publicly documented primary sources and citations linked across the market graph.
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