Media Networks
Broadcasting

While ABC continues to deliver content that is in demand, success in the digital, consumerdriven era also requires making that content available on demand so viewers can get it anytime, anywhere and any way they want.

In October 2005, ABC (along with Disney Channel) became the first network to put television content online with the groundbreaking deal to sell episodes via Apple’s iTunes Music Store. In the first year, more than 12.8 million episodes of Disney-ABC shows were sold. More than 50 of the group’s television series are now available on iTunes.

In May 2006, the network continued to pioneer new platforms with the launch of its own broadband player on ABC.com. During the 60-day pilot of the player, ABC.com had great success with its ad-supported video streaming of ABC shows including Lost and Desperate Housewives. The results indicated a significant market for this service and also suggested that it is additive to television watching.

ABC launched a permanent version of the player on September 22, with strong advertiser support. The site streamed six shows for the fall season, including returning hits Lost, Desperate Housewives and Grey’s Anatomy as well as new shows Ugly Betty, Six Degrees and The Nine. Viewer demand for these shows generated almost 19 million requests for episodes during the first six weeks alone.

The network’s affiliates, including ABC’s owned stations, participate in the ABC.com broadband player through advertising sales, branding opportunities andWeb site links. The ABC Owned Television Stations Group includes 10 stations serving major markets: WABC-TV in New York, KABC-TV in Los Angeles, WLS-TV in Chicago, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, KGO-TV in San Francisco, KTRK-TV in Houston, WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham, KFSN-TV in Fresno, WJRT-TV in Flint and WTVG-TV in Toledo. The ABCowned stations average more than 1,600 hours of news per year in their respective markets, and participate in community outreach projects to support charitable causes. Eight of the 10 stations ranked number one in households from sign-on to sign-off on average for the major ratings sweeps, and all operate Internet platforms that collectively reach four million unique users each month. The stations recently introduced local digital weather channels, and also keep viewers updated on news, weather and realtime traffic via wireless phone service. The ABC.com opportunity adds to their efforts to create an array of new businesses that extend beyond their traditional broadcasting service.