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ABC News

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ABC News
NameABC News
TypeBroadcast journalism
CountryUnited States
HeadquartersNew York City, New York
ParentThe Walt Disney Company, Disney General Entertainment Content
Founded15 June 1945

ABC News is the news division of the American Broadcasting Company, a major broadcast network owned by The Walt Disney Company. Its flagship programs include the evening newscast World News Tonight, the morning show Good Morning America, and the Sunday political affairs program This Week. The division operates a 24-hour digital network, ABC News Live, and provides content to hundreds of affiliate stations across the United States.

History

The division traces its origins to the network's founding in 1945, with its first nightly newscast, News and Views, debuting that year. Under the leadership of Roone Arledge in the late 1970s and 1980s, it underwent a dramatic transformation, launching Good Morning America in 1975 and pioneering the use of satellite technology and ENG equipment for global coverage. Landmark moments include its extensive reporting on the John F. Kennedy assassination, the Apollo 11 moon landing, and the September 11 attacks. The network's coverage of the O. J. Simpson murder case and the 2000 United States presidential election were significant ratings successes. In 2004, it became part of Disney–ABC Television Group following the Disney acquisition of its parent corporation, Capital Cities/ABC.

Programming

Flagship programming includes the evening broadcast World News Tonight, historically anchored by figures like Frank Reynolds, Peter Jennings, and Diane Sawyer. The morning program Good Morning America, a direct competitor to NBC's Today, features a mix of news, interviews, and lifestyle segments. The Sunday public affairs program This Week has been moderated by George Stephanopoulos and Martha Raddatz. Other notable programs include the investigative magazine 20/20, the newsmagazine Nightline, and the daytime talk show The View. The division also produces long-form documentaries and special event coverage for events like the Academy Awards and United States presidential election debates.

Operations and divisions

The division is headquartered at ABC News headquarters in New York City, with major bureaus in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, and London. Key operational units include the investigative team, the ABC News Medical Unit, and the ABC News Polling Unit. Its digital and streaming arm, ABC News Live, provides continuous coverage, while its radio network supplies news to ABC News Radio affiliates. The division maintains a partnership with FiveThirtyEight for data journalism and collaborates internationally with partners like the BBC through the BBC News channel. Control rooms and studios are based at facilities like the Broadcast Center and Times Square Studios.

Notable personalities

Prominent current anchors and correspondents include David Muir of World News Tonight, Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos of Good Morning America, and Linsey Davis. Notable journalists from its history include longtime anchor Peter Jennings, pioneering female anchor Barbara Walters, and correspondents like Sam Donaldson and Ted Koppel, who hosted Nightline. Other significant figures are Diane Sawyer, Charlie Gibson, and foreign correspondents such as Bob Woodruff. Contributors and analysts have included political strategists like Matthew Dowd and legal experts like Dan Abrams.

Ratings and viewership

For decades, World News Tonight under Peter Jennings and Good Morning America under David Hartman frequently led in the Nielsen ratings. In recent years, World News Tonight with David Muir has consistently topped the evening news ratings, while Good Morning America has engaged in a tight competition with NBC's Today for first place in the morning demographic. The division's special event coverage, such as for the United States presidential election and State of the Union address, typically draws millions of viewers. Its digital platforms, including ABC News Live and its YouTube channel, have expanded its audience reach beyond traditional broadcast television.

Controversies and criticism

The division has faced several notable controversies, including criticism of its premature projection for the 2000 United States presidential election in the state of Florida. It was involved in a high-profile lawsuit with Food Lion over hidden-camera investigative techniques in the 1990s. Coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case and its association with Prince Andrew drew scrutiny, as did its handling of allegations against figures like Matt Lauer during the Me Too movement. Some political commentators have accused it of liberal bias, particularly during elections, while others have criticized its entertainment-focused segments on programs like Good Morning America for diluting hard news content.

Category:ABC News Category:1945 establishments in the United States Category:American television news divisions