I’m going to share how to watch ABC without a cable subscription. All you need is an internet connection and a supported device, such as a smart TV or any compatible streaming device. Let me explain all the important details.

In a hurry? Want access to your local ABC channel now, without reading too much? These services all provide cheaper access than the average cable subscription:

Fubo: Offers something for everyone with 150+ channels. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.
DIRECTV STREAM: Switch easily from cable with four packages starting at $86.99/month. A 5-day free trial is now available for DIRECTV STREAM.
Hulu + Live TV: A total entertainment streaming service with 95+ live TV channels in addition to the Hulu on-demand library, Disney+, and ESPN+. Try the Hulu Live free 3-day trial.

Table Of Contents

1 How to Watch ABC Live Without Cable TV
2 Get ABC With Streaming Services
3 Our Choice
4 FAQs

How to Watch ABC Live Without Cable TV

ABC television network is home to numerous award-winning entertainment, sports, and news shows. It was established in 1948 and has been a leader in broadcast television since then.

ABC is an over-the-air network. This means it is distributed through local affiliate channels that produce their own content as well as airing ABC-provided shows and events.

So, you will get local content like afternoon talk shows and local news programs. You will also get network TV shows like ABC World News Tonight and The Bachelorette.

Ways to Get ABC

The cheapest way to get ABC is to set up an antenna and watch it for free over the air (OTA). This will work everywhere except for very remote areas and places where there isn’t an ABC affiliate.

It is probably easier to get ABC through a streaming service — especially if you need one anyway for your overall channel selection. Most bigger, full cable replacement services provide ABC in their channel lineups.

These are pretty much the only options open to you if you want to get rid of your cable/satellite bill. There is, however, a hybrid approach where you get some channels via streaming and others with an antenna.

Get ABC With Streaming Services

There are plenty of streaming services available, but not all of them may have ABC. Here’s a list of those that do.

Fubo running on an Android phone.

All these services (other than Sling TV) include an unlimited cloud DVR. Sling TV provides 50 hours of storage. They also all allow you to stream on multiple devices at the same time.

All of them support most major smart TVs and TV devices, including smart TVs (eg, Android and Samsung), plug-in devices (eg, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, and Roku), and mobile devices from iOS and Android. Many work on gaming consoles too (eg, Xbox and PlayStation).

Our Choice

ABC is a great channel to catch up on the news, sports, entertainment, award shows, and so much more.

Fubo is my recommended choice to watch ABC. Fubo allows you to try out its service with a free trial.

FAQs

Can I access the ABC website and app if I’m outside the US?

You cannot access abc.com or the ABC app if you’re not physically present inside the US or its territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Island, and American Samoa. You may still be able to watch ABC content (but not live streams) from different providers.

How can I watch ABC if I don’t have a TV provider for it?

Unless you live in the market of an ABC affiliate, you can’t get access to its live feed. However, you do have options. One is that ABC provides access to many of its shows on its website 8 days after they air. You can also find shows through on-demand services like Hulu.

When it comes to ABC Sports, you can watch virtually every event live via ESPN3. You can watch it via the ESPN app as long as you have a TV provider that includes ESPN. It is simpler to sign up with Sling TV, which provides ESPN3 in its Sling Orange plan.

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Frank Moraes

I am a Senior Content Editor at Hotdog.com, specializing in sports streaming and regional programming issues. With a PhD in Atmospheric Physics from the Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and extensive experience in remote sensing technology, including early video streaming, I bring a unique technical perspective to the streaming industry.

My expertise in sports coverage, particularly for out-of-market games and regional sports networks, stems from years of hands-on experience as an early adopter of streaming services and my work addressing fans' viewing challenges. As a longtime cord-cutter and subscriber to multiple streaming platforms, I combine my technical knowledge with practical user experience, making me a leading expert in the field of sports streaming and entertainment technology.