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American Broadcasting Company

Type Television network(defunct radio network)

Country United States

First air date October 12, 1943

Availability National

Slogan "The Only Place To Be, ABC"

Headquarters 77 West 66th StreetNew York City, New York,United States

Parent Disney–ABC Television Group(Disney Media Networks)

Key people Zachary BlancheAnne SweeneyDavid WestinPaul LeeJohn Skipper

Launch date October 12, 1943 (radio)April 19, 1948 (television)

Formernames

NBC Blue Network

Pictureformat

720p/1080i (HDTV)480i (4:3 SDTV)

Affiliates Lists:By state or by DMA

Officialwebsite

abc.go.com (http://abc.go.com/)

American Broadcasting CompanyFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The American Broadcasting Company (abbreviatedABC, stylized in the logo as abc since 1962) is anAmerican commercial broadcast television network.Throughout its history, ABC has supported itsfinancial operations by diversifying into the press, thepublishing industry, the operation of theaters, andfilmmaking. Many of the company's assets in thesefields have been sold to other entities, and since 2007,when ABC Radio (also known as "Cumulus MediaNetworks") was sold to Citadel Broadcasting, ABChas reduced its broadcasting operations almostexclusively to television. It is the world's fifth-oldestmajor broadcasting media network.

The network launched as a radio network on October12, 1943, separated from and successor to the old"NBC Blue Network" which had been purchased byEdward J. Noble. It extended its operations totelevision in 1948, following the elder broadcastingnetworks of CBS and NBC. In the mid-1950s, ABCmerged with the theater chain United ParamountTheatres, a former subsidiary of the film studioParamount Pictures. Leonard Goldenson, who hadbeen the head of UPT, made the new televisionnetwork profitable by leading it to broadcast manysuccessful series. By the 1970s, ABC sold its theateroperation division to Henry Plitt, who renamed it PlittTheatres. In the 1980s, after buying an 80% stake inthe cable sports channel ESPN, the network mergedwith the publishing/broadcasting group Capital CitiesCommunications. In 1996, ABC and Capital Cities'other assets were purchased by The Walt DisneyCompany.

As one of the "Big Three television networks", ABChas broadcast many programs that have contributedsignificantly to American popular culture. Theseinclude classic series such as Zorro, TheUntouchables, The Fugitive, General Hospital, TheCourtship of Eddie's Father, The Brady Bunch, HappyDays, and Roseanne; more recent titles such as Castle,Lost, Revenge, Once Upon a Time, DesperateHousewives, Grey's Anatomy, and Modern Family;live broadcasts such as Monday Night Football; the reality shows America's Funniest Home Videos, TheBachelor/Bachelorette and Dancing with the Stars; and the morning news program Good MorningAmerica.

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ABC's corporate headquarters arelocated at 77 West 66th Street, on theUpper West Side of Manhattan inNew York City.

ABC is hosted by NHK in Japan,and is based at the NHKBroadcasting Center in Tokyo.

Contents

1 History1.1 1927–1945: Blue Network1.2 1945–1949: Entry into television1.3 1950s: Merger with United Paramount Theatres

1.3.1 Hollywood begins to produce televisionseries1.3.2 First bonds with Disney1.3.3 Syndication division and phonographiclabels1.3.4 Counterprogramming: successful, butcriticized

1.4 1960s: Transition to color1.4.1 1960–1965: Children's programming andthe debut of ABC Sports1.4.2 1966–1969: New regulations and theradio network's recovery

1.5 1970s: Success in television1.6 1980s: Merger with Capital Cities, purchase ofESPN, reprogramming Friday Nights1.7 1990s: Acquisition by Disney

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1.8 2000s: Separation of the radio network1.9 2010s: Decline

2 Affiliated television stations3 Facilities and studios4 Economic data

4.1 Financial results4.2 Corporate management

5 Television programming5.1 Programming library5.2 List of selected programs

6 Analysis6.1 Visual identity6.2 Place in American media6.3 International development

7 Movies by ABC or its divisions8 See also9 References

9.1 Footnotes9.2 Bibliography

10 External links

History1927–1945: Blue Network

In the 1930s, radio in the United States was dominated by three companies: the Mutual BroadcastingSystem, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), thelast of which was owned by the electronics manufacturer Radio Corporation of America (RCA). RCAowned two networks which each ran different varieties of radio programming, and were named NBCBlue and NBC Red. NBC Blue was created in 1927 primarily to test new programs on less importantmarkets than those served by NBC Red, which served the major cities,[1] and to test drama series.[2]

In 1934, Mutual Broadcasting filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)regarding its difficulties in establishing new stations, in a radio market that was already being saturatedby NBC and CBS.[2] In 1938, the FCC began a series of investigations into the practices of radionetworks[2] and published its report on the broadcasting of network radio programs in 1940. The reportrecommended that RCA separate either NBC Red or NBC Blue from its control.[1] At that time, NBCRed was the principal radio network in the United States and, according to the FCC, RCA was usingNBC Blue to eliminate any hint of competition. Having no power over the networks themselves, theFCC established a regulation forbidding licenses to be issued for radio stations if they were affiliatedwith a network which already owned multiple networks[1] that were of interest to the public.[2]

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Edward Noble,founder of ABC

Once Mutual's appeals against the FCC were rejected, RCA decided to sell NBCBlue in 1941, and gave the mandate to do so to Mark Woods.[3] In January 1942,RCA converted the NBC Blue Network into an independent subsidiary,[2] andNBC Red and NBC Blue became two separate companies, dividing theirrespective assets. Between 1942 and 1943, Woods offered the entire NBC BlueNetwork on sale for a price of $8 million.[4][5] This package included leases onland lines, three pending television licenses (WJZ-TV in New York, KGO-TV inSan Francisco and WENR-TV in Chicago, all eventually established on channel7), sixty affiliates, four facilities (in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, andWashington D.C.), contracts with actors, and the brand associated with the BlueNetwork. The investment bank Dillon, Read & Co. (acquired in 1997 by theSwiss Bank Corporation) offered $7.5 million, but Woods and RCA presidentDavid Sarnoff rejected the offer.[4]

Edward John Noble, the owner of Life Savers candy, the Rexall drugstore chain, and the radio stationWMCA in New York, accepted the $8 million purchase of the network.[1][2] According to the FCC'srules, the transaction, which was to include Noble's purchase of three RCA stations, would require Nobleto resell his station with the FCC's approval.[4] The commission authorized the transaction on October12, 1943.[3][6] Soon afterward, the Blue Network was purchased by the new company founded by Noble,the American Broadcasting System.[2] The network was renamed American Broadcasting Company(ABC) in 1944, and its parent company became American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.[2][4] Woodsretained his position as president and CEO of ABC until December 1949, then became vice-chairman ofthe board before leaving ABC altogether on June 30, 1951.[7]

Meanwhile, in August 1944, the West Coast division of the Blue Network, which owned the stationKGO-AM in San Francisco, bought the KECA-AM station in Los Angeles from Earl C. Anthony for$800,000.[8] Both stations were then managed by the vice-president of the Blue Network's West Coastdivision, Don Searle.[9]

1945–1949: Entry into television

The ABC Radio Network created its audience slowly. The network's acquisition of WXYZ-AM, astation in Detroit, from KingTrendle Broadcasting in 1946 for a little less than $3 million,[10] allowed itto acquire several radio serials, including The Lone Ranger, Sergeant Preston, and The Green Hornet,which had originated on that station.[11] WXYZ continued to be owned by ABC until 1984.

ABC became an aggressive competitor to NBC and CBS when, continuing NBC Blue's traditions ofpublic service, it broadcast symphony performances conducted by Paul Whiteman,[2] performances fromthe Metropolitan Opera, and jazz concerts delivered through its broadcast The Chamber Music Society ofLower Basin Street announced by Milton Cross.[12] The network also became known for suchsuspenseful dramas as Sherlock Holmes, Gang Busters, and Counterspy, as well as several mid-afternoon youth programs.[12] However, ABC made a name for itself by using the practice ofcounterprogramming, with which it often placed shows of its own against the offerings of NBC andCBS, adopting the use of the Magnetophon tape recorder, brought to the U.S. from Nazi Germany after

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its conquest, to pre-record its programming.[11] With the help of the Magnetophon tape recorder, ABCwas able to provide its stars with greater freedom in terms of time, and also attract several big names,such as Bing Crosby[11] at a time when NBC and CBS did not allow pre-taped shows.

While its radio network was undergoing reconstruction, ABC found it difficult to avoid falling behind onthe new medium of television.[13] To ensure a space, in 1947 ABC submitted five applications forlicenses, one for each market where it owned and operated a radio station.[14] These applicationsrequested the allocation of frequency 7, as Frank Marx, then ABC's vice-president of engineering,thought that the lower frequencies would be requisitioned and reallocated for the U.S. Army.[14]

On April 19, 1948, the ABC television network began its broadcasts and picked up its first primaryaffiliate, WFIL-TV in Philadelphia[15] (later renamed WPVI-TV). The first program on the network wasOn the Corner, featuring Henry Morgan. Other stations carrying it were WMAR-TV, Baltimore,Maryland; WMAL-TV, Washington, D.C.; and WABD, New York City.[16]

In August 1948, the network's flagship owned-and-operated station, WJZ-TV in New York City (laterrenamed WABC-TV), began its broadcasts.[15] The first broadcast ran for two hours in the evening ofAugust 10, 1948.[17] ABC's other owned-and-operated stations launched over the course of the next 13months.[15] WENR-TV in Chicago launched on September 17, 1948,[18] while WXYZ-TV in Detroitwent on the air October 9, 1948.[19] In October 1948, the FCC realized that it had issued too manylicenses for TV stations, so it froze applications for new stations.[20] However, KGO-TV in SanFrancisco, which had received its license prior to the freeze, went on the air May 5, 1949.[21][22] On May7, 1949, Billboard revealed that ABC had proposed an investment of $6.25 million, of which it wouldspend $2.5 million to convert 20 acres (80,937 m2) of land in Hollywood into what would become TheProspect Studios, and construct a transmitter on Mount Wilson, in anticipation of the launch of KECA-TV, which was scheduled to launch August 1,[23] but would not actually go on the air until September16.[24][25]

In the fall of 1949, ABC found itself in the position of an outsider, with less coverage than two of itscompeting networks, CBS and NBC, even though it was on par with them in some of the major citiesand had a head start over its third rival at the time, the DuMont Television Network.[26] Before thefreeze ended in 1952, there were only 108 existing television stations in the United States; a few majorcities such as Boston had only two television stations, many other cities such as Pittsburgh and St. Louishad only one, and still many others, such as Denver and Portland, had no television service at all.[26] Theresult was a strange period where television flourished in certain areas and network radio remained themain source of broadcast entertainment and news in others.

1950s: Merger with United Paramount Theatres

At the end of 1949, the movie theater operator United Paramount Theatres (UPT) was forced by theSupreme Court of the United States to become an independent entity, separating itself from the filmstudio Paramount Pictures.[27] For its part, ABC was on the verge of bankruptcy, with only five stationsand nine full-time affiliates.[28] Its revenues, which were related to advertising and were indexedcompared to the number of listeners/viewers, failed to compensate for its heavy investments in buyingand building stations. In 1951, a rumor even mentioned that the network would be sold to CBS.[14][29] In

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A former Paramount theater inDenver

1501 Broadway served as thecorporate headquarters for AmericanBroadcasting-Paramount Theatres.

1951, Noble held a 58% stake in ABC,[30] giving him $5 million with which to prevent ABC from goingbankrupt; as banks refused further credit,[31] that amount was obtained through a loan from thePrudential Insurance Company of America.[32]

Leonard Goldenson, the president of UPT (which sought to diversify itself at the time), approachedNoble in 1951 and proposed that UPT purchase ABC.[31] Noble received further offers, including onefrom Bill Paley of CBS, but that would have forced CBS to sellat least its New York and Los Angeles stations.[33] Goldensonand Noble reached a tentative agreement in the late spring of1951[31] that ABC would become a subsidiary of UPT, butwould remain autonomous in its management.[34] On June 6,1951, UPT's board of directors validated their tentativeagreement.[34] However, the transaction had to be approved bythe FCC because of the presence of television networks and therecent separation between Paramount and UPT. Insofar as theParamount Pictures film studio was already a shareholder of theDuMont Television Network, the FCC conducted a series ofhearings to ensure whether Paramount was truly separated fromUnited Paramount Theatres, and whether it was violating antitrust laws.[13]

In 1952, when the FCC ended its freeze on applications for newstations, among the issues to be addressed was the approval ofthe merger between UPT and ABC.[20] One member of thecommission saw the possibility of ABC, funded by UPT,becoming a viable and competitive third television network.[35]

On February 9, 1953, the FCC authorized UPT's purchase ofABC in exchange for $25 million in shares,[35][36] and thecompany was renamed American Broadcasting-ParamountTheatres, Inc. The new company was based in Paramount'sheadquarters at 1501 Broadway in New York,[37] and owned sixAM radio stations and many FM ones, as well as five TV stationsand 644 cinemas in 300 cities throughout the United States.[32] Inconsideration of this merger, UPT sold its television station inChicago, WBKB-TV, to CBS for $6 million. CBS changed thecalls to WBBM-TV,[38] It kept ABC's existing Chicago station,WENR-TV. The merged company moved the WBKB call lettersto channel 7, which would eventually become WLS-TV.[39]

Goldenson began to sell some of the old theaters to finance thenew television network.[32]

On May 1, 1953, ABC's flagship stations – WJZ, WJZ-FM and WJZ-TV in New York – adopted thecallsigns of WABC, WABC-FM and WABC-TV, respectively,[40] and moved to 7 West 66th Street, oneblock from Central Park.[32] The WABC call letters were abandoned by the flagship station for CBSRadio in 1946. The name WJZ would later be assigned to the then-ABC affiliate in Baltimore owned byWestinghouse in 1959, in an historical tie to the fact that WJZ was originally established byWestinghouse.

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However, a problem emerged regarding the directions taken by ABC and UPT. In 1950, Nobleappointed Robert Kintner to be ABC's president while he himself served as its CEO, a position he wouldhold until his death in 1958.[13] Despite the promise of non-interference between ABC and UPT,Goldenson had to intervene in ABC's decisions because of financial problems and the FCC's long periodof indecision. Goldenson added to the confusion when, in October 1954,[41] he proposed a mergerbetween UPT and DuMont Television Network, which was also in financial trouble.[13] As part of thismerger, the network would have been renamed ABC-DuMont for five years, and DuMont would havereceived $5 million in cash, room on the schedule for existing DuMont programming, and guaranteedadvertising time for its receivers.[13] Also, to satisfy the FCC's constraints, it would have been requiredto sell either WABC-TV or WABD-TV (DuMont's New York station) and two other stations with it.[13]

The merged ABC-DuMont would have had the resources to compete with CBS and NBC.[41]

Goldenson sought to develop the ABC network in the U.S. by trying to convince local stations tobecome affiliated with the ABC network.[13] For this, he contacted local entrepreneurs who owned TVstations themselves, many of whom had previously invested in Paramount cinemas and had worked withhim when he undertook the responsibility for restructuring United Paramount Theatres.[13] Goldensonalso tried international investing; for example, he acquired a 5% stake in two new Japanese networks,Mainichi Broadcasting System in 1951 and Nihon Educational Television in 1957.[42]

Hollywood begins to produce television series

At the same time that he made his attempts at the network's growth, Goldenson had been trying sincemid-1953 to provide content for the network by contacting his old acquaintances in Hollywood, withwhom he had worked when UPT was a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures.[13] ABC's merger with UPTled to the creation of relationships with Hollywood's film production studios, breaking a quarantine thathad existed at that time between film and television,[43] the latter of which had previously been moreconnected to radio. ABC's flagship productions at the time were The Lone Ranger (1949–1957), basedon the same-titled radio program, and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952–1965).

Goldenson's efforts paid off, and on October 27, 1954, the network was able to launch a "New ABC"campaign with the productions of several studios, including Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Warner Bros., and20th Century Fox.[44]

Warner tried with mixed success to adapt some of its most successful films as ABC television series, andshowcase such adaptations in a programming block known as Warner Bros. Presents. The wheel series,which aired during the 1955–56 season, showcased television adaptations of the 1942 films Kings Rowand Casablanca; Cheyenne, adapted from the 1947 film Wyoming Kid; Sugarfoot, a remake of the 1954film The Boy from Oklahoma; and Maverick, which helped to attract the network's audiences.[43]

However, the most iconic of ABC's relationships with Hollywood producers was its agreement withWalt Disney; after the start of the network's bond with the Disney studio, James Lewis Baughman, whoworked in the press at that time, observed that "at ABC's headquarters in New York, the secretaries[were now] wearing hats with Mickey Mouse ears."[43]

First bonds with Disney

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Wernher von Braun and ErnstStuhlinger in the episode "Mars andBeyond" (1957) from Disneyland, thefirst of many Walt Disney anthologytelevision series.

Walt Disney and his brother Roy contacted Goldenson at the end of 1953[45] to allow ABC to financepart of the Disneyland project in exchange for Disney'sproduction of a television broadcast.[46][47][48] Walt wanted ABCto invest $500,000 and accrued a guarantee of $4.5 million inadditional loans, a third of the budget intended for thepark.[46][49] Around 1954, ABC agreed to finance Disneyland inexchange for the broadcasting of a new Sunday televisionprogram, Disneyland, which debuted on the ABC network onOctober 27, 1954[46][47][48] as the first of many anthology TVprograms that Disney would broadcast over the course of thenext fifty years.

The budget for the construction of the park, upon its completionin July 1955, totaled $17 million,[50] while ABC owned 35% ofDisneyland, Inc., the company that had been created to build andmanage thepark.[47] When the park opened on July 17, 1955, aspecial live broadcast, Dateline: Disneyland, was aired onABC.[51] Shortly thereafter, on October 3, 1955, a second regularprogram produced by Disney was launched: The Mickey MouseClub, designed as a weekday children's program aired Mondaythrough Friday, which starred the "Mouseketeers," a group of 24children.[47][52]

Syndication division and phonographic labels

By 1954, all U.S. networks had regained control of their programming, with higher advertising revenues:ABC's increased by 67% with $26 million, NBC's went up by 30% with $100 million, and CBS's rose by44% with $117 million.[53] On March 27, 1954, ABC created a subsidiary named ABC FilmsSyndication Division, which specialized in syndication and in-house production of broadcasts, and washeaded by George Shupert.[54] However, ABC had only 14 primary affiliates as opposed to CBS's 74and NBC's 71. Most markets outside the largest ones weren't large enough to support three full networkaffiliates. In some markets that were large enough for a third full affiliate, the only available commercialallocation was on the less-desirable UHF band. Until the All-Channel Viewing Act mandated theinclusion of UHF tuning, most viewers needed a converter to watch UHF stations. Even with aconverter, the picture was marginal at best. Additionally, UHF stations have never gotten good receptionin rugged terrain. These factors made many prospective station owners skittish about investing in a UHFstation, especially one that would have had to take on an affiliation with a weaker network. As a result,in most markets outside the largest ones, ABC was relegated to secondary status on one or both of theexisting stations, usually via off-hours clearances. (A notable exception during this time was WKST-TVin Youngstown, Ohio, now WYTV, despite Youngstown's small market size and close proximity toCleveland and Pittsburgh even decades before the city's economic collapse.) According to Goldenson,this meant that an hour of programming on ABC reported five times less than its competitors.[55]

However, the network's intake of money at the time would allow it to accelerate its production ofcontent. Still, ABC's limited reach would continue to hobble it for the next two decades; several smallermarkets would not grow large enough to support a full ABC affiliate until the 1960s, with some verysmall markets having to wait as late as the 1980s or even the advent of digital terrestrial television,which allowed stations like WTRF-TV in Wheeling, West Virginia to begin airing ABC programmingon a digital subchannel after airing it in off-hours decades before.

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In 2002, dancers and other castmembers from the 32-year run ofAmerican Bandstand reunited withhost Dick Clark to celebrate the 50thanniversary of the show's localtelevision debut.

In 1955, ABC founded a record company, the AmPar Record Corporation,[56] which launched the recordlabel ABC-Paramount Records. Several other labels would be established or purchased by ABC in thefollowing years. DuMont Television Network ceased broadcasting on September 15, 1955,[41] and wentbankrupt the next year. ABC then found itself as the third U.S. television network, but still continued tolook for successful programming. That same year, Kintner was forced to resign because ofdisagreements between Noble and Goldenson,[13] a consequence of Goldenson's many interventions inABC's management. In 1959, ABC International created a company called WorldVision Enterprises foroverseas syndication.[57]

Counterprogramming: successful, but criticized

It was not until the late 1950s that the ABC network became aserious contender for NBC and CBS, and this was thanks to itsdiverse range of programming meeting the expectations of thepublic, such as westerns and detective series, but despite analmost 500% increase in advertising revenues between 1953 and1958, the network remained able to cover only between 10% and18% of the total U.S. population, due to still having a relativelylow number of affiliates compared to NBC and CBS.[58] In 1957,Ollie Treiz discovered that the variety show Bandstand, aired onWFIL-TV in Philadelphia, had very good ratings, and taking thatinto account, he managed to introduce that show to a nationalaudience, re-titling it American Bandstand;[59] the show quicklybecame a social phenomenon by presenting new talent and newdances to the American youth.[59] On September 3, 1958, theDisneyland TV series was retitled Walt Disney Presents[48] as itbecame disassociated with the same-named theme park. The movement in westerns, which ABC iscredited for having started, represented a fifth of all primetime series on American television in January1959, at which point a movement in detective shows was beginning as well.[60] ABC requested yet moreproductions from Disney.[61] At the end of 1958, Desilu Productions offered its detective series TheUntouchables to CBS, but that network rejected the show because of its use of violence; the productioncompany next presented it to ABC, which agreed to approve the show,[62] and began broadcasting it inApril 1959. The Untouchables went on to quickly become "immensely popular."[62]

This sort of programming offered ABC an image of the "philosophy of counterprogramming against itscompetitors," the network offering its viewers a strong lineup of programs contrasting with those of itsrival networks,[61] which helped Goldenson give the network a continuum between film andtelevision.[63] ABC's western series opposed and defeated the variety shows that NBC and CBS wereairing in the fall of 1957, and its detective shows did the same in the fall of 1959. To captivate thenetwork's audiences, short 66-minute series were scheduled a half-hour before their hour-longcompetition.[63] In May 1961, Life magazine criticized the public enthusiasm and sponsorship for thistype of shows at the expense of news programming and denounced an unofficial law "replacing the goodprograms with the bad ones."[64]

1960s: Transition to color

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The "ABC Circle" logo, designed byPaul Rand, was introduced in a 1962identification card.

During the 1960s, ABC continued on the same path that it began to take in the mid-1950s, consolidatingthe network to gain loyalty from the public. The network's finances improved and allowed it to invest. InMay 1960, ABC bought the WLS radio station in Chicago, which had shared airtime with WENR sincethe 1920s.[65] This acquisition allowed ABC to consolidate its presence in the market. On May 9, 1960,WLS launched a new lineup of programming related to ABC.[66] In 1960, the Canadian John Bassett,who was trying to establish a television station in Toronto, sought the help of ABC.[67] Goldensonagreed to acquire a 25% stake in CFTO-TV, but Canadian legislation denied this participation, so ABCwithdrew from the project before the launch of the channel.[67]

1960–1965: Children's programming and the debut of ABC Sports

On September 30, 1960, ABC began broadcasting TheFlintstones, another example of counterprogramming; althoughthat show was filmed in color from the beginning, it was initiallybroadcast in black-and-white, because ABC technically wouldnot show its programming in color at the time.[68] TheFlintstones allowed ABC to present a novelty, that of children'sprogramming, but it also allowed the network to begin replacingthe family orientation that had been the flagship of Disney'sprogramming.[68]

The contract allowing ABC to air Walt Disney Presents was dueto expire in 1961.[69] In 1959, the Disney company, havingregained a better financial situation, had purchased ABC's sharesin Disneyland for $7.5 million[46] and initiated discussions torenew the television collaboration. Walt Disney was approached by NBC to produce color broadcasts ofhis anthology series, which would be renamed Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.[69] Goldensonsaid ABC could not counter the offer, because the network did not have the technical and financialresources.[69] Thus, ABC and Disney's television collaboration expired in 1961.[46]

However, in 1961 ABC continued with its niche in animated series with Calvin and the Colonel, Matty'sFunday Funnies, Top Cat, and The Bugs Bunny Show,[68] the last of which showcased classic LooneyTunes and Merrie Melodies shorts. As for its activity in amusement parks, the network compensated forthe sale of Disneyland in October 1962 by purchasing the Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, anamusement and zoological park in Ocala, Florida with a total area of 3,900 acres (1,578 ha).[70][71]

Always in search of new programs that would help it to compete with NBC and CBS, ABC'smanagement noted that sports was a carrier issue.[72] On April 29, 1961, ABC began broadcasting asports show called Wide World of Sports created by Edgar Scherick through his company SportsPrograms, Inc. and produced by a young Roone Arledge.[73][74] ABC bought the company in exchangefor shares,[75] leading it to become the future core of ABC Sports, with Arledge as the executiveproducer of that division's shows.[76] Wide World of Sports, in particular, was not merely devoted to asingle sport, but rather to generally all sporting events.[72]

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During this period, ABC moved itscorporate headquarters to 1330Avenue of the Americas.

Due to pressure from film studios wanting to maximize their production, U.S. networks were beginningto broadcast films on television.[77] In 1962, ABC joined CBS and NBC in broadcasting films on theSunday night slot, though its Sunday night movie program debuted a year behind its competitors, andwas initially broadcast in black and white instead of color.[77] However, ABC remained in third placedespite a significant increase, with a 33% audience rate as opposed to the 15% rate from 1953, andrevenues of $15.5 million which represented a third of CBS's total revenues.[77] To catch up, ABCfollowed up The Flintstones with another animated series from Hanna-Barbera, The Jetsons, whichdebuted on September 23, 1962 as the first TV series to be broadcast in color on the network.[78] OnApril 1, 1963, ABC debuted its long-running soap opera General Hospital,[79] and on September 17 ofthe same year, it premiered a drama series titled The Fugitive.[80]

The 1964–1965 season was marked by the debuts of several classic series including Bewitched onSeptember 17[81] and The Addams Family on September 18. Arledge's success was confirmed in 1964when he became vice-president of ABC Sports.[82]

1966–1969: New regulations and the radio network's recovery

It was not until the 1965–1966 season that color becamedominant over black and white for the three television networks.ABC remained in third place among the three networks and stillneeded money to grow. However, ABC's issues with colorbecame secondary compared to the network's financial problems,because in 1964 the network found itself, as Goldenson laterwrote, "in the middle of a war [where] the battlefield was WallStreet".[83] Many companies sought to take control of ABC,including Norton Simon,[77] General Electric, InternationalTelephone and Telegraph,[84] and Litton Industries.[85]

In this context, the company was renamed from AmericanBroadcasting-Paramount Theatres to American BroadcastingCompany in 1965,[86] while its cinema division became ABCTheatres, and its recording division was renamed ABC Recordsin 1966.[87] After the death of David O. Selznick on June 22,1965, his assigns sold the catalog of the films he produced after1935 to ABC Films, with few exceptions.[88] As far asprogramming was concerned, ABC launched The Dating Gamein December 1965, and followed that show up with TheNewlywed Game in July 1966. Due to the saturation of itspremises at 7 West 66th Street in New York, Goldenson found a new headquarters for ABC in a four-story building located at 1330 Avenue of the Americas at the corner of 54th Street[89][90] (now occupiedby The Financial Times 's New York office). This operation allowed for the conversion of the premisesat 66th Street into television and radio studios.[90]

On December 7, 1965, Goldenson proposed to ABC management a merger with ITT, to which the twocompanies agreed on April 27, 1966.[85] The FCC approved the merger on December 21, 1966, but theprevious day, Donald F. Turner, head antitrust regulator for the United States Department of Justice,

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expressed doubts related to such things as the emerging market for cable broadcasting.[91] Another doubtconcerned the journalistic integrity of ABC and how it could be influenced by the overseas ownership ofITT.[92] The ITT management promised that their company would allow ABC to retain autonomy in thepublishing business.[91] The merger was suspended, and a complaint was filed by the Department ofJustice in July 1967. After a trial that began in October 1967 and ended on January 1, 1968, the mergerwas canceled.[93]

On January 12, 1966, ABC began broadcasting the highly successful series Batman, starring AdamWest.[94] In 1967, Ralph Beaudin, CEO of WLS, was appointed as the head of ABC Radio.[95] Underhis leadership, ABC Radio was divided into four "networks", each one devoted to one of four differenttypes of programming: newscasts, informative series, pop music, and talk shows.[96] Two othernetworks were later created for rock and traffic news.

In 1968, ABC took advantage of new regulations to buy the radio stations KXYZ-AM and KXYZ-FM inHouston for $1 million in shares and $1.5 million in bonds,[97] reaching its limit of seven owned-and-operated stations. Roone Arledge was named president of ABC Sports, and the company also foundedits own film studio, ABC Pictures (renamed ABC Motion Pictures between 1979 and 1985[98]), whosefirst production was Charly, a 1968 film directed by Ralph Nelson. There are two subsidiaries, PalomarPictures International, and Selmur Pictures. In July 1968, ABC continued its acquisitions in theamusement parks sector by opening ABC Marine World in Redwood City, California;[99] that park wassold in 1972 and demolished in 1986, and its area later became home to the headquarters of OracleCorporation.

In July 1968, ABC Radio launched a special programming project for its FM stations, entrusted to AllenShaw,[100] a former program manager at WCFL (AM) in Chicago.[101] Shaw was commissioned byHarold L. Neal, president of ABC Radio, to compete with the new progressive rock and DJ stations.[102]

The new program called LOVE Radio, with selected music, was launched on the seven FM stationsowned by ABC in late November 1968; it replaced nearly all of the programming for these stations, butseveral affiliates retained the majority of their programming, such as KXYZ in Houston.[102] FromAugust 1970, Shaw confirmed that ABC FM's music choice policy should be reviewed to allow listenersaccess to many styles of music.[103]

As far as television is concerned, since the early 1960s, the American broadcasting industry regularlyoffered made-for-TV movies; to satisfy its fans, in September 1969 ABC launched its Movie of the Weekprogram, a weekly program with dramas produced on an average budget of $400,000–$450,000 bytalented filmmakers.[104] It featured productions by such directors as Aaron Spelling, David Wolper, andSteven Spielberg (the last of whom gained early success for his 1971 film Duel, which was shown on theprogram).

1970s: Success in television

In the early 1970s, ABC completed its transition to color broadcasting and began to pass CBS and NBCin terms of audience. It also began to use behavioral and demographic data for better placement ofadvertising spaces.[105] ABC's gains in audience share were greatly helped by the fact that severalsmaller markets had grown large enough for full service from all three networks.

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Publicity photo of the mobile studiosused by ABC in 1976

David Carradine, star of Kung Fu

In 1970, ABC debuted the sports program Monday Night Football[106] (which moved to ESPN in 2006),and several soap operas such as All My Children. According to Goldenson, broadcasting Monday NightFootball allowed ABC regular audience ratings of 15%–16%, with a budget managed by ABC Sportsfor Monday nights to reallocate the weekly budget for ABC Primetime to just six days, as opposed toseven on competing networks.[107]

In 1970, the FCC imposed its Financial Interest and SyndicationRules, a set of regulations that aimed to prevent the Big Threenetworks from monopolizing the broadcast landscape, bypreventing them from owning any of the programming that theyaired in the primetime.[108] This decision caused ABC Films tosplit in 1972 into two separate companies: WorldVision forsyndication, and ABC Circle Films for production.[109][110]

WorldVision, which had existed since 1959, was sold to ABCofficials for nearly $10 million.[110]

In April 1970, Congress passed the Public Health CigaretteSmoking Act which banned cigarette advertising from alltelevision and radio networks, including ABC, when it tookeffect on January 2, 1971.[111] In 1974, due to the lowprofitability of its cinemas, the Central West division of ABCTheatres, named ABC Great States, was sold to Henry Plitt.[109]

On January 17, 1972, Elton Rule was named President and COOof ABC a few months after Goldenson suffered a heart attack.[29]

In the early 1970s, Michael Eisner, who joined ABC in 1966,became the network's program development manager.[112] Heoffered many ideas for series including Happy Days,[112] whichdebuted in January 1974,[113] and several soap operas as well,but his main credit at ABC was for developing youth-orientedprogramming.[114] He was responsible for moving Bugs Bunnyand company back to ABC after their cartoon shorts had spentseveral years on CBS; developing the cartoon The Jackson 5iveand a series about the Osmonds; and approving Super Friends, ashow centered on the Justice League of America.[112] Eisner left ABC in 1976 to become president ofParamount Pictures.[115]

In the spring of 1975, Fred Pierce, the newly named president of ABC Television, convinced FredSilverman to become the first president of an independent television production subsidiary named ABCEntertainment, created from the namesake division responsible for the network's programming.[116] In1974, ABC started broadcasting the detective series S.W.A.T. The same year, the network made thedecision to compete with NBC's morning news program Today. Its first attempt at such competition wasa program called AM America, but that show's success was not straightforward.[117] Before the end of1975, ABC discovered that another news program, The Morning Exchange, produced for the localCleveland market through its affiliate WEWS-TV, seemed to appeal to its viewers;[117] in November

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1975, that show's concept was adopted for the network's national morning newscast, which was renamedGood Morning America.[117] Meanwhile, ABC News sought to become a global leader in televisionnewscasts.[118]

In 1977, the southern division of ABC Theatres, known as ABC Southern, was sold to Henry Plitt, whoat the time was associated with Thomas Klutznick, a real estate entrepreneur in Chicago.[109] With thissale, ABC was stripped of control over its theaters because of changes in the theater operation sector,mainly the fact that the population was investing in the suburbs and moving away from old cinemas inthe larger cities.[109] In 1987, Plitt Theatres was bought by Cineplex Odeon Corporation.[109]

For its part, the television network produced many programs, and in 1977 several series were launched:January saw the debut of Roots, a miniseries based on an Alex Haley novel that was published theprevious year; and September saw the premiere of The Love Boat. Roots went on to become one of thehighest-rated programs in all of American television, with unprecedented Nielsen ratings for itsfinale.[119][120] The success of Roots, Happy Days, and The Love Boat allowed the network to becomefirst in the ratings among U.S. networks for the first time in the 1976–1977 season. On the internationallevel, however, many governments wanted to increase their independence and strengthen theirlegislation, so ABC was forced to sell all of its interests in international networks, mainly in Japan andLatin America.[67]

In 1977, Arledge was named president of the new ABC News division in addition to being president ofABC Sports.[121] Also in 1977, ABC launched an expansion program for its offices in New York. On thecorner of Columbus Avenue and West 66th Street, it demolished an abandoned warehouse and built inits place a 10-floor building which is nicknamed 7 Lincoln Square, but is actually located at 149Columbus Avenue. Meanwhile, the former parking lot, located at 30 West 67th Street, was transformedinto an impressive 15-story building. Both buildings were completed in June 1979. WABC-TV movedits offices from 77 West 66th Street to 149 Columbus Avenue, freeing up space for the ABC networkitself.

On January 20, 1978, the series Fantasy Island debuted on ABC. In June 1978, Arledge created thenews magazine 20/20.[122] In February 1979, ABC sold its recording division to MCA Inc. (MCAstanding for the company's former name, Music Corporation of America) for $20 million; by March 5 ofthat same year, the label had disappeared and all of its 300 employees had been laid off.[123] The rightsto the works of ABC Records and all of MCA's other labels have since been acquired by UniversalMusic Group.

For ABC, the 1970s were highlighted by several successful series including Kung Fu (an action-adventure western drama starring David Carradine, which ran from 1972 to 1975), The Six MillionDollar Man (1974–1978), Happy Days (1974–1984), Wonder Woman (1975–1979), Starsky & Hutch(1975-1979), Charlie's Angels (1976–1981), The Bionic Woman (1976–1978), Three's Company (1977-1984), Fantasy Island (1978–1984), and Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979). Many of these series wereapproved by Fred Silverman, who was appointed in 1975 as the network's director of programming viaits ABC Entertainment division,[124] but left his post in 1978 to become CEO of NBC.

1980s: Merger with Capital Cities, purchase of ESPN, reprogramming FridayNights

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ESPN (identification card pictured)was acquired by ABC in 1982.

ABC dominated the American television landscape during the 1970s and early 1980s. Several flagshipseries debuted on ABC during this time; for example, Dynasty premiered on January 12, 1981, fivemonths before the 1970s hit Charlie's Angels ended its run. Also in 1981, ABC launched the AlphaRepertory Television Service (ARTS), a cable television service that offered cultural programming suchas ballet and opera.[125]

On August 9, 1982, ABC purchased a 10% stake in theEntertainment and Sports Programming Network (later known byits abbreviated name, "ESPN") for the sum of $20 million, and inreturn, ESPN gained the U.S. broadcast rights to the BritishOpen, which ABC had not been able to broadcastcompletely.[126] This purchase provided ABC the opportunity topurchase additional shares of up to 49% under certainconditions.[127] One of them was the purchase of at least 10% ofthe shares of Getty Oil before January 2, 1984.[127]

In 1983, ABC sold KXYZ to Infinity BroadcastingCorporation.[128] On January 4, 1984, The New York Times reported that ABC, through its subsidiaryABC Video Enterprises, had exercised its option to purchase shares of Getty Oil in ESPN up to 15%, orbetween $25 million and $30 million, which would allow it to increase its shares later.[127] In June 1984,ABC's executive committee approved the purchase of ESPN, and ABC arranged with Getty Oil to obtain80% of the company, while the remaining 20% was sold to Nabisco.[129] In 1984, in consideration of thearrangements for ESPN, ARTS merged with RCA's Entertainment Channel project while the HearstCorporation added its participation, in a new cable channel called Arts & Entertainment Television(A&E).[125] Meanwhile, ABC withdrew from the theme park business for good when it sold SilverSprings Nature Theme Park in Florida.[99]

In January 1985, the FCC published an amendment to its regulations which was to increase themaximum number of stations that could be owned by a single television network from seven totwelve.[130] Thomas S. Murphy, CEO of Capital Cities Communications, contacted Goldenson inDecember 1984 to propose a merger of their respective companies.[130] On March 16, 1985, the ABCexecutive committee accepted the purchase offer from Capital Cities.[131]

On March 18, 1985, Capital Cities officially launched its bid on ABC for $3.5 billion. The offerconsisted of $118 for each of ABC's shares plus a guarantee of 10%, or $3, for a total of $121 pershare.[130] To finance this purchase, Capital Cities borrowed $2.1 billion to a consortium of banks,which sold more of those assets that violated FCC rules for $900 million and separated several interestsin cable, which were sold to The Washington Post Company.[132] The remaining $500 million wasprovided by Warren Buffett, who promised that his company Berkshire Hathaway would purchase$3,000,000 in shares, at $172.50 apiece.[132][133]

On September 5, 1985, ABC merged with Capital Cities and was renamed Capital Cities/ABC. ABCacquired more television stations (such as KFSN-TV, KTRK-TV, and WJRT-TV), the media groupFairchild Publications, and four newspapers such as The Kansas City Star and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.[134] In return, ABC sold WXYZ-TV to the E. W. Scripps Company. In 1985, as far asprogramming is concerned, The Love Boat ended its run just one year after Happy Days and Three'sCompany had ended theirs. Meanwhile, Jim Duffy left the network's presidency for the management of

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ABC Communications, a subsidiary that specialized in community service programming, such as showsrelated to literary education.[118] At that time, NBC regained the lead in the ratings among the BigThree. To counteract NBC, ABC decided to focus on comedy and family series with titles such as Mr.Belvedere, Roseanne, Who's the Boss?, Just the Ten of Us, The Wonder Years, Full House, HomeImprovement, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Step by Step, Boy Meets World, and Perfect Strangers. Thelatter two programs both spawned successful follow-ups, Girl Meets World and Family Mattersrespectively. Following the initial success of these series, ABC reprogrammed Friday nights for this typeof programming in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, on a programming block known as "TGIF"("Thank God It's Funny").[135]

The ABC/Capital Cities merger went into effect on January 3, 1986, and several changes occurred in themanagement at that time:[136] Frederick S. Pierce became president of ABC's broadcasting division,Michael P. Millardi became vice president of ABC Broadcasting and president of ABC Owned Stationsand ABC Video Enterprises, John B. Sias became president of the ABC Television Network, BrandonStoddard became president of ABC Entertainment (a position to which he had been appointed inNovember 1985), and Roone Arledge became president of ABC News and ABC Sports. In February1986, Thomas S. Murphy, who had been CEO of Capital Cites since 1964, was appointed chairman andCEO emeritus of ABC.[137] In 1988, a new headquarters was built for ABC, just off the WABC-TVstudios on West 66 Street. The television network's restructuring program, launched in 1974, helpedwith the purchases and exchanges of nearly 70 stations in the late 1980s, adding more than 2 millionviewers.[118]

1990s: Acquisition by Disney

In 1990, Thomas S. Murphy delegated his position as president to Daniel B. Burke while remainingABC's chairman and CEO.[137] Capital Cities/ABC reported revenues of $465 million.[138] In 1993, theFCC changed its rules to remove the ban on networks holding interests in television productionstudios.[139] That same year, ABC bought DIC Entertainment (DIC being an acronym for Diffusion,Information and Communication), an animation studio of French origin,[140] and signed a contract withTime Warner Cable to allow its television stations to be broadcast on TWC's cable network.[141] InFebruary 1994, with the departure of Daniel Burke, Thomas Murphy took the position of president[137]

before ceding control to Robert Iger. In order to compete with CNN, ABC attempted to launch a channelcalled ABC Cable News in 1995, but that plan was shelved; however, ABC would reattempt the idea inJuly 2004 with ABC News Now, a channel for the Internet and mobile phones.

On July 31, 1995, The Walt Disney Company and Capital Cities/ABC announced their intention tomerge for a total of $19 billion.[46][142] On August 29, 1995, ABC acquired WJRT-TV and WTVG fromSJL Broadcast Management and converted them into owned and operated stations.[143] On January 4,1996, the Disney shareholders approved the merger at a special conference in New York.[142] OnFebruary 9, 1996, Disney completed its acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC and renamed its newsubsidiary ABC Inc.[142] This acquisition allowed Disney to acquire 10 TV stations (9 VHF and oneUHF); 21 radio stations (11 AM and 10 FM); 80% of ESPN, varying percentages of The HistoryChannel, A&E Television Networks, and Lifetime Entertainment; and dozens of magazines andnewspapers.[46] In consideration of the redemption, and according to the FCC, Disney sold KCAL-TV inLos Angeles to Young Broadcasting for $387 million.[144] On April 4, Disney sold the four newspapersthat ABC had controlled under Capital Cities to Knight Ridder for $1.65 billion.[145] Thomas S. Murphy

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ABC's Times Square Studios in New York

The ABC HD Logo

withdrew from ABC and was replaced as president and CEO by Robert Iger.[146] Around the time oftheir merger, ABC and Disney produced such shows as Home Improvement and the multiple EmmyAward-winning comedy series Sports Night.

On May 10, 1999, Disney reorganized its publishing division, the Buena Vista Publishing Group, andrenamed it Disney Publishing Worldwide; the rechristened division became a subsidiary of DisneyConsumer Products while Hyperion Books became affiliated with ABC.[147] On July 8, 1999, Disneyconsolidated Walt Disney Television Studio, Buena Vista Television Productions, and ABC's primetimedivision into the ABC Entertainment Television Group. On December 31, 1999, ABC's contract withTime Warner Cable officially ended, but it was renewed on time for the parties to reach anagreement.[141]

During the 1999–2000 season, thanks to the unexpected success of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,which premiered as a special occasional series in August 1999 and became a regular program on January18, 2000,[148] ABC became the first network to move from third to first place in the ratings for a singleseason. Based on the same-titled British program, the show was a wild ratings success throughout itsfirst year, but nearly three years after its debut, the U.S. version of Millionaire left the network'sprimetime lineup and was switched to syndication. In spite of Millionaire 's departure from ABCPrimetime, The Practice, My Wife and Kids, NYPD Blue and The Wonderful World of Disney managedto help the network stay ahead of the competition in the ratings.

2000s: Separation of the radio network

On April 30, 2000, following a disagreement between ABCand Time Warner Cable, TWC pulled the plug on theWTVD station, which served the cities of Raleigh, Durham,and Fayetteville in North Carolina. As the ABC networkreported on May 1, the FCC issued an order (published May3) requiring TWC to restore the station, which was done inthe afternoon of May 2, after 24 hours of serviceinterruption.[141] In June 2000, Disney sold its 33% stake inEurosport for $155 million.[149]

On July 23, 2001, Disneyacquired Fox FamilyWorldwide and integrated thegroup into ABC Entertainment under the name ABC Family[150] for $5.3billion.[151] Upon acquiring Saban Entertainment, Disney gained the rightsto the catalog of 8,500 episodes of programming produced by that

company.[150] The group's youth-oriented channel was later renamed Jetix and fell under the control ofthe Disney Channel. The deal was finalized on October 24, 2001.[150]

In 2004, ABC's audience went down by ten points, and the network found itself in the fourth place interms of market shares. However, during the 2004–2005 season, the network experienced an unexpectedsuccess with new series such as Desperate Housewives, Lost, and Grey's Anatomy, which helped ABCrise to the rank of second place in terms of viewership, behind only NBC, while CBS remained in thirdplace. On April 21, 2004, Disney announced a restructuring of its Disney Media Networks division withGeorge Bodenheimer as its co-CEO, and Anne Sweeney as the president of the Disney–ABC Television

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Group (owner of ABC and Disney Channels Worldwide); Bodenheimer, who had already been presidentof ESPN, also became president of ABC Sports.[152] On September 27, 2004, ABC announced thelaunch of ABC1, a channel owned by the ABC Group in the United Kingdom.[153]

Between May and September 2005, rumors circulated about Disney–ABC selling ABC Radio, withClear Channel Communications and Westwood One (which had bought NBC, CBS, and Mutual's radiodivisions) as potential buyers. On October 19, 2005, ABC announced the restructuring of the group intosix divisions: Entertainment Communications, Communications Resources, Kids Communications,News Communications, Corporate Communications, and International Communications. On December7, 2005, ABC Sports and ESPN signed an agreement with NASCAR for eight years of broadcasts of theNextel Cup, i.e., 17 of the 36 races held each season.[154]

On February 6, 2007, Disney and Citadel Broadcasting announced that the ABC Radio Network wouldmerge with Citadel. The new entity was named Citadel Communications,[155] and its ownership was asfollows: 52% owned by Disney, 32% by Forstmann Little, and 16% by former shareholders of CitadelBroadcasting. On October 10, 2006, the Disney–ABC Television Group entered into an agreement tobroadcast ABC News Now in India via Dish TV.[156]

In February 2007, Disney announced that it would rename the production studio Touchstone Televisionas ABC Television Studio.[157] In May 2007, ABC unveiled a new imaging campaign, revolving aroundthe slogan "Start Here", which signifed the multi-platform availability of ABC content.[158] OnSeptember 8, 2007, Disney announced that it would discontinue ABC1 in October because of thechannel's inability to attain a suitable audience.[159] On September 28, 2007, ABC's Hyperion divisionmoved its offices located in the ABC headquarters (at 77 West 66th Street) to invest two floors of 114Fifth Avenue, the home of Disney Publishing Worldwide, during the course of a partial move to WhitePlains, New York.[160]

The writer's strike of 2007–2008 affected the network in the 2008–2009 season, as various shows thatpremiered in 2007, such as Dirty Sexy Money, Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, and Samantha Who?, did notlive to see a third season on the network; and more series such as Boston Legal and the U.S. version ofLife on Mars suffered from low viewership, despite the former being a once-highlighted breakoutshow.[161] On August 15, 2008, Disney denied rumors started by Caris & Co. that it would be sellingABC's ten owned-and-operated stations.[162]

In early 2009, Disney–ABC Television Group merged ABC Entertainment and ABC Studios into a newdivision called ABC Entertainment Group, which would be responsible for both production andbroadcasting.[163][164][165][166][167] The group planned to reduce its workforce by 5% during thisreorganization.[168] On April 2, 2009, Citadel Communications decided to rename ABC Radio asCitadel Media;[169] however, ABC News continued to provide press service for Citadel. On July 6,2009, the website Hulu broadcast ABC programming for the first time,[170] following an April 2009agreement giving Disney a 27% stake in Hulu. On 22 December 2009, Disney–ABC Television Groupannounced a partnership with Apple Inc. for pay-TV on iTunes, with content from Disney Channel andABC.[171]

2010s: Decline

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In March 2010, Disney considered spinning ABC off into an independent broadcasting companybecause "it [did not] add a lot of value to Disney's other divisions".[172] It entered advanced negotiationswith two private equity firms to sell ABC; however, the sale was canceled because of an attemptedinsider trade to the FBI by an ex-employee.[173]

In 2010, Lost ended after six seasons, the last of which was its lowest rated since its debut in 2004. Theonce-instant hit Ugly Betty collapsed dramatically in ratings due to its move to the Friday night deathslot. Even after an attempt to boost ratings by moving it to Wednesdays, the show was ultimatelycanceled, resulting in negative reactions from the public, and particularly from the show's fanbase.[174]

With the network's two former hit shows now out of the picture, the network's remaining top two veteranshows Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy, and another hit show Brothers & Sisters, thenrecorded their lowest ratings ever, a trademark that still continued into the network's 2010–2011schedule. Similarly, ABC's dramas during that season continued to fail, with only Body of Proof beingrenewed for a second season.[175] The network also struggled to establish new comedies to go with theprevious year's debuts, with only late-season premiere Happy Endings earning a second season.[175]

Meanwhile, the new lows hit by Brothers & Sisters led to its cancellation,[176] and the previous year'sonly drama renewal, V, also failed to earn another season after a low-rated mid-season run.[176] Despitethis and another noticeable ratings decline, ABC would manage to outrate NBC for third by a largermargin than the previous year.[177]

With relatively little buzz surrounding its 2010–2011 pilots, compounded by a sexual harassment suitagainst him, Stephen McPherson resigned as ABC Entertainment Group president on July 27, 2010. Hisreplacement, Paul Lee (previously the president of sister cable channel ABC Family), was announcedthe same day.[178][179]

With the cancellation of Supernanny in 2011, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was the only series onthe network's schedule to be broadcast in 4:3 standard definition until the program ended its run as aregular series in January 2012. On April 14, 2011, ABC canceled the long-running soap operas All MyChildren and One Life to Live after a combined 84 years on the air.[180] The talk/lifestyle show thatreplaced One Life to Live, The Revolution, failed to generate satisfactory ratings and was in turncanceled. The 2011–12 season saw ABC drop to fourth place in the 18-49 demographic despiterenewing a handful of new shows for second seasons.[181]

In 2012, Spanish-language network Univision and ABC News announced a partnership to launch anEnglish-language news channel primarily aimed at Hispanic audiences; in February 2013, it wasrevealed that the new network would be known as Fusion, and would launch later that year.[182][183]

The 2012-13 season failed to live up to the previous year, with only one drama, Nashville, and onecomedy, The Neighbors, earning a second season renewal. The 2013-14 season was a slightimprovement for ABC with three new hits in The Goldbergs, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Resurrectionall being renewed, but saw the cancellations of The Neighbors and Suburgatory as NBC, which hadlagged behind ABC for eight years would finish the season #1 in the 18-49 demographic for the firsttime since 2004, and finish second place overall behind long-dominant CBS. Fortunately, ABC wouldfinish the season in third place as Fox had crashed to fourth in both demos.

In May 2013, ABC launched its Watch ABC player apps, which allow viewers to access live streamsfrom a local ABC affiliate from within the app, making ABC the first U.S. broadcast network to offerthis ability. Similarly to its sister WatchESPN app, the live streaming capability is only available to

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authenticated pay television subscribers in certain markets; the service launched with WABC-TV andWPVI-TV in New York City and Philadelphia (with a free preview for non-subscribers running throughJune), and is expected to launch across the remaining ABC O&Os (including markets such as Chicago,Los Angeles, Houston, and San Francisco) by the start of the 2013–14 season. Hearst Television alsoreached a deal to offer the service across its ABC-affiliated stations, which include outlets in Boston,Kansas City and Milwaukee.[184][185]

Affiliated television stationsSince its inception, ABC has had many affiliated stations, which include the same two affiliated stationsthat were the first to broadcast ABC's programming. As of 2010, ABC has 235 affiliated stations, ownedby eighty different companies, and is present in all U.S. states except New Jersey, which is served byABC O&O's WABC-TV from New York for North Jersey, and Philadelphia's WPVI-TV providingSouth Jersey coverage.

Facilities and studiosAll of ABC's owned-and-operated stations and affiliates have had their own facilities and studios, buttransverse entities have been created to produce national programming. Thus, television series wereproduced by ABC Circle Films beginning in 1962 and by Touchstone Television beginning in 1985,before ABC Studios was formed in February 2007. Since the 1950s, ABC has had two main productionfacilities: the ABC Television Center on Prospect Avenue in Hollywood, California, shared with KABC-TV until 1999; and the ABC Television Center, East, a set of studios throughout the city of New York. Anew center, Times Square Studios, opened in Times Square in 1999.

ABC owns several facilities in New York grouped mainly on West 66th Street. The main set of facilitiesis on the corner of Columbus Avenue and West 66th Street. In total, ABC's facilities occupy a combined9,755 square meters (105,000 sq ft) of the 14,864 square meters (159,990 sq ft) of the blocks theyoccupy. The aforementioned set includes:

The official headquarters at 77 West 66th Street, a 22-story building built in 1988 on a plot of 175feet (53 m) × 200 feet (61 m)A pair of buildings at 149–155 Columbus Avenue (with one building comprising 10 stories andthe other 7, and both containing glass bays connecting them to each other), constructed on a plotof 100 feet (30 m) × 200 feet (61 m)30–34 West 67th Street, a 15-story building with a facade on the 66th and 67th Street on a plot of100 feet (30 m) × 100 feet (30 m)The former First Battery of New York National Guard, a five-story building located at number 56on the other side of the street, on a plot of 174 feet (53 m) × 100 feet (30 m)ABC also owns 47 West 66th Street, one of three 14-story buildings on a plot of 375 feet (114 m)

x 100 feet (30 m). From 1983 to 2013, Disney leased 70,000 square feet (6,500 m2) at 157

Columbus Avenue, just on the other side of 67th Street.[186]

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Entrance of ABC'sheadquarters at 77 West66 Street

WABC-TV buildings at149–155 ColumbusAvenue and behind 157Columbus Avenue

ABC facilities in theformer First Battery ofNew York NationalGuard

ABC also owns the Times Square Studios at 1500 Broadway on land owned by a development fund forthe 42nd Street Project; it is in this studio that Good Morning America is aired. ABC News has premisesa little further on West 66 Street, in a 6-story building occupying a plot of 196 feet (60 m) × 379 feet(116 m) at 121–135 West End Avenue. The block of West End Avenue housing the ABC News buildingwas renamed Peter Jennings Way in 2006 in honor of one of ABC News' most well-knownnewscasters.[187]

Economic dataABC's employees, like all employees of Disney and its subsidiaries, are eligible for membership in theABE Federal Credit Union, a cooperative savings and loan service founded in 1967.[188] With theacquisition by Disney, this union became associated with Disney's Partners Federal Credit Union. Theacquisition of Marvel Entertainment allowed Marvel employees to join ABE-FCU.[189]

Main offices

New York:

77 West 66th Street, New York[190] (in the ABC headquarters)

125 West End Avenue, New York[190] (in the ABC News headquarters)

115 West 18th Street, New York (South Manhattan)[190]

California:

2300 Riverside Drive, Burbank[190] (in the ABC Studios Building at the Disneyheadquarters)

2312 West Olive Avenue, Burbank[190] (north of the Burbank complex, near the PartnersFCU)

4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles[190] (at The Prospect Studios)

190 N. State Street, Chicago, Illinois[190] (at the WLS-TV studios)

680 Birch Street, Bristol, Connecticut[190] (at the ESPN headquarters)

383 Middle Street, Bristol, Connecticut[190] (at the ESPN North Campus)

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1717 DeSales St. NW, Washington D.C.[190] (at ABC News' Washington Bureau)

Financial results

Annual financial statements of Capital Cities/ABC(in millions of U.S. dollars)

Year Revenues Net incomeTV/Radio Press Total TV/Radio Press Total

1983[139] 302,785 459,510 762,295 124,696 104,034 228,730

1984[139] 348,106 591,616 939,722 144,182 133,179 277,361

1985[139] 378,297 642,583 1,020,880 150,970 138,512 289,482

1986[139] 3,153,619[CA 1] 970,755 4,124,374 474,535 158,999 602,678

1987[139] 3,433,749 1,006,597 4,440,346 632,910 146,717 745,990

1988[139] 3,749,557 1,023,896 4,773,453 722,171 129,720 816,029

1989[139] 3,899,898 1,057,405 4,957,394 836,149 130,444 922,512

1990[139] 4,283,633 1,101,969 5,385,602 830,457 132,371 923,215

1991[139] 4,329,743 1,052,246 5,381,989 669,708 122,905 761,233

1992[139][191] 4,265,561 1,078,566 5,344,127 619,317 136,389 755,706

1993[139] 4,663,215 1,010,438 5,673,653 778,077 125,647 903,724

1994[192] 5,277 1,102.1 6,379.7 1,127 155 1,239

1995[193] 5,727.5 1,151.1 6,878.5 1,164.8 139 1,238.8Since 1996, ABC's financial results are included in those of Disney Media

Networks.

1. ^ Following the acquisition of ABC

Corporate management

1943–1953: Edward Noble1953–1986: Leonard Goldenson

1986–1990: Thomas Murphy (chairman/CEO)[137]

1990–1994: Thomas Murphy (chairman), Daniel Burke (CEO)[137]

1994–1996: Thomas Murphy (chairman),[137] Bob Iger (CEO)1996–2000: Bob Iger, president2000–2004: Anne Sweeney, president of ABC Cable Networks Group and Disney Channels

Worldwide[194] with George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN2004–present: Anne Sweeney and George Bodenheimer, co-CEOs of Disney Media Networks

Television programming

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The ABC Television Network provides a schedule of 89 regular weekly hours of network programming.The network provides 22 hours of prime time programming to affiliated stations: 8–11 p.m. Monday toSaturday (all times ET/PT) and 7–11 p.m. on Sundays.

Daytime programming is also provided from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays (with a one-hour break at noonET/PT for local stations to air news or other programming such as syndicated shows) featuring thetalk/lifestyle shows The View and The Chew and the soap opera General Hospital. ABC Newsprogramming includes Good Morning America from 7 to 9 a.m. weekdays (along with one-hourweekend editions); nightly editions of ABC World News Tonight (whose weekend editions areoccasionally subject to abbreviation or preemption due to sports telecasts overrunning into the program'stimeslot), the Sunday political talk show This Week, early morning news programs World News Now andAmerica This Morning and the late night newsmagazine Nightline. Late nights feature the weeknight talkshow Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

The network's Saturday morning children's programming timeslot, consisting of three hours, is filled bysyndicator Litton Entertainment, which produces the Litton's Weekend Adventure block of programmingunder an arrangement where the programming is syndicated out exclusively to ABC stations, rather thanbeing leased out directly by the network to Litton.

Sports programming is also provided on some weekend afternoons at any time from 3 to 6 p.m. ET (12to 3 p.m. PT) and, during college football season, during prime time on Saturday nights throughSaturday Night Football. Due to the erratic and (outside of college football season) inconsistentscheduling of sports programming on weekend afternoons, ABC carries the ESPN Sports Saturday blockon Saturdays, and on Sunday either encores of primetime reality series, burned off series which had noroom in the primetime schedule, occasional theatrical films which were acquired in the early to mid-2000s that no longer have a primetime slot to air in or more recently, skating specials supplied by DissonSkating, when no sports telecasts are scheduled, usually airing between 4–6 p.m. ET/PT. During thesummer season, ABC airs two highlight compilation programs for ESPN involving golf's The OpenChampionship and The Wimbledon Championships from the United Kingdom to provide somebroadcast presence for both events on American television. Various X Games events are also carriedduring their weekend events on ABC.

ABC holds the broadcast rights to the Academy Awards, American Music Awards, Disney ParksChristmas Day Parade, Tournament of Roses Parade, Country Music Association Awards and the CMAMusic Festival. Since 2000, ABC has also owned the television rights to most of the Peanuts televisionspecials. Since 1974, ABC has generally aired Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve on New Year's Eve(the only exception being in 1999, when ABC pre-empted the special for its own coverage of theinternational millennium festivities). ABC has also aired the Miss America pageant from 1954 to 1956,1997 to 2005, and since 2011. The pageant will return to Atlantic City in 2013 after being held in LasVegas since 2006, ABC will continue to broadcast the pageant through 2016.[195]

The network's daytime programming block, ABC Daytime, currently airs the soap opera GeneralHospital, and talk shows The View and The Chew. General Hospital is the longest-running entertainmentprogram in the entire history of the ABC television network, having aired since 1963. ABC alsobroadcasts the morning news program Good Morning America and has done so since 1975, though thatprogram is not considered to be part of the ABC Daytime block. Notable soap operas seen on the blockin the past include All My Children, One Life to Live, Ryan's Hope, Dark Shadows, Loving, The City andPort Charles. ABC also aired the last nine years of the Procter & Gamble-produced The Edge of Night.ABC Daytime has also aired a number of game shows, including The Dating Game, The NewlywedGame, Let's Make a Deal, Password, Split Second, The $10,000/$20,000 Pyramid, Family Feud, TheBetter Sex, Trivia Trap, All-Star Blitz and Hot Streak.

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Programming library

ABC owns nearly all its in-house television and theatrical productions made from the 1970s onward,with the exception of certain co-productions with producers (for example, The Commish is now ownedby the estate of its producer, Stephen Cannell). Worldwide video rights are currently owned by variouscompanies, for example, MGM Home Entertainment via 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment ownsU.S. video rights to many of ABC's feature films.

When the FCC imposed its fin-syn rules in 1970, ABC proactively created two companies: WorldvisionEnterprises for syndication, and ABC Circle Films for production. However, between the publicationand implementation of these regulations, the separation of the network's catalog was made in 1973. Thebroadcast rights to pre-1973 productions were transferred to Worldvision, which became independent inthe same year. The company has been sold several times since Paramount Television acquired it in 1999,and has most recently been absorbed into CBS Television Distribution, a unit of CBS Corporation.Nonetheless, Worldvision sold portions of its catalog, including the Ruby-Spears and Hanna-Barberalibraries, to Turner Broadcasting System in 1990. With Disney's 1996 purchase of ABC, ABC CircleFilms was absorbed into Touchstone Television, a Disney subsidiary which in turn was renamed ABCStudios in 2007.[157]

Also part of the library is the aforementioned Selznick library, the Cinerama Productions/Palomartheatrical library and the Selmur Productions catalog that the network acquired some years back, and thein-house productions it continues to produce (such as America's Funniest Home Videos, GeneralHospital, and ABC News productions), although Disney–ABC Domestic Television (formerly known asBuena Vista Television) handles domestic television distribution, while Disney–ABC InternationalTelevision (formerly known as Buena Vista International Television) handles international televisiondistribution.

List of selected programs

Adventure, fantasy, and science fiction series

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954–1959)The Fugitive (1963–1967)Batman (1966–1968)Kung Fu (1972–1975)The Six Million Dollar Man (1974–1978)Wonder Woman (1975–1977; later moved to CBS)Charlie's Angels (1976–1981)The Bionic Woman (1976–1977; later moved to NBC)Fantasy Island (1978–1984)Battlestar Galactica (1978–1979)The Fall Guy (1981–1986)MacGyver (1985–1992)Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993–1997)V (2009–2011)Once Upon a Time (2011–Present)

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–Present)

Comedies, dramas, and soap operas

General Hospital (1963–present)Dynasty (1981–1989)Loving (1983–1995)The Thorn Birds (1983)Desperate Housewives (2004–2012)Ugly Betty (2006-2010)October Road (2007-2008)Revenge (2011–Present)

Situation comedies

Bewitched (1964–1972)That Girl (1966-1971)The Flying Nun (1967-1970)The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)The Odd Couple (1970-1975)The Partridge Family (1970-1974)Happy Days (1974–1984)Barney Miller (1975-1982)Welcome Back, Kotter (1975-1979)Laverne and Shirley (1976-1983)Three's Company (1977–1984)Soap (1977-1981)Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1985; NBC aired first seven seasons, while ABC aired 1984-85 seasononly)Mork and Mindy (1978-1982)Taxi (1978-1983)Benson (1979-1986)It's a Living (1980-1982)Too Close for Comfort (1980-1983)Bosom Buddies (1980-1982)Who's the Boss? (1984–1992)Mr. Belvedere (1985-1990)Growing Pains (1985-1992)Perfect Strangers (1986-1993)Head of the Class (1986-1991)Full House (1987-1995)

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The Wonder Years (1988-1993)Roseanne (1988–1997)Family Matters (1989-1998; moved to CBS for final season)Coach (1989-1997)Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989-1993)Dinosaurs (1991–1994)Step by Step (1991–1998; moved to CBS for final season)Home Improvement (1991-1999)Hangin' with Mr. Cooper (1992-1997)Boy Meets World (1993–2000)Grace Under Fire (1993-1998)Ellen (1994-1998)The Drew Carey Show (1995-2004)Spin City (1996-2002)Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2000; moved to the WB)Dharma and Greg (1997–2002)Two Guys and a Girl (1998-2001)Sports Night (1998-2000)The Norm Show (1999-2001)

Madigan Men (2000-2001)Scrubs (2001-2008 on NBC; 2009-2010 on ABC)My Wife and Kids (2001–2005)According to Jim (2001-2009)8 Simple Rules (2002–2005)George Lopez (2002-2007)Less than Perfect (2002-2006)Hope and Faith (2003-2006)I'm with Her (2003-2004)Samantha Who? (2007-2009)The Middle (2009–present)Modern Family (2009–present)Last Man Standing (2011–present)The Goldbergs (2013-present)blackish (2014-present)Fresh Off the Boat (2015-present)

Detective, legal, and medical series

The Untouchables (1959–1963)

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The Streets of San Francisco (1972–1977)Starsky & Hutch (1975–1979)Hart to Hart (1979–1984)Matt Houston (1982–1985)Matlock (1992–1995; previously aired on NBC for six years)NYPD Blue (1993–2005)The Practice (1997-2004)Alias (2001–2006)Boston Legal (2004–2008)Grey's Anatomy (2005–present)Private Practice (2007–2013)Castle (2009–present)Scandal (2012–present)How to Get Away with Murder (2014–present)

Game shows

Let's Make a Deal (1963–1977; later returned in versions on NBC and on CBS)The Dating Game (1965–1973)The Newlywed Game (1966–1974; continued in various incarnations until 2013)Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1999–2002; later revived as a syndicated series)

Sports programming

Monday Night Football (1970–2005; after that, it was moved to ESPN)Saturday Night Football (2006–present)

Talk shows

Good Morning America (1975–present)The View (1997–present)Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003–present)

Variety shows

American Bandstand (1957–1987)

Others

Ripley's Believe It or Not! (1982–1986)Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (2003–present)Supernanny (2004–2012)Wipeout (2008–present)Shark Tank (2009-present)

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Early logo of the ABC televisionnetwork, used in 1946

The "ABC Circle" logo, designed byPaul Rand in 1962

AnalysisSince its inception, the American Broadcasting Company has evolved with the development of variousassets, many of which have been sold. The company originates from a radio network that went on the airin 1927, was forced by law to separate from its parent company, and then became an independentcompany. The new company diversified rapidly in the emerging medium of television.

Thanks to two mergers, one with United Paramount Theatres in 1950 and the other with Capital Cities inthe 1980s, the company diversified again. Under UPT, ABC was sister company to a large theater chain,while under Capital Cities, it was sister company to various publications. However, ABC was separatedfrom its theaters by the time of the Capital Cities merger, and from its sister newspapers during Disney'spurchase of the network in the 1990s.

The 1993 annual report indicates that 70% of the Capital Cities/ABC media group's revenue came fromthe sale of advertising space, and for the rest, the two main positions were subscriptions to pay-TVchannels and direct sales of books and journals.[139]

Visual identity

The ABC logo hasevolved many times sincethe network's creation inthe mid-1940s. The firstABC logo, introduced in1946, was a televisionscreen containing theletters T and V, with avertical ABC microphonein the center,[196]

referencing the network'sroots in radio. When theABC-UPT merger was

finalized in 1953, the network introduced a new logo based onthe FCC seal, with the letters "ABC" enclosed in a circular shieldsurmounted by the American eagle.[196] In 1957, just before thenetwork began its first broadcasts in color, the ABC logo featured a tiny abc in the center of a largelowercase letter a, which was called the "ABC Circle A".[196]

In 1962, graphic designer Paul Rand redesigned the ABC logo into its best-known form, with the letters"abc" enclosed in a single black circle. The letters are strongly reminiscent of the Bauhaus typefacedesigned by Herbert Bayer in the 1920s,[197] but also share similarities with several other fonts, such asITC Avant Garde and Horatio. The logo's simplicity made it easier to redesign and duplicate, whichconferred a benefit for ABC (mostly before the advent of computer graphics).

The 1970s and 1980s saw the emergence of many versions of the logo based mainly on special lightingeffects then under development: white, blue, pink, or rainbow neon; glittering dotted lines; etc. Amongthe "ABC Circle" logo's many variants was a 1977 version that featured a bubble on a black background

Rising Star (2014-present)

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representing the circle with glossy gold letters, and as such, was the first ABC identification card to havea three-dimensional appearance.[196]

In 1983, for the fortieth anniversary of the network's founding, the logo appeared in a gold CGI versionon a blue background, accompanied by the script slogan "That Special Feeling".[196] Ten years later,with ABC's acquisition by Disney only a few years away, the "ABC Circle" logo returned to its classicwhite-on-black color scheme, but with gloss effects on both the circle and the letters, and a bronzeborder surrounding the circle.[196]

In 1997, the network began using a minimalist identification card featuring a small black-and-whiteABC Circle logo on a yellow background.[196] A new four-note theme tune was introduced alongside thepackage, creating a sound signature on par with the NBC chimes, CBS's three-note sound mark, and theFox Fanfare was introduced at the same time, and has been updated with every television seasonthereafter (though variants of the four-note signature used since the 1997-98 season remain in use duringthe production company cards that follow the closing credits of most programs).

In 2000, ABC launched a web-based promotional campaign focused around its circle logo, also called"the dot", where comic book character Little Dot prompted visitors to "download the dot", a programwhich would cause the ABC logo to fly around the screen and settle in the bottom-right corner.[198] Thenetwork hired the Troika Design Group to design and produce its 2001–02 identity, which continuedusing the black-and-yellow coloring of the logo and featured dots and stripes in various promotional andidentification spots.[199]

On June 16, 2007, ABC began to phase in a new imaging campaign for the upcoming season, "StartHere". Also developed by Troika, the on-air design was intended to emphasize the availability of ABCcontent across multiple platforms (in particular, using a system of icons representing different devices,such as television, computers, and mobile devices), and "simplify and bring a lot more consistency andcontinuity to the visual representation of ABC." The ABC logo was also significantly redesigned as partof the transition, featuring a glassier appearance; on-air, the logo was accompanied by animated watereffects and ribbon effects. Red ribbons were used to represent the entertainment division, while blueribbons were used for ABC News.[158][200]

In 2013, a new ABC logo was introduced for promotions for the 2013–14 season during the network'supfront presentation on May 14, 2013, and officially introduced on-air on June 17, 2013 (although someaffiliates implemented the new design prior to then), as part of an overhaul of ABC's identity by thedesign agency LoyalKaspar. The new logo carries a simpler gloss design than the previous logo, andcontains lettering closer resembling Paul Rand's original version of the circle logo. The logo is used ingold, steel blue, dark gray, and red color schemes on-air. The gold version is primarily used onentertainment-oriented outlets (such as ABC.com, Watch ABC, and by ABC Studios) and the on-screenbug; blue and dark grey versions are used primarily by ABC News; the red version is used for ESPN onABC, while all four colors are used selectively in advertising and by affiliates. A new custom typeface,"ABC Modern", was also created for use in advertising and other promotional materials.[201]

Place in American media

ABC has always been part of the "Big Three television networks" of the United States, alongside CBSand NBC. At the beginning of the television network's existence, there was a fourth network, DuMont,but that disappeared ten years into ABC's history, after which ABC became the "little third network".[50]

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In terms of programming, ABC found itself in the position of an outsider in the 1950s, counter-programming against its competitors, and managed to launch a number of detective shows andwesterns.[202] The 1960s were marked by family-oriented series in the vein of this counter-programming, but a slow transition to color.[69]

The 1970s marked a turning point for ABC, as it became first in the ratings with such shows as MondayNight Football, ABC Movie of the Week, and the miniseries Roots.[203]

In 1980, 90% of viewers watched the prime-time shows on the three major networks.[204] In 1993, ABCrepresented 23.63% of American households, just below the limit of 25% imposed by the FCC.[139] In2005, on the same slot, the Big Three's season-ending average audience share represented only 32% ofAmerican households, in competition with public television, satellite, and cable.[204]

International development

The first attempts to internationalize the ABC Television Network date from the 1950s, after LeonardGoldenson, following the United Paramount Theatres model, tried to use on ABC the same strategies hehad made in expanding UPT's theater operation to the international market.[205] Goldenson said thatABC's first international activity was broadcasting the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953;CBS and NBC were unable to cover the coronation live due to technical problems and flight delays,respectively.[206] NBC's plane landed in Latin America, leading ABC to learn of subsidiaries in thatregion.[206] ABC then invested in Latin America, reaching 51% of a network covering CentralAmerica.[207] Goldenson also cited interest in Japan in the early 1950s[42] and in Beirut in the mid-1960s.[208]

The idea was to create a network of wholly and partially owned channels, and affiliates to rebroadcastthe network's programs. In 1959, this rerun activity was completed with program syndication, with ABCFilms selling programs to networks not owned by ABC.[209] The arrival of satellite television ended theneed for ABC to hold interests in other countries;[109] thus, all the network's international interests weresold in the 1970s.[67]

A second period of international expansion is linked to that of the ESPN network in the 1990s, andpolicies enacted in the 2000s by Disney Media Networks. In contrast to Disney's other channels, ABC isbroadcast in the United States, although the network's programming is syndicated in many countries.The policy regarding wholly owned international networks was revived in 2004 with the creation ofABC1 in the UK,[153] but due to poor viewership, the attempt to develop ABC International wasdiscontinued in 2007.[159]

Movies by ABC or its divisions

See also

ABC DaytimeESPN on ABCDisney–ABC Television Group

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ABC Owned Television StationsLitton's Weekend AdventureList of United States over-the-air television networks

ReferencesFootnotes

1. ^ a b c d Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 96.

2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Sterling 2004, p. 291.

3. ^ a b Cox 2009, p. 91.

4. ^ a b c d Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 97.5. ^ Barnouw 1968, p. 190.6. ^ "Golden Age of Radio Spotlight on Networks - National Broadcasting Company (NBC)"

(http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/LookAround/la_networkspot_nbc.htm). The Digital Deli Online(http://www.digitaldeliftp.com/home.html). Retrieved May 30, 2011.

7. ^ Cox 2009, p. 93.8. ^ The Billboard, March 17, 1945, p. 6.9. ^ "Hall of Fame 1986 - Don Searle" (http://www.ne-ba.org/about_us-hall_of_fame.asp?id=54). Nebraska

Broadcasters Association. Retrieved May 30, 2011.10. ^ Sterling 2004, p. 88.

11. ^ a b c Sterling 2004, p. 89.

12. ^ a b Sterling 2004, p. 292.

13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 104.

14. ^ a b c Murray 1997, p. 6.

15. ^ a b c Cox 2009, p. 98.16. ^ "ABC TV Network" (http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1948/1948-04-19-BC.pdf).

Broadcasting. April 19, 1948. Retrieved 26 November 2014.17. ^ The Billboard, August 21, 1948, p. 3.18. ^ The Billboard, September 27, 1952, p. 5.19. ^ Kiska 2009, p. 22.

20. ^ a b "Encyclopedia of Television - "Freeze" of 1948" (http://www.museum.tv/eotv/freezeof1.htm). Museumof Broadcast Communications. Retrieved May 30, 2011.

21. ^ Lasar 2000, p. 78.22. ^ The Billboard, April 23, 1949, p. 120.23. ^ The Billboard, May 14, 1949, p. 13.24. ^ The Billboard, July 30, 1949, p.8.25. ^ The Billboard, September 16, 1950, p. 5.

26. ^ a b Macdonald, J. Fred. "One Nation Under Television: The Rise and Decline of Network TV"(http://jfredmacdonald.com/onutv/freeze.htm). Retrieved November 16, 2013.

27. ^ Legrand, Lherminier & Mannoni 1992, p. 422.28. ^ Weinstein 2006, p. 28.

29. ^ a b Quinlan 1979, p. 17.

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30. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 110.

31. ^ a b c Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 99.

32. ^ a b c d Sterling 2004, p. 90.33. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 100.

34. ^ a b Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 103.

35. ^ a b Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 115.36. ^ Joseph A. Loftus (February 10, 1953). "PARAMOUNT, A. B. C. CLEARED TO MERGE; F. C. C. Votes,

5-2, to Approve 25-Million Stock Switch to Strengthen Network Paramount Theatres and A. B. C. Win-F. C.C. Clearance to Merge" (http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00B11F7355E177B93C2A81789D85F478585F9&scp=6&sq=United+Paramount+Theatres&st=p). TheNew York Times. Retrieved May 30, 2011.

37. ^ Kahn 2006, p. 14.38. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 102.39. ^ Howard 1979, p. 141.40. ^ Cox 2009, p. 94.

41. ^ a b c Long 1979, p. 110.

42. ^ a b Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 221.

43. ^ a b c Baughman & Atack 1983, p. 58.44. ^ Boddy 1992, pp. 147-148.45. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 121–122.

46. ^ a b c d e f g Smith 1998, p. 24.

47. ^ a b c d Walt Disney Company (February 17, 1998), Disney Factbook 1997 - Disney Through the Decades,p. 2

48. ^ a b c Smith 1998, p. 152.49. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, pp. 123–124.

50. ^ a b Smith 1998, p. 151.51. ^ Smith 1998, p. 132.52. ^ Smith 1998, p. 363.53. ^ Boddy 1992, pp. 160.54. ^ The Billboard, April 3, 1954, p. 10.55. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 116.56. ^ Kahn 2006, p. 284.57. ^ Wittebols 2004, p. 22.58. ^ Boddy 1992, p. 147.

59. ^ a b Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, pp. 161–163.60. ^ Baughman & Atack 1983, p. 59.

61. ^ a b Cotter 1997, p. 66.

62. ^ a b Baughman & Atack 1983, p. 63.

63. ^ a b Baughman & Atack 1983, p. 60.64. ^ Baughman & Atack 1983, pp. 63-64.65. ^ Childers 2008, p. 8.66. ^ The Billboard, May 9, 1960, p. 11.

67. ^ a b c d Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 232.

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67. ^ a b c d Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 232.

68. ^ a b c Stabile & Harrison 2003, p. 76.

69. ^ a b c d Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 251.70. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 423.71. ^ Sherer, Ed (October 31, 1962). "ABC-Paramount new owners of Springs as final papers signed"

(http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k3ZPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GAUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1991%2C6109159). Ocala Star-Banner. RetrievedMarch 26, 2013.

72. ^ a b Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 195.73. ^ Meserole, Mike (December 6, 2002). "Arledge Created Monday Night Football"

(http://espn.go.com/classic/obit/arledgeobit.html). ESPN Classic. Retrieved May 30, 2011.74. ^ Ford 2004, p. 466.75. ^ Ford 2004, p. 468.76. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 182.

77. ^ a b c d Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 252.78. ^ "September 23, 1962 in History"

(http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1962/september_23_1962_125882.html). BrainyHistory.com.Retrieved May 30, 2011.

79. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 369.80. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 241.81. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 243.82. ^ "Roone Arledge at the Encyclopedia of Television" (http://www.museum.tv/eotv/arledgeroon.htm).

Museum of Broadcast Communications. Retrieved May 30, 2011.83. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 250.84. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 258.

85. ^ a b Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 260.86. ^ Kahn, p. 284.87. ^ The Billboard, June 18, 1966, p. 3.88. ^ Higgins 2006, p. 186.89. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, pp. 243-244.

90. ^ a b The Billboard, October 24, 1964, p. 20.

91. ^ a b Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 262.92. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 261.93. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 263.94. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 247.95. ^ Cox 2009, pp. 98–99.96. ^ Cox 2009, pp. 98-99.97. ^ Broadcasting 76. Cahners Publishing Company. 1969. p. 74.98. ^ Harmetz, Aljean (November 15, 1985). "Abc And Cbs Give Up On The Movie Business"

(http://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/15/movies/abc-and-cbs-give-up-on-the-movie-business.html). The NewYork Times.

99. ^ a b Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 424.100. ^ The Billboard, July 13, 1968, p. 23.101. ^ Walker 2004, pp. 106–107.

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101. ^ Walker 2004, pp. 106–107.

102. ^ a b The Billboard, November 30, 1968, pp. 55-56.103. ^ The Billboard, August 8, 1970, p. 26.104. ^ Karol 2008, p. 3.105. ^ Holt & Perren 2009, pp. 75–76.106. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 210.107. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 211.108. ^ Croteau & Hoynes 2006, p. 85.

109. ^ a b c d e f Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 231.

110. ^ a b Brown 1977, p. 300.111. ^ "History of Tobacco Regulation" (http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/LIBRARY/studies/nc/nc2b.htm).

DrugLibrary.org. Retrieved November 13, 2013.

112. ^ a b c Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 347.113. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 348.114. ^ Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 349.115. ^ Legrand, Lherminier & Mannoni 1992, p. 692.116. ^ Vane & Gross 1994, p. 181.

117. ^ a b c Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 353.

118. ^ a b c Goldenson & Wolf 1991–1993, p. 391.119. ^ "Top 100 Rated TV Shows Of All Time, TV By the Numbers"

(http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/03/21/top-100-rated-tv-shows-of-all-time/14922). Tvbythenumbers.com.Retrieved 2012-11-17.

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