
ABC is one of those channels that flies under the radar until something massive is on. The NBA Finals. Monday Night Football. The NFL Draft. The Oscars. College football on Saturday afternoons. Then you realize you need it and you need it right now.
If you've cut the cord or never had cable, ABC is actually one of the easier networks to solve for. It's a broadcast network, which means you can pick it up free with an antenna in most areas. But if you want DVR, multi-device streaming, and ABC alongside the rest of your sports and entertainment channels, a live TV streaming service is the better play.
The best option: DIRECTV's MySports Genre Pack includes your local ABC affiliate in most markets along with ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS, TNT, NBC, MLB Network, NFL Network, and 15+ other channels. Starting at $44.99 per month for new customers with a 5-day free trial. If you only need ABC for news, the MyNews Genre Pack gets you ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, and more for just $39.99 per month.
Here's every option, ranked from free to full-featured.
DIRECTV includes your local ABC affiliate in most markets across multiple Genre Packs, giving you flexibility to pick the package that matches how you watch.
If the reason you need ABC is the NBA Finals, Monday Night Football, the NFL Draft, college football, or NHL playoff games, MySports is the move.
The NBA Finals start June 3 on ABC. Every game of the series airs exclusively on ABC at 8:30 p.m. ET. With MySports, you've got ABC for the Finals plus ESPN and TNT for the earlier playoff rounds. Monday Night Football returns to ABC/ESPN in the fall. The NFL Draft (April 23-25) airs on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. MySports covers all three.
If you want ABC primarily for local news, World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and primetime entertainment like Abbott Elementary, Grey's Anatomy, and The Bachelor, MyNews is the most affordable DIRECTV option.
At $39.99 per month, MyNews is the cheapest live TV streaming service that includes ABC alongside the other three major broadcast networks. Any major sporting event that airs on broadcast ABC (the NBA Finals, Monday Night Football simulcasts, the NFL Draft) is included too, since your local ABC affiliate carries it all.
Want sports channels and news channels together? The Duo Pack bundles both.
ABC is a broadcast network. Your local ABC affiliate sends a free over-the-air signal from a nearby tower, and a digital antenna ($20 to $40 one-time purchase) will pick it up in most areas.
What you get: Live ABC programming in HD for free, forever. Local news, primetime shows, sports broadcasts, and special events.
What you don't get: Cloud DVR, the ability to stream on phones or tablets away from home, or any other channels beyond what's available over the air in your market.
If you just need ABC on one TV and you're fine without recording capability, an antenna is the simplest and cheapest solution. Check a site like AntennaWeb or RabbitEars to confirm ABC reception at your address before buying.
| DIRECTV MySports |
DIRECTV MyNews |
YouTube TV |
Hulu + Live TV |
Fubo |
Sling TV |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $64.99 ($44.99 promo) | $39.99 | ~$82 | $89.99 | ~$79 | $50.99+ |
| ABC | Yes (most markets) | Yes (most markets) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Select markets |
| ESPN | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Orange plan only |
| Fox / FS1 | Yes | Fox only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TBS / TNT | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| NBC | Yes (most markets) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Select markets |
| CBS | Yes (most markets) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Select markets |
| MLB Network | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| NFL Network | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ESPN Unlimited | Included free | No | No | Included | No | No |
| Cloud DVR | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1,000 hrs | 50 hrs |
| Simultaneous Streams | 20 at home | 20 at home | 3 | 2 | 10 | 3 |
| Free Trial | 5 days | 5 days | No | No | Yes | No |
| No Contract | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
You can watch ABC free with an over-the-air antenna in most areas. For streaming, DIRECTV's MyNews Genre Pack includes ABC for $39.99 per month, and the MySports Genre Pack includes ABC plus ESPN, Fox, TBS, TNT, and more for $44.99 per month (promo price). YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and Fubo also carry ABC.
Yes. ABC is a broadcast network, and your local ABC affiliate transmits a free over-the-air signal. A digital antenna ($20 to $40 one-time cost) will pick up ABC in most areas.
Yes. The DIRECTV MySports Genre Pack carries your local ABC affiliate in most markets along with ESPN, Fox, FS1, TBS, TNT, NBC, MLB Network, NFL Network, and 15+ other sports channels. ABC availability varies by ZIP code.
DIRECTV's MyNews Genre Pack at $39.99 per month is the cheapest live TV streaming option that includes ABC along with CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, and other news channels. For a sports-focused package, MySports starts at $44.99 per month (promo).
Yes. Every game of the 2026 NBA Finals airs exclusively on ABC, starting June 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Yes. ABC simulcasts ESPN's Monday Night Football throughout the NFL season. Both ABC and ESPN are included in DIRECTV's MySports Genre Pack.
Yes. Many ABC shows (Abbott Elementary, Grey's Anatomy, The Rookie, and others) are available on demand through Hulu's basic plan ($7.99 per month) the day after they air. However, you cannot watch live ABC programming or sports without the Hulu + Live TV plan ($89.99 per month).
No. DIRECTV's Genre Packs are streaming-only products that work over your home internet connection through the DIRECTV app. No dish, no installation, no equipment rental.