Here’s Everything You Need To Know About ABC’s Streaming App

Passionate television fans with hectic professional lives know the importance of streaming on the go. As the era of Peak TV continues to thrive, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to stay current on all our favorite shows, let alone binge-watch programs we may have missed. Our continued quest to consume content has made efficient viewing paramount, and, thankfully, the newly updated ABC Network app has made streaming on the go a cinch!

Want to watch an episode of Black-ish while on the treadmill or stream season one of Christina Applegate’s Samantha Who? from the cozy comfort of your own bed? An organized binge is just a download away. Find out everything you need to know about the ABC app below!

Let’s get down to brass tacks. How much does it cost to download the ABC app?

$0.00. It’s free!

What can I stream on the ABC app once I authenticate my current cable subscription?

Once you verify you have a subscribe with a participating TV provider, you can stream new episodes of your favorite ABC programs as they are added to the app.

When are new episodes added?

New episodes of current on-air series are typically added the day after they air on television.

Are there any cable companies that do NOT allow authentication?

As we discussed above, the most recently aired full episodes require TV provider authentication to watch. The ABC app accepts a wide variety of cable providers like DirectTV, Optimum, Verizon, DISH, and Xfinity, but Time Warner Cable subscribers are out of luck as TWC isn’t a current provider for the app. 

Is live streaming available?

Live streaming is available, but only with participating TV providers and only in certain markets: Residents of Chicago, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, and San Francisco are in luck!

Customers with a DirecTV subscription have access to the ABC live stream if they live in any of the following areas: Albuquerque, Boston, Ft. Smith/ Fayetteville, Jackson (Mississippi), Kansas City, Milwaukee, Monterey-Salinas, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Pittsburgh, Portland-Auburn (Maine), Savannah, and West Palm Beach.

What if I don’t have a current cable subscription?

Even those WITHOUT a current cable subscription (or “borrowed” password) can stream a number of full episodes of current ABC scripted shows. The number of these episodes, however, varies.

Last week, you could stream one episode of How to Get Away with Murder (the second season finale) and Quantico (the first season finale) for free, but after HTGAWM returned for its third season, the only episode available is the season three premiere, and you need TV provider authentication in order to stream it.

You can currently stream the last two episodes of Fresh Off the Boat (that originally aired in May) for free, but since The Goldbergs returned last week with all new episodes, the only streaming option is the September 21st season premiere, and, again, you need TV provider authentication in order to stream it. If you’d like to stream a reality series like Dancing with the Stars, the first two episodes of the current season are available for free, but episodes three and four, which aired on September 20th and September 26th, require authentication.

While show and episode availability are subject to change, it’s worth repeating that new episodes of current ABC scripted shows need TV provider authentication, but, eventually, as the season progresses, one to two older episodes are typically available to stream for free.

A friend of mine told me there’s a wide selection of old shows I can stream with the ABC app without a current cable subscription. Is my friend a liar?

Nope. Your friend is a straight shooter! Both ABC.com and the ABC app host a veritable trove of incredible throwback shows that are available to stream for free. FOR FREE, I say, with no sign in required. You can stream every episode of shows like Brothers and Sisters, Felicity, My So-Called Life, Ugly Betty, and Trophy Wife on the app.

I also heard the ABC app hosts short form original content.

They do! The ABC app has an on demand original content section, ABCd digital originals, featuring short form content from Ty Burrell and Iliza Shlesinger, among others.

How bad is the commercial situation?

The ad experience is pretty much what you have come to expect from network apps. For instance, the season premiere of Quantico has five commercial breaks, but, thankfully, they mix up the ads. Each break consisted of five or six ads that lasted between two and a half to three minutes. That may seem like a long time, but I used the break to think about how I would fare if I were an agent on Quantico.

The answer? Not well!

There is a bit of commercial chicanery afoot involved with the device. If you close the app during the fourth ad, say to respond to a text, the cycle resets and you have to start all over with the first commercial. Also, if you pause your show, sometimes you’re forced to take a fifteen second timeout to watch two mini ads.

The barrage of advertisements is a little annoying, but I also got to watch the season one finale of Felicity for free, so how mad can I really be?

Should I watch Quantico?

Just in general? Definitely. I highly recommend it!

Back to the app. How about the design and streaming quality?

The app itself is very sleek. I didn’t have many technical issues when watching full episodes, but I did encounter some choppy streaming waters during the ad breaks. At one point the app froze and a message that said “Oops… something went wrong” popped up. I hit okay and after about five seconds the app was once again working properly.

If I close and then reopen the app, will it save my spot?

Yes… but it comes *dramatic voice* at a price. That price is having to sit through another round of ads.

Can you recommend a few of the shows from this “Throwback” section of which you speak?

I can, and I will. I recommend Michaela Watkins’ one season wonder Benched, which stars Eliza Coupe and Jay Harrington, as well as Aaron Sorkin’s late ’90s comedy Sports Night. 

Where can I download the ABC app?

You can download the ABC app on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, XBOX 360, on supported Android devices from the Google Play store, on supported Kindle Fire tablets from the Amazon Appstore, and on supported Apple devices at the App Store.

What if I live outside the United States?

ABC app content is only available if you’re physically located within the U.S. or its territories. Sorry, ex pats!

[Learn more about the ABC app]