With top shows like Dancing with the Stars, The Golden Bachelor, and live college football games each week, many want to know how to watch ABC without cable. The good news is there is no shortage of options.
Best Way To Watch ABC Live Right Now: You can live-stream ABC right now with a 5-day free trial to DIRECTV STREAM, a 7-day free trial to FuboTV, or a free trial to YouTube TV. You can also watch ABC by signing up for Hulu Live TV. The service is also available on Sling TV, if you live in certain parts of the country. All work on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, Android, and more. There is no long-term commitment, so you won’t be charged for your first month if you cancel before the free trial expires.
Watch Live ABC Free
Generally, if you live in a city or the suburbs, you can watch ABC over the air using something as simple as this $25 Flat TV antenna. The free return policy makes it no risk. If it doesn’t get the channels you want, you can return it for your money back.
You can see if you are close enough to the broadcast tower to use an antenna to watch ABC and other local broadcast networks by checking your zip code in this FCC reception map. If ABC is in the green on the map, then the Flat antenna should work. If the flat antenna doesn’t perform to your expectations, then check out the following instructional guides for more details on over-the-air TV.
- Learn How to Choose a TV Antenna
- Learn How to Use One Antenna for Multiple TVs
- Learn How to Ground a TV Antenna
- Learn how to Improve Antenna TV Reception
- Record from your Antenna with an Over the Air DVR
How To Live-Stream ABC
Below I’m going to cover the streaming services that offer a live broadcast of ABC. Broadcast stations like ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC are separated into 210 TV markets in the US. Each streaming service has to negotiate a deal with the station owners in each market to carry the channel.
To watch ABC, use the link in each section to subscribe to a service that offers ABC in your area, download the service streaming app to a streaming device like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, etc. and watch ABC through that service’s channel guide.
ABC on Sling TV
Sling TV streams ABC live with a monthly subscription price considerably lower than the competition at just $40 through Sling’s “Blue Plan.” However, Sling only provides ABC in 8 TV markets: Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, and San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose. Furthermore, Sling charges an additional $5 per month broadcast fee for Sling Blue if you live in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, or Philadelphia.
It will also may surprise you that Sling Blue provides the Disney-owned ABC network on it’s blue plan, but if you want the Disney-owned ESPN channels, you will need to add Sling Orange as well. Although Sling does offer both packages at the discounted rate of $55 per month. Sling offers new customers 50% off their first month of service. Please take a look at our review of Sling TV for more information on their streaming service.
ABC on DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM offers live ABC across the US in all its channel plans. The most affordable is the “Entertainment” package for $79.99 a month after a 5-day free trial, along with over 75 other cable TV and other broadcast channels. DIRECTV STREAM’s strength is not limited to the number of streams you can have running on one subscription. They will allow you to stream on unlimited devices on your home network, and up to three streams when you are away from home. You also get unlimited DVR storage and on-demand. DIRECTV STREAM works with Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, iOS, and Android devices. Take a look at our review of DIRECTV STREAM for more details.
How Much: $79.99 per month through its “Entertainment” package.
ABC On Hulu Live TV
Hulu not only offers its on-demand service but live-streaming as well. They offer ABC along with other local networks and other channels found on cable TV. Live ABC is available in most markets on Hulu plus Live TV. However, be sure to check Hulu’s Website for the latest channels in your area on this page: Hulu Live TV Channels by Zip code.
A Subscription to Hulu + Live TV includes:
- Unlimited cloud DVR storage. (Recordings save for 9 months)
- Watch on 2 screens at once. (Upgrades available)
- It comes with 6 customizable profiles
- Includes entire Hulu streaming library, Disney+, and ESPN+
If you don’t mind waiting a day to watch current ABC shows, you may be able to save some money. You can subscribe to just the Hulu on-demand service for just $7.99 per month after a 30-day free trial. While you can’t watch ABC live, several current ABC shows are available 1-day after they air ABC. For instance, right now, the following current seasons of these hit ABC shows are available:
- Dancing with the Stars
- The Golden Bachelor
- Shark Tank
- Bachelor In Paradise
- General Hospital
- Jimmy Kimmel Live
- and more
Hulu + Live TV is supported on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, iOS, Android, and more. You can read more about Hulu in our review of Hulu. You pay for Hulu month-to-month with no long-term contract so you can sign up to test the service without fear of a long-term commitment. You can sign up for Hulu Live TV using this link: Sign up for Hulu + Live TV.
How Much: The base package starts at $76.99 per month.
ABC on fuboTV
FuboTV has rapidly increased the number of locations where they stream the live local ABC network. Currently, FuboTV delivers ABC in 184 of 210 TV markets in the US. However, fuboTV covers the larger TV markets and streams live ABC in 97% of U.S. households.
You can check out FuboTV here. Here are some of fuboTV’s features:
- Over 100 channels are available in fuboTV’s channel lineup
- You can watch on three screens at the same time
- 250 hours of cloud DVR storage
- The FuboTV app is available on major platforms, including Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, Apple TV, and more.
For more information on FuboTV features, please see our Fubo TV review.
How Much: FuboTV costs $74.99.
ABC on YouTube TV
YouTube TV is another great option to watch ABC live. YouTube TV offers live ABC with its streaming service in all markets in the US. YouTube TV supports Android, iOS, Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more.
YouTube TV provides:
- ABC and over 70 other channels
- unlimited cloud DVR storage
- stream on three devices at once
- YouTube TV supports Roku, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, and more.
- Includes YouTube TV on-demand
- offers a 1-week free trial.
Check our review of YouTube TV for more details.
How Much: $72.99 per month.
ABC on Vidgo
Vidgo is a lesser-known streaming service, but does is part of its Core package, along with over 60 other channels. The service will let you stream prime-time ABC Shows when they air on ABC. They also will provide your local ABC channel in certain parts of the country. New customers can sign up for the Core Plan for $69.99 per month. We have the full details on features and device support in our guide to Vidgo’s live streaming service.
Watch on the ABC Go App
You can download the ABC GO app on various devices to watch live and On-Demand ABC. Current episodes of ABC shows are available free. A “lock” symbol identifies which episodes require you to link your participating TV provider account. However, Locked episodes for most shows will become available to watch without signing into your participating TV provider account 8 days after the episode first airs on TV.
The ABC Go app accepts Hulu, YouTube TV, FuboTV, and DIRECTV STREAM, and Sling TV as pay-TV providers credentials. Be aware that the ABC GO App will only stream live in participating markets. Check the ABC GO FAQ for more information.
Watch ABC on Roku
To watch ABC on Roku through a streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, etc., follow these instructions.
- Subscribe to a streaming service that carries ABC
- On your Roku Menu, navigate to “Search” and press “OK” on your remote
- Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
- Select the streaming service and press “OK.”
- Select “Add Channel” press “OK” on your remote. If the channel is already installed, “Go To Channel” will be an option.
- The App is now installed on your Roku. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. ABC will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.
If you do not subscribe to one of the streaming services that carry ABC, you can also download the ABC Go app to your Roku. This won’t be the same as having your local ABC channel, but you will at least have access to ABC TV shows. If you have a Roku TV, you can use the Roku Live TV feature and a TV antenna to watch ABC.
Watch ABC on Fire TV
To watch ABC on Fire TV through a streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, etc. follow these instructions.
- Subscribe to a streaming service that carries ABC
- On your Fire TV Home screen, click on the search icon in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
- Select the streaming service and press “OK.”
- Select “Download,” and the channel will install
- The App is now installed on your Fire TV. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. ABC will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.
If you do not subscribe to one of the streaming services that carry ABC, you can also download the ABC Go app to your Fire TV. This won’t be the same as having your local ABC channel, but you will at least have access to ABC TV shows.
Watch ABC on Apple TV
Follow these instructions to watch ABC on Apple TV through a streaming service like FuboTV, Hulu Live TV, DIRECTV STREAM, YouTube TV, etc.
- Subscribe to a streaming service that carries ABC
- Scroll right to the search icon in the upper-left corner of the screen
- Enter the name of the streaming service you subscribe to in the search bar
- Select the streaming service click the cloud icon, and the channel will install
- The App is now installed on your Apple TV. Open the app, and log in with the credentials you used to subscribe to the service. ABC will be a channel available through the app’s live TV guide.
If you do not subscribe to one of the streaming services that carry ABC, you can also download the ABC Go app to your Apple TV. This won’t be the same as having your local ABC channel, but you will at least have access to ABC TV shows.
