WABC-TV
WABC-TV is New York City's ABC-owned television station and the flagship station of the ABC network.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
WABC-TV is a television station licensed to New York City and serving the wider New York metropolitan television market. It is the flagship broadcast outlet of the ABC television network and is operated within ABC Owned Television Stations, a division of The Walt Disney Company. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 7 and combines local news, network programming, syndicated entertainment, sports, public-affairs programming, and digital and multicast services. The station began broadcasting on August 10, 1948, under the call sign WJZ-TV. It was among the first television stations launched by ABC, at a time when the network was still developing its national schedule. In its initial years, the station operated with a programming mix that resembled an independent station, although ABC programming expanded as the network grew. Its first transmitter was at the Pierre Hotel, but transmission facilities moved to the Empire State Building in 1950, establishing a long association with one of New York's most recognizable structures. The call sign changed to WABC-TV on March 1, 1953, following the merger of ABC's operations with United Paramount Theatres. The new identity connected the New York station directly to the ABC network and distinguished it from the WJZ-TV call sign later used by a Baltimore station. During ABC's late-1970s expansion, WABC-TV moved into facilities at 7 Lincoln Square and related production space on West 67th Street. The station later relocated its corporate and studio presence to 7 Hudson Square, where it is co-located with ABC's New York corporate operations. WABC-TV is particularly associated with the Eyewitness News format, which became the foundation of its local-news identity after a major newsroom and presentation overhaul in 1968. The format emphasized recognizable reporters, visual storytelling, live coverage, and a more personality-driven presentation. Over time, Eyewitness News became the station's central public-facing franchise and a major component of its competitive position in the New York market. The station currently produces extensive weekday and weekend local-news programming and collaborates with Philadelphia sister station WPVI-TV on selected New Jersey political debates and overlapping regional coverage. The station also produces Live with Kelly and Mark, a nationally syndicated daytime talk program whose roots lie in WABC-TV's local morning-show history. The program evolved through several local and national versions, beginning with A.M. New York and later The Morning Show before national syndication under Regis Philbin and Kathie Lee Johnson. Its hosts subsequently included Kelly Ripa, Michael Strahan, Ryan Seacrest, and Mark Consuelos. WABC-TV's other programming includes syndicated game shows, daytime programming, local public-affairs series, parade coverage, and selected professional sports broadcasts. WABC-TV has experienced several major technical and operational disruptions. Its World Trade Center transmission facilities were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, and the station temporarily used other facilities before rebuilding transmission capability at the Empire State Building. A serious studio fire in May 2007 forced the station to broadcast from its newsroom and temporarily relocate affected programs. The station completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting in June 2009, later receiving authorization to increase digital transmission power to improve over-the-air reception. It began authenticated online streaming of station programming in 2013 and has also participated in ABC-owned-station multicast and lifestyle-network initiatives. Today, WABC-TV operates as a major local media brand rather than an independent national network. Its positioning rests on the combination of the ABC network identity, a large metropolitan news operation, the Eyewitness News franchise, locally relevant public-affairs programming, event coverage, and production of…
History
WABC-TV began service on August 10, 1948, as WJZ-TV. It was one of three television stations launched by ABC during 1948, alongside stations in Chicago and Detroit. Because ABC's network schedule was still developing, the New York station initially operated with a programming mix resembling that of an independent outlet, gradually adding more shared ABC programs as the network expanded. The original transmitter was located at the Pierre Hotel, and the station moved its transmission facilities to the Empire State Building in 1950. On March 1, 1953, the station adopted the WABC-TV call sign after ABC merged its operations with United Paramount Theatres. The change tied the station more closely to the ABC identity. Its early facilities were concentrated around West 66th Street, with additional production space and specialized studios nearby. During ABC's expansion program in the late 1970s, the station moved into newly developed facilities at 7 Lincoln Square and 30 West 67th Street. In later years, WABC-TV's New York operations became associated with ABC's Hudson Square complex. The station's local-news history entered a decisive phase in 1968. Earlier news programs, including Report to New York and The Big News, had struggled to challenge the established New York ratings leaders. A subsequent presentation and newsroom restructuring established the Eyewitness News approach, built around prominent personalities, field reporting, visual information, and a faster, more immediate style. The format became a defining part of WABC-TV's identity and helped shape the station's long-term position in the market. WABC-TV's production role extends beyond local news. Its local morning-show lineage began with A.M. New York in 1970, followed by Good Morning New York and The Morning Show. The latter was initially hosted by Regis Philbin and Cyndy Garvey, with Kathie Lee Johnson later joining Philbin. National syndication began in 1988 as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. The program subsequently evolved through several title and hosting changes and became Live with Kelly and Mark. WABC-TV continues to serve as the program's production home and as a source of national distribution through corporate syndication operations. The station has also maintained a broad public-service and community-programming portfolio. Its programming has included coverage of New York's Columbus Day Parade and Puerto Rican Day Parade, and it became the first television station to broadcast the New York City LGBT Pride March beginning in 2017. Local public-affairs programs have included Here and Now, addressing issues affecting New York's Black communities; Tiempo, focused on Hispanic communities; and Up Close, featuring discussion with newsmakers. The station has also carried major local sports and event programming, including the New York City Marathon and selected ABC and ESPN sports broadcasts. On September 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks destroyed WABC-TV's transmission facilities at the World Trade Center. Station maintenance engineer Donald DiFranco died in the attacks. WABC-TV temporarily distributed its signal through other local and regional facilities and later re-established transmission from the Empire State Building. In May 2007, a fire severely damaged the station's studio facilities. The station resumed transmission overnight, but its news programming temporarily originated from the newsroom and its daytime talk program used an alternative studio arrangement until the primary facilities were restored. WABC-TV ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the United States digital television transition. Its digital signal moved to VHF channel 7, but reception difficulties led to a request for increased transmission power. The Federal Communications Commission subsequently authorized higher-power operation. In 2013, WABC-TV and WPVI-TV became the first ABC-owned stations to provide authenticated live online streams to eligible pay-television subscribers. The station later participated in multicast initiatives including ABC News Now, ABC Plus, AccuWeather, Live Well Network, Laff, and Localish. The contemporary station combines a substantial local-news operation with ABC network programming, syndicated shows, public affairs, digital distribution, and sports. Its principal brand assets remain ABC7NY, Eyewitness News, its New York community presence, and its role as the flagship ABC station.
- 2020
Localish branding introduced
[1]The station's Live Well Network service is rebranded as Localish on its secondary channel.
- 2017
New York City LGBT Pride March broadcast
[1]WABC-TV becomes the first television station to broadcast the New York City LGBT Pride March.
- 2013
Authenticated live streaming introduced
[1]WABC-TV begins offering authenticated live web streaming with WPVI-TV.
- 2009
Digital television transition
[1]The station ends regular analog transmission and operates digitally on channel 7.
- 2007
Studio fire
[1]A major fire damages the station's studios and temporarily changes the production locations for news and daytime programming.
- 2001
Transmission facilities lost in September 11 attacks
[1]WABC-TV restores service through temporary arrangements after its World Trade Center facilities are destroyed.
- 1988
Morning talk show enters national syndication
[1]The station's morning program is nationally syndicated as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.
- 1979
Move to Lincoln Square facilities
[1]WABC-TV moves into facilities developed during ABC's New York expansion program.
- 1968
Eyewitness News format established
[1]A major news-department overhaul begins the station's Eyewitness News era.
- 1959
First regular news program launches
[1]Report to New York becomes the station's first regular news program.
Products and positioning
A leading metropolitan broadcast station combining the ABC network brand with high-volume local journalism, the Eyewitness News format, community and public-affairs programming, major event coverage, and nationally syndicated daytime television production.
Local news · 1968
Eyewitness News
WABC-TV's principal local-news franchise, developed from the station's 1968 newsroom overhaul. The format emphasizes live reporting, visual presentation, recognizable anchors and reporters, and broad coverage of New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and the surrounding metropolitan region. It occupies a substantial portion of the station's weekly schedule and is central to the ABC7NY brand.
Syndicated daytime talk show · 1988
Live with Kelly and Mark
A nationally syndicated daytime talk program produced at WABC-TV. It developed from the station's local morning-show efforts, including A.M. New York and The Morning Show, and became nationally distributed in 1988. The program has passed through several host combinations and is currently associated with Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.
Community affairs
Here and Now
A local program covering news, issues, trends, and stories affecting New York's Black communities. It forms part of WABC-TV's community-oriented public-affairs portfolio.
Public affairs
Tiempo
A weekly local program focused on issues affecting Hispanic residents and communities in the New York region.
Public affairs
Up Close
A public-affairs program featuring discussion of current issues with newsmakers and other relevant guests.
Digital media · 2013
ABC7NY digital and streaming service
WABC-TV's digital outlet provides local news and video through its website and related streaming products. Since 2013, live online programming has also been available to authenticated subscribers of participating cable and satellite providers.
Sports and events · 2013
New York City Marathon coverage
WABC-TV's annual English-language broadcast of the New York City Marathon, carried locally and supplemented by a national ESPN2 simulcast. The event occupies weekend programming time and is one of the station's prominent recurring live broadcasts.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017New York City LGBT Pride March broadcast
New York City · New York metropolitan area
WABC-TV began broadcasting the New York City LGBT Pride March, becoming the first television station to air the event.
Outcome. Added a major community event to the station's local live-event portfolio.
- Parade and community-event coverage
New York metropolitan area
WABC-TV has regularly presented local events including the Columbus Day Parade and Puerto Rican Day Parade as part of its community and live-event programming.
Outcome. Strengthened the station's identity as a broadly representative New York local broadcaster.
Brand decisions
2013
Launch authenticated live web streamingProduct launchBackground
ABC-owned stations were expanding distribution beyond traditional broadcast and pay television.
Action taken
WABC-TV and WPVI-TV introduced live online streaming for authenticated customers of participating cable and satellite providers.
Aftermath
The service extended access to station programming through web and mobile platforms.
2009
Complete the transition to digital broadcastingGeneration changeBackground
Federal digital-television rules required the station to end regular analog transmission.
Action taken
WABC-TV discontinued its analog signal and moved its digital operation to VHF channel 7, later seeking and receiving authorization for higher transmission power.
Aftermath
The power increase was intended to restore over-the-air coverage closer to the station's former analog service area.
1968
Adopt a redesigned Eyewitness News presentationStrategyBackground
Earlier WABC-TV news programs had failed to dislodge the leading New York stations in audience ratings.
Action taken
The station reorganized its newsroom and adopted a more personality-led, visual, and field-oriented news format.
Aftermath
The approach became the long-term Eyewitness News identity and a central part of WABC-TV's competitive position.
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