ABC is home to news shows, day and nighttime talk shows, holiday specials, and TV staples. For decades, viewers have felt tied to expensive and restrictive cable packages for fear of losing access to cutting-edge programming like ABC; however, that time is over.
We have good news for cord-cutters — you can enjoy all your favorite ABC shows without a cable subscription. Skinny bundle streaming services will be the solution for most viewers. Various streaming services offer ABC as a channel option you can include in your subscription. If you're lucky and live in an area with local coverage, you may also be able to access ABC for free with over-the-air (OTA) TV. This guide will cover all of the different options for watching ABC without cable.
How to Watch ABC Online Without Cable
Iconic programming is ABC’s forte — with shows like “Boston Legal,” “Ugly Betty,” “Shark Tank,” “Dancing with the Stars,” and “Abbott Elementary” being just a few humble name-drops from this TV giant. It’s a network committed to classic TV formatting, with new shows dropping each viewing season alongside fresh seasons of popular favorites. For this season’s offering of popular sitcoms, dramas, action, and news, there’s no better place than ABC.
The two main ways to watch ABC without cable are skinny bundle streaming services and free OTA TV. Skinny bundle streaming services like Hulu + Live TV and fuboTV offer access to major networks as part of their channel offerings; you can add these to your subscription and only be charged for what you watch.
Free OTA TV is a low-cost option for accessing networks that are publicly available through local broadcast stations. If you live in a region where ABC is covered by your local broadcast, you can probably access it for free OTA with an appropriate HD antenna.
Here are all the options that allow you to watch ABC without cable:
Can I Watch ABC on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or Chromecast?
Many viewers are always watching their favorite streaming services on computers and smartphones, but your favorite content doesn’t have to be limited to one or two devices. The streaming services in the list above can also be connected to a smart TV or a streaming device like Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, or Chromecast. This will allow you to watch your favorite ABC shows on your main screen TV and on your portable devices anywhere you want.
More to Love for ABC Fans
ABC isn’t the only OG when it comes to classic TV programming. As one of the Big Four major American television networks, ABC is frequently named alongside FOX, CBS, and NBC. These staple networks can be found on various streaming services and often for free OTA with an HD antenna.
For more info on how to watch the other Big Four networks, check out our watch guides. How to Watch NBC Without Cable will help you access shows like “Dateline” and “Saturday Night Live.” For CBS classics like “Big Brother” and “60 Minutes,” take a look at How to Watch CBS Without Cable. Our How to Watch FOX Without Cable guide will hook you up with favorites like “The Masked Singer” and “The Simpsons.”
For an overview of how to watch all of your favorite programming without a cable subscription, read our guide on How to Watch TV Without Cable.
Thanks, Stephen. Do you happen to know how I can get Cozi TV? I have OTA but Cozi TV doesn’t come in anymore. I live just southwest of Baltimore.
So disgusted with DirecTV Now. One of the few shows I enjoy, Bachelorette, for the third time this season I can’t watch ABC. It says, “Sorry, select something else to watch, we’re having problems.” This is a disgrace. Don’t buy DirecTV Now. You can never count on it. It went out during the Superbowl!
So you can watch ABC without cable, but it still costs you. And depending on what you want to watch, it could be as much as cable TV. I have a Roku device, but it’s basically worthless unless you have a TV provider. Each of the major networks require you to have a TV provider in order to use their app. No you don’t you say? Well OK, if you want to pay Hulu, DirecTV Now, Sling TV, etc., then what’s the difference? To watch live TV (eg., NFL), then you have to pay for the NFL package or pay for 2 or 3 other services to get everything that free to air provides (ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox). By the time you pay for internet services plus one or even 2 of the other “TV” services, you might as well get cable TV with a decent schedule and a clear picture (and all sports and many movies… all in HD, too). I purchased a digital antenna and I get a few HD channels, but nothing like when I had cable and it’s difficult to tell what’s coming on and when. So I’m not buying this cut the cord or watch ABC without cable “stuff”… and I mean that literally. I’m not paying. I’m certainly not paying the astronomical prices for cable TV or for any of these other “cut the cord” services. So don’t be fooled by these “without cable” stories like it’s some great deal. Free to air is the ONLY way to truly “cut the cord,” but it will never be like cable TV.
I completely agree with you. We tried to cut the cord with our ROKU but you have to have a service provider to use the major network apps to watch local news. I don’t have a computer set up to the TV. So either I pay Direct TV, and get all I want plus a DVR or I pay for streaming services. There is no such thing as cutting the cord anymore. You are going to pay one way or another.
Locast was great for free local channels. The big wigs have been fighting in court to get rid of them for yrs since they only asked for a $5 donation (which wasn’t necessary to get streaming). Unfortunately they won and locast had to shut down. We should fight this since Locast was totally legal, they just cut into the profits of larger streaming channels.
I agree with you and Ken. The only thing I can think of is the the major networks go thru the air on affiliate stations who operate under revenue from local ads-so free. Some of which are national ads. So why cannot we watch for free with all national ads via our tablet or computer? I have had cable and satellite TV which both politely suck-and the major networks have Ads on those providers. So we boycott all those pay services-use over the air and watch a lot of FREE movies.
I get ABC free in HD with a small antenna. Great quality.
how does it work?
I don’t have cable and bought a smart tv and hd antenna. I also have a converter box from old analog tv
I have an HD antenna and a Roku. I pay $12.99 total a month for a package of Netflix, Hulu, ESPN. I can watch ABC, NBC, CBS, all my local channels and pretty much everything I want. A lot cheaper than any cable service. The have no problems and feel I got a good thing going!
Who are you paying the $12.99 to exactly???
You are absolutely correct! I do not get ABC with an antenna! Nor do I get CW and WOR.
Actually Paramount+ (CBS) and Peacock (NBC) both stream live local tv. In LA its 2 and 4. Both apps have a subscription of under $10. So they’re affordable. It doesn’t make any sense why ABC doesn’t add local network to their Disney+ app. It’s so stupid and counterintuitive to force cord cutters to subscribe to a TV provider. And what makes ABC so special that they force you into really expensive services. They really annoy me.
Yes. We have to pay for channels because an antenna doesn’t work! There use to be a free app locast that showed antenna channels over the app instead of unreliable airwaves.
If you enjoy watching a variety of good shows as well as you are a foe hard sports fan, cutting the cord will not be and option for you unless your willing to pay just as much as you do for cable. Plus just trying to get what you can is the most ridiculous task you will encounter. Internet Bill 50.00. Subscription to direct tv now, 45.00. And still can’t watch abc, or some sports. I’ve been with every cable company there is. Things are awesome until your promotion is up and then your bill more than doubled. And don’t let them say oh no just get another promotion, nope ?? that doesn’t work either , they say that’s for new customers or your just plain out not eligible. The cable world is like doctors. If you gotta have them then your gonna pay out the *** for it. ??♀️
I do not have cable I do have Hulu live but ABC at least in my area is not associated with Hulu. Have the firestick but to get ABC the once my cable provider. I don’t know any other way to get a ABC. HELP
I have firestick. I pay to get ABC on Hulu.All of a sudden while watching ABC live for just a couple minutes it cuts out. What can I do?
Like many others, I cannot get ABC with my Roku unless I have a cable TV provider in my area. I also cannot pick them up on my antenna though I get CBS, NBC and PBS perfectly well that way.
Don’t ABC advertisers realize that their ads on ABC do not reach the full potential audience? What does ABC have to gain from this?
We subscribe to DISH satellite service. Right now they are in “negotiations” with our ABC provider, so we are not getting ABC. The last time this happened with another network, they sent us an antenna, but by the time we got it that channel was back. We tried it this time and the ONLY local channel the antenna doesn’t pick up is, of course, ABC! We got a trial subscription to HULU and have watched the ABC shows we like, but our free subscription is almost up. As others have said above, in order to watch using the apps, you need to be paying for a provider and right now, our DISH isn’t providing access to the ABC app. My opinion is they’ve got you no matter what, you pay one way or another and it is only going to get worse as the big networks are now charging monthly for “all access.”
Have you tried Locast.org?
This is excellent, and works! Thank you!
I had this and have been using it so much. But they just suspended service. I’m so sad
Locast was awesome. I am sad, too
Ridiculous they had to cancel. Judge said people can use antenna but that’s unreliable and doesn’t work.
We’re struggling to get ABC live. It’s the only local channel we can’t get. WTH! Why are the others ok to let us stream them. ABC is shooting themselves in the foot because soon the only people watching ABC are those with cable. And now people don’t want to pay the ridiculous cable prices!
I have Dish cable service and inquired if the local channel package could be purchased without cable and the answer is no. I only watch programs on ABC and feel that it is an injustice to all on limited incomes to be forced to pay for channels never watched. I have Amazon Prime only cause I utilize all services included. I also have Disney+ and Netflix for movies and for my grandsons to watch. The Flex package with 60 channels is still over $ 50.00 a month with an additional local channel package. I’m at the point that I no longer care if I have cable or not. Maybe if everyone boycotts ABC, CBS, NBC, etc. and doesn’t subscribe to their services, they will reconsider their available options. I would gladly pay for just their service at a reasonable cost.
ditto. it’s ironic that a free network (ABC) has turned their audience into a “luxury” market (ie. those who can afford cable or YouTube TV) after the world went digital. I just discovered CBS provides their live channel for $10/month and asking my dad if he is ready to dump ABC and just stick it to them out of principle. he & my mom love Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune and this has turned out into an all out war!
Amen!!!!
My local ABC affiliate uses a VHF signal. Many digital antennae only pick up UHF. That’s problem number one. Personally, I have an antenna that picks up both VHF and UHF. Unfortunately, due to geography, the VHF signal cannot reach my city, whereas a UHF signal might. Thus I cannot get any ABC live broadcasts for free. Why? Because the gov’t mandated the switch from analog to digital. Analog signals carry further because like AM radio, the signal bends with the curvature of the Earth, whereas digital is a straight line of sight. My State only has 1 ABC affiliate. And yet, because of the combination of VHF and digital (both of which greatly reduce signal range), 3/4 of this State cannot receive an ABC station via OTA. That means millions of people who have no option but to pay for cable, satellite, or streaming service just to be able to watch a major national network that always used to be free. No service is going to offer these local channels for free because all of those services themselves have to pay the local channels for the “right” to rebroadcast their signal (check your bill, and that’s what the Broadcast Fee is). It’s sad because I can get all local newscasts free by streaming online, but that is ALL they will allow. No movies. No TV shows. Only the news and weather.
I got rid of cable because I had the most basic cable package (local stations ONLY) plus internet. My bill began at $45 per month. Then it went to $75, followed by $85, and eventually to $110 — for just local stations and internet!!! It’s a racket. So I got rid of cable. Now because of COVID, I find myself qualifying for a low-income internet program. So I switched from buying monthly WiFi passes (for half the cost of my previous bill) to paying just $10 per month for internet service. I pay for a few low cost streaming services (a total of about $25), but I still cannot get access to ABC unless I pay at least $50 (actually about $40 – $45 because I have basic Hulu).
Long story cut short, I cannot get ABC unless I pay a minimum of $60 per month, but as soon as I no longer qualify for low-income internet, I’ll be right back up to $100 per month. Ridiculous.
the fact that ABC doesn’t offer their live stream even for $10/month (like CBS does) is ridiculous.
ABC is owned by Disney so they must likely were trying to get everybody to switch to Disney+ when they rolled it out.
Reading all these comments ….I feel your pain. My favorite shows are on ABC, (some on hiatus due to pandemic), but still early evening shows like World News Tonight w/ David Muir, Jeopardy (<3 to Alex) are a must for me. I also qualify for Internet Essentials thru Xfinity/Comcast @ $9.95/mo. beyond that I use a MOHU Leaf OTA antenna that picks up all network stations & OPB (Portland, Oregon's PBS Affiliate), which also has great shows. I did have to try out different spots to hang my leaf on the wall (using easily removable 3M packaging tape), a bit too far from window, but it works. I also got a better cord for the Leaf (Monster RC6U) that helped a lot, plus every six months or so, I have to rescan my Smart TV to find the OTA stations again and I have to deal with some occasional interference if a helicopter or plane flies close overhead.
I will soon be getting Disney+ I wish they would offer ABC, (which they own), as part of a pkg deal, maybe someday they will, once all the recent subscribers that ordered the service to see Hamilton slows down, they can offer that along with their wonderful selection of programming. I'm also looking forward to watching Mandalorian and many other great movies etc. Please Disney … add your ABC channel to the mix.
that would be smart – if they offer the ABC live stream for an extra $5 or something, we’d consider it.
Having limited access to ALL live abc programming is frustrating ! Roku Ultra2019+basic Hulu $5.99/mo provide Some,NOT ALL abc programs.Doesn’t abc have it’s OWN stand-alone subscription for ALL abc programming? Also,WHERE can a reliable,inexpensive DVR(name brand,website) be found,without having to have cable or a premium version of a streaming service???Pls lmk.Thnx. Lin(Chicago suburbs)
Unfortunately, there’s no ABC-only streaming service. You could try an antenna, though — that might let you pick up your local ABC station for free and watch it live.
Locast, if available in your area, is free and carries all your local channels.
Locast is technically free, but their frequent service interruptions to request contributions make it virtually unwatchable unless one donates $5/month, $30/6 months, or $60/12 months. It’s a worthwhile investment for those who cannot receive local channels of interest via OTA antenna or who don’t want to pay the monthly subscription fees charged by livestream providers that offer local channels.
The real problem here is the business model the government allowed the networks and local affiliates to push through decades ago. To my way of thinking, cable and satellite providers deliver MORE viewers to the networks and locals; that’s more people to view their commercials and drive up their ad rates. So why do they get to CHARGE cable and satellite providers for delivering their programming to viewers? I could see charging being justified if the content were commercial-free for cable and satellite customers, but it’s not. In fact, you’d think it would be more the opposite: locals paying satellite and cable to distribute their programming (just like food suppliers pay supermarkets for shelf space.
I think this whole concept of having to show an active subscription from cable or satellite is just a method of trying to hold together that business model mentioned. above
interesting. someone needs to wake up and small the coffee. unfortunately as long as there are enough cable subscribers to rip off and float the boat, they won’t change. it’s sad to hear my dad wanting to give in after the judge ruling against not-for-profit digital translators like Locast and feel powerless about going from a “donation” of $5 to $65 for YouTube TV – makes me realize even Google is in on this now (so much for “do no evil” – if they were serious about this, they’d offer a minimal tier equivalent to Locast and use their negotiation skills as a large mammoth to bully the networks people have the right to free TV regardless of where they choose to live and this it’s the right thing to do!)
I’m giving up on network news and just watch PBS either live at 7 PM or any time after that, whenever I want with the free PBS app. You get the same news overview in about ten minutes, the network “news” fluff is gone, and when I get bored with any particular story (how many times can I watch the Pfizer guy over and over and over say the same thing), I fast forward through to the next segment if not watching live. Will miss some things a tiny bit like the Bachelorette but I watched that in about 10 min/show, I’m not missing much how many times can you hear “awesome” and “I feel that” in one sitting. There’s enough other mindless entertainment from youtube, twitter, and Netflix (which is cheap and has enough variety for me). don’t need the networks if they are going to be so obstinate about needing cable/streaming service/antennae and have no accessible app.
Locast was great for free local channels. The big wigs have been fighting in court to get rid of them for yrs since they only asked for a $5 donation (which wasn’t necessary to get streaming). Unfortunately they won and locast had to shut down. We should fight this since Locast was totally legal, they just cut into the profits of larger streaming channels.
I read that someone initiated a lawsuit because Locast would throttle the stream if you didn’t “donate” therefore they claimed it technically wasn’t a free service. One cheap disgruntled jerk ruined it for everyone.
I definitely agree with all the comments here. If you live in a more remote area where OTA digital TV doesn’t reach you, you’re forced to pay a cable provider (or Google for YouTube TV) $65/month to get ABC. compare that to NBC w Sling Blue ($30) or CBS w Paramount+ ($10 includes livestream).
I didn’t know Disney owns ABC and feels like a chess game indeed – battle for your eyeballs!
I’m ready to go rogue on this and could care less if I was accessing the ABC livestream in some backdoor way. It really pisses me off when all of us are *willing* to pay a reasonable rate. No wonder piracy and bootlegging is rampant – it has zero respect for those who didn’t grow up privileged and only widens the income inequality. not cool!