ABC (American Broadcasting Company) is a popular award winning broadcasting company that houses one of the best programs in entertainment, news and sports. ABC has over 232 affiliated TV stations all around the United States with its main headquarters in Burbank, California. It is a subsidiary of Walt Disney Studios and operates both radio and television networks, with its services accessed in over a 100 million homes in the United States.
ABC is famous for programs like Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The View, Grey’s Anatomy, Good Morning America, and American Idol, and also broadcasts major sporting events, Oscars, American Music Awards, Emmys, and more.
For longtime users of cable TV connection, watch ABC live without cable for free might seem impossible. There are a lot of options when it comes to watching your favourite programs on ABC without a cable connection. You can watch ABC live through a TV antenna or by subscribing to streaming services like Hulu LiveTV, YouTube TV, Fubo TV, DirecTV Stream, and Vidgo TV. This article will access each option in detail in order to help you select which option is the best one for you.
How Can I Watch ABC Live Without A Cable Connection?
The number of people cutting the cord off their TVs have increased significantly over the years due to the introduction of cheaper and more convenient alternatives like streaming services and smart TVs. ABC is available online for live streaming on services like Vidgo TV, Hulu LiveTV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo TV, and YouTube TV. Offline streaming of ABC is also available for free through the use of a TV antenna that will connect to one of the many ABC affiliates across the United States.
There is also an ABC mobile application that you can access if you already have a subscription with a TV provider or streaming service that is supported by TV Everywhere.
How To Watch ABC Without A Cable Using An Antenna For Free?
ABC makes its broadcasts 100% free over the air (OTA) and you can access these broadcasts by making use of a TV antenna that will catch the network from one of the available ABC affiliates. Before setting up an antenna, it is advisable to first check if there is an ABC station nearby that you can connect to in order to ensure that you will be able to get ABC over the air.
Using an antenna is a very convenient option because you get to watch ABC offline and at no charges without a cable TV connection. Modern antennas have the ability to broadcast high quality antennas as long as you get a very good one. There is a wide selection of both outdoor and indoor antennas that are available for purchase. These include:
- Mohu-Curve-50 Amplified Designer Edition (indoor antenna).
- ClearStream 2MAX-HDTV Antenna (indoor antenna).
- RCA Compact Outdoor Yagi HDTV Antenna (outdoor antenna).
- Channel Master CM-4228HD High VHF/UHF Antenna (outdoor antenna).
How To Watch ABC Without A Cable Connection Using Streaming Services?
Live TV streaming services have really given us a cheaper and easier alternative to traditional cable TV connection. With a service that allows you to take your favorite channels everywhere with you and on every screen, Live TV streaming services have changed the game for TV experience. You can watch ABC via these Live TV services which include DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, Vidgo TV, Fubo TV, and YouTube TV. These streaming services will be explained in detail below, so keep reading to find the service that will be best for you.
1) ABC on Fubo TV
Fubo TV was launched in 2015 and has since expanded its reach across the United States because of the excellent services it provides through its Fubo streaming packages. Fubo TV offers up to 155 channels including ABC and the number of channels you can get depends on the package you subscribe to. The packages on Fubo TV range from Fubo Starter at $64.99, Fubo Pro at $69.99, to Fubo Elite at $79.99 with a wide range of popular channels to choose from. It is important to note that ABC is available on all the Fubo packages.
You can watch ABC on this service by subscribing to the service by visiting the website at Fubo.tv and following the prompts to set up an account and subscribe to your desired package.
- No long term contract subscription.
- Excellent user interface.
- Multiple packages to choose from.
- Pricier than most streaming services.
- Not supported on game consoles.
2) YouTube TV
YouTube TV could be the most versatile live streaming service in the market with an impressive channel lineup that features content from every genre. With YouTube TV, you get an unlimited Cloud DVR Storage that requires no extra fees and has no limit to simultaneous recordings of content. You will also get multiple streams option on different accounts with each account having access to its personal on-demand library. This is the best cable TV service you can get without a cable connection.
You can watch up to 85+ channels including ABC at $65.00 per month with a two weeks free trial period and a $50 discount for the first month of subscription. YouTube TV is supported on almost all devices including your iOS and Android devices, Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, and Roku.
You can access this streaming service by signing up on YouTube TV via the online platform at tv.youtube.com.
- Offers unlimited Cloud DVR Storage.
- Multiple streams on different accounts.
- Premium channels available as add-ons.
- Most regional sports channels not available.
- Interface issues on some devices.
3) ABC on DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream, previously known as AT&T TV, gives its subscribers 4 packages to choose from, with the most expensive package offering more than 130 channels. You can watch ABC even on the cheapest DirecTV package which is called DirecTV Entertainment for $69.99 per month. A free trial for 5 days is given to new subscribers with no obligations.
You have the option to cancel the subscription before the trial ends and you will not be charged any fee. You can access DirecTV Stream on all your Android and iOS devices, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and other Smart TVs.
You can subscribe to this service by downloading the DirecTV Stream app or through the online website at stream.directv.com and going through the setup steps required before purchasing the package that best suits you.
- Supports up to 20 different simultaneous streams.
- Offers multiple package options.
- Parental control option.
- Very expensive packages.
- Complicated user interface.
- Limited DVR storage capacity.
4) ABC on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is one of the best streaming services that you can use to access ABC. Hulu offers just a single all-inclusive package that provides its subscribers up to 85+ live channels including ABC and a broad on-demand library with 50 hours of Cloud DVR Storage that can be upgraded to 200 hours.
This package comes at a price of $69.99 per month with a 7 days free trial period for new subscribers. With Hulu LiveTV, there’s a lot of options to choose from, with content that covers entertainment, news coverage, kids shows, sports, and cinema. You can access all these on any of your devices that may include Android or iOS mobile devices, select Smart TVs, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, PlayStation, and Amazon Fire TV.
Subscribing to Hulu LiveTV is easy and can be done by downloading the app on any compatible device or by signing up through the online website at hulu.com/live-tv.
- Unlimited simultaneous streams available.
- Basic and user-friendly interface.
- Supported on most devices including gaming consoles.
- Lacks most sports channels.
- Fewer channels than competitors.
5) ABC on Vidgo TV
Vidgo is the newest live TV streaming service in the market with a skinny package that offers its customers up to 85 to 100+ channels including ABC for the reasonable price of $55.00 to $79.95 per month. Vidgo is definitely worthy of consideration if you are looking for a cheap service that covers a lot of genres including entertainment, news, Spanish channels and sports.
The downside of Vidgo is that you do not get add-ons, an on-demand library or Cloud DVR Storage. Vidgo offers a one week free trial to customers that would like to check out the services risk free before commencing a payment cycle. Vidgo can be accessed on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.
You can watch ABC on Vidgo TV by subscription to one of the packages which include Vidgo Plus at $55.00 for 85+ channels and Vidgo Premium at $79.95 for 100+ channels.
- Supports up to three simultaneous streams without condition.
- Includes complete college football content.
- Supported on TV Everywhere.
- Lacks an on-demand library.
- No Cloud DVR Storage option.
- Unfriendly user interface.
6) ABC on ABC Go App
ABC has a mobile application that is available for download on both Android and iOS devices. This application supports live streaming of ABC programs with an on-demand feature for ABC content. There are some contents that are free on the app, but to get an all-inclusive experience, you will be required to input TV provider details or credentials of compatible pay-TV streaming services like Vidgo, DirecTV Stream, Hulu Live TV, Fubo TV, and YouTube TV.
How To Watch ABC Online Outside Of US?
ABC is easily available on a lot of platforms like Live TV streaming services, but these services are mostly US-exclusive and cannot be viewed directly from other parts of the world due to licensing rights. You can, however, bypass these restrictions by making use of a VPN that will change your IP address and trick the servers into thinking you are in the United States.
This will help make blocked contents available to you irrespective of where you are in the world. Some legit VPN services you can use include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshack and WindScribe.
Can I Access the ABC Network on Sling TV?
Sling TV does not offer local TV networks like ABC on its packages, but you can access your local ABC channel live on Sling through a TV antenna. You can also watch ABC shows that have been aired recently on Sling TV on demand library.
What are some Good ABC Shows that I Can Watch?
ABC has a wide selection of excellent shows and programs that include Grey’s Anatomy, Shark Tank, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Black-ish, Dancing with the Stars, The Good Doctor, The Bachelorette, The Goldbergs, and some top-notch award shows like The Oscars, American Music Awards (AMA), and Country Music Awards (CMA).
What is the Cheapest Way to Watch ABC without a Cable TV Connection?
The simplest and cheapest way to watch your local ABC network without needing a cable TV connection is by installing an antenna that can connect to a nearby ABC affiliate. The broadcast is free of charge and requires only an antenna that you can purchase at a cost-effective price.
Can I Stream ABC on Roku and Amazon Fire TV?
Yes. A lot of streaming services like Hulu Live TV, Fubo TV, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream are accessible on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. All you have to do is search and install the streaming services you are subscribed to and you can enjoy ABC on the devices.
Conclusion
ABC is among the most watched TV networks in the United States and most people hold on to their cable TV connection specifically for this channel. With the high cost of cable TV connection and the hassle involved in setting it up, a lot of other options are available for streaming ABC. These options include using an antenna or subscribing to pay-TV streaming services like Hulu Live TV, Vidgo TV, Fubo TV, YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream. All these options are much cheaper and more convenient than a cable TV connection.