The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American commercial broadcast television network that is a flagship property of Walt Disney Television, a subsidiary of the Disney Media Networks division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is headquartered in Burbank, California on Riverside Drive, directly across the street from Walt Disney Studios and adjacent to the Roy E. Disney Animation Building.
ABC was founded in 1943 as a radio network by Edward J. Noble, who purchased the assets of NBC Blue Network, which had been formed in 1927. ABC was initially known as the Blue Network and was one of two major radio networks in the United States at that time, along with NBC Red Network. In 1945, ABC began its transition into television broadcasting when it acquired several radio stations and launched its first television station in New York City.
ABC has since grown to become one of the largest broadcast networks in the United States with over 200 affiliated stations across the country. It is also one of only four major English-language broadcast networks currently operating in the United States (the others being CBS, Fox and NBC). ABC’s programming consists primarily of original series and made-for-TV movies as well as acquired programs from other networks such as Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox Television and Sony Pictures Television. It also airs news programs such as Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir and Nightline; sports programming such as Monday Night Football; reality shows such as Dancing with the Stars; game shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?; talk shows such as The View; soap operas such as General Hospital; and lifestyle programs such as The Chew.
In addition to its broadcast network operations, ABC also operates several cable channels including ABC Family (now Freeform), ESPN on ABC (formerly known as ABC Sports), SOAPnet (now defunct) and Fusion (a joint venture between ABC News and Univision). It also owns several radio stations throughout the United States under its Radio Disney brand.