How to stream ABC without needing cable TV

Are you a cord-cutter looking for all your favorite live TV programming like the Disney-owned channel ABC on streaming services like Netflix and HBO Max? While you may find a few of your favorite shows there, the live channel won’t be available. You’ll need to look a bit further. So, don’t worry, you can still have live channels even without cable, you just need to seek out some more specialized services. Below, we walk you through how to stream ABC.

Stream ABC on the ABC app

The quickest and easiest way to stream ABC is with the ABC app, which gives you access to the live channel from any device.

Simply download the app and start streaming.

The big catch here is that you need to be a cable subscriber to use it. If that sounds counterintuitive, it’s not. Sometimes you’re away from home, or you have to compete for the TV in a crowded household. If you still want to watch your favorite programming, the app lets you do that. When you open it, simply put in your subscription info when prompted, and you’re all set.

You can have access to programming that’s eight days old or more in many cases without a cable subscription, but you won’t get the live channel.

Sign up for a live TV streaming service

If you don’t have a cable subscription and wish to watch ABC exclusively via streaming, that’s fine. You have options.

You can stream ABC exactly as you would on cable by subscribing to a live TV streaming service. Most major services include ABC, so you can watch the local news, sports, and entertainment in real-time, as they air. These include Hulu Plus Live TV, Fubo TV, DirecTV Stream, YouTube TV, and Vidgo.

Live TV streaming services effectively bridge the gap between cable and streaming for cord-cutters not quite ready to abandon their appointment viewing. Everything happens through your internet connection, but you still get access to your favorite channels.

A lot of streaming services, especially free ones like Pluto TV, offer “channels,” but these are usually specialty channels created by the streamers themselves and won’t give you access to cable channels like ABC.

Watch select programming on Disney Plus and Hulu

Now, the above explanations really only pertain to streaming ABC as a live TV channel.

If, instead, you came here looking for ways to stream a few of your favorite ABC shows like Abbott Elementary, The Rookie, and Grey’s Anatomy, or older titles like Alias and 8 Simple Rules, you don’t need live TV channels for that. Disney, which owns ABC, also owns streamers like Disney Plus and Hulu, which are both home to a few crossover titles.

Hulu carries most ABC titles, including Abbott Elementary, The Rookie, Grey’s Anatomy, Alias, My Wife and Kids, and more.

Over on Disney Plus, you can check out ABC shows like Blackish, 8 Simple Rules, Alias, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and more.

You won’t catch the local news or real-time ABC programming this way, but it’s one option.

Read more: How to stream FOX

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