ABC Relaunches Streaming App with Original Content and Adds Live Streaming in Additional Markets

ABC Transforms Its Streaming App with Digital Originals, Full Seasons of Classic TV Shows, An All-New Look and Feel and Additional Live Stream Markets
Posted 7/13/2016

July 13, 2016

ABC Transforms iTS Streaming APP with Digital originals,
Full Seasons of Classic TV shows, an ALL-NEW look and feel AnD ADDITIONAL LIVESTREAM MARKETS

Unveils Slate of Original Short-Form Digital Series Featuring Comedians Ty Burrell, Iliza Shlesinger, Pop-Culture Commentator Michelle Collins, and Digital Content Producer Tastemade

Access to Full Seasons of 38 ‘Throwback’ Shows, Including ‘Felicity,’ ‘My So-Called Life,’ ‘School House Rock,’ ‘Sports Night’ and ‘Ugly Betty’

Network Debuts New User Interface Exclusively on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple TV

Network Live Stream Recently Made Available in Additional 14 Station Markets

ABC today announced a major evolution of its streaming service, re-launching with seven original digital short-form series, full seasons of 38 “throwback” shows, and a redesigned user interface exclusively for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV that improves discovery and navigation. The new original ABCd shorts and the “throwback” series will be available to all viewers on ABC.com and the ABC apps for mobile and connected TV devices without signing in.

“Our team has completely re-imagined the digital viewing experience for ABC fans,” said Karin Gilford, SVP of Digital Media, ABC Television Network. “In addition to the current ABC shows that fans know and love, we are introducing new ABCd original digital series that are fun, fresh and perfect for mobile, and we are making full seasons of all-time favorite shows available for binging. Fans on Apple devices will benefit from a dynamic new interface that makes it easier to find shows. All of this allows us to expand beyond the bounds of our linear schedule and extend ABC storytelling to viewers across screens and platforms.”

At launch, seven new ABCd comedy and lifestyle digital series developed in-house by ABC Comedy Development, ABC Daytime and ABC Digital Media, are available. More than 40 additional series are in development and will roll out monthly. These series, along with all library shows, are available without signing in with a pay TV service.

“With our new digital comedy series, our creative team is able to experiment and push storytelling boundaries to create content that is daring, empowering, inclusive, emotional and true to life,” said Samie Falvey, EVP, Comedy and International Scripted Development, ABC Entertainment. “We hope this will be an opportunity for our existing talent to flex their creative muscles, and also an opportunity for audiences to discover and champion new emerging content creators.”

“Whether the topic is love, saving money, or food, ABCd’s unscripted slate features some of today’s most irreverent, fresh and authentic voices offering insight, humor and practical advice on the subjects our viewers care about most,” said Lisa Hackner, EVP of Daytime and Syndicated Programming, ABC Entertainment Network.

The new ABCd series are:

“All My Gay Friends are Getting Married”
A celebration of gay marriage through the eyes of only mildly bitter single girl, Michelle Collins, who’s realizing that everyone is now getting married – except her. She’ll sit down with the couples as they recount how they fell in love and relive their epic wedding ceremonies. #AllMyGayFriendsAreGettingMarried

Click here for press images.

“Boondoogle”
After a life of obscurity, actor Ty Burrell has finally made it big with a starring role in the hit series “Wingbot.” Now he and his “non-tourage” of best friends, Mel, Joel and Johnny, get to enjoy some of the perks of being a TV star. It’s time for these 40-something husbands and dads to cut loose – mostly on weekends and during reasonable hours. Starring: Ty Burrell, Joel Spence, Mel Cowan and Johnny Meeks, all as themselves. #Boondoggle


“Forever 31”
Comedian Iliza Shlesinger and her friends struggle with the indignities of dead-end jobs, hangovers, dating, infidelity and all the rest of the absurdities of modern adulthood. Created by and starring Iliza Shlesinger. #Forever31


Tastemade’s “Get Cookin’”
Sponsored by Hefty, three popular Tastemakers – Erwan Heussaff, Lazarus Lynch, Megan Mitchell – arm viewers with the techniques, tips, and recipes to take their food game to the next level. In addition to showing mouthwatering recipes, these chefs will tell personal stories behind these dishes, why they matter, and why they should be the next things to devour. #GetCookin


“I Can Find $3,000 In Your Home”
eBay millionaire Linda Lightman believes that everyone has at least 52 items totaling at least 3,000 dollars in their homes. She’s going to households around the country to find the treasure in their trash and show you how to make money with insider tips about the online resale value of your stuff. #3000InYourHome

“Newborn Moms”
“Newborn Moms” is the comedic story of what it’s like to be a new parent struggling with sleepless nights, self doubt and swollen boobs. Created by Aurora Browne and Nadine Djoury, the series follows two moms, Rosie and Julia, as they reconcile the kind of mothers they thought they would be with the kind they actually are. Starring Aurora Browne (Rosie) and Nadine Djoury (Julia). #NewbornMoms


“On The Record”
“On the Record” provides an intimate “story behind the song” experience where songwriters perform an acoustic version of the song and share the inspiration behind it. The interviews will reveal the song’s meaning, personal anecdotes of its evolution, and its impact on the artist’s life and career. The first installment in the series features Hollywood Records recording artist Shawn Hook discussing his hit singles “Wonderful Surprise,” “Million Ways” and “Sound of Your Heart.” Future artists include Fancy Hagood and Yuna. #OnTheRecord

Full seasons of beloved past shows include: “8 Simple Rules,” “Benched,” “Betrayal,” “Body of Proof,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Commander in Chief,” “Detroit,” “Dinosaurs,” “Dirty Sexy Money,” “Ellen,” “Felicity,” “FlashForward,” “Happy Town,” “Hope and Faith,” “I Survived a Japanese Game Show,” “The Knights of Prosperity,” “Less Than Perfect,” “Manhattan Love Story,” “Mixology,” “My Generation,” “My So-Called Life,” “The Neighbors,” “October Road,” “Off the Map,” “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland,” “Perception,” “Reaper,” “Red Band Society,” “The River,” “Samantha Who?,” “School House Rock,” “Secret Millionaire,” “Smart Guy,” “Sports Night,” “Trophy Wife,” “Ugly Betty,” “What About Brian?”

In addition to adding new content, the ABC digital experience has been redesigned to make it even easier for users to navigate and discover content. ABC has debuted the improved UI exclusively on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, making it easier to find current shows and special curated collections, and playlists will help fans unearth new or unexpected shows. Motion-enhanced visuals deliver a more immersive, dynamic brand experience.

ABC also just announced that it expanded the footprint for its 24-hour network live stream. Pay TV subscribers with participating providers can now access ABC’s live 24-hour feed – including local, national and syndicated programming – using the ABC app for desktop, mobile and connected TV devices in 14 Hearst Television ABC markets: Albuquerque – Santa Fe (KOAT), Boston (WCVB and WMUR), Fort Smith/Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers (KHBS), Jackson, MS (WAPT), Kansas City (KMBC), Milwaukee (WISN), Monterey-Salinas (KSBW-DT2), Oklahoma City (KOCO), Omaha (KETV), Pittsburgh (WTAE), Portland-Auburn (WMTW), Savannah (WJCL), West Palm Beach-Ft Pierce (WPBF). Hearst Television is the first affiliate group to launch the ABC live feed as part of ABC’s Clearinghouse initiative, extending ABC’s reach to 20 markets, including the already launched ABC Owned Station markets: New York (WABC), Los Angeles (KABC), Chicago (WLS), San Francisco (KGO), Houston (KTRK), Fresno (KFSN), Philadelphia (WPVI) and Raleigh-Durham (WTVD).

ABC.com and the ABC app enables users nationwide to access full episodes of their favorite shows on demand, including “Dancing with the Stars,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Modern Family,” “Quantico,” “Shark Tank” and “Scandal.” Additionally, subscribers of participating pay TV providers have several advantages. They can watch a 24-hour live network stream in select markets, access exclusive programming events and the most recent episodes of ABC series and news programs the day after they air.

The newly redesigned ABC app is available exclusively on the App Store and Apple TV App Store. The ABC app is also available on ABC.com, Amazon Appstore, Google Play, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Xbox 360.

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