ABC News Live is the 24/7 streaming news channel from ABC News, and in the US you can watch the ABC News Live stream free without cable. It’s on the ABC News website and apps, YouTube, and free streaming services such as The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi and Xumo Play. It’s also included with every Disney+ plan and with Hulu. This guide lists every official way to watch, the weekday shows worth tuning in for, and what to expect if you live outside the US.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- ABC News Live is ABC News’ free 24/7 streaming channel in the US.
- It streams on the ABC News website and apps, YouTube, The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi and Xumo Play.
- It is also included with every Disney+ plan and with Hulu.
What ABC News Live is (and isn’t)
ABC News Live is a streaming-first channel run by ABC News, which is part of Disney. It isn’t the ABC broadcast network you get over the air. Your local ABC station shows Good Morning America, World News Tonight and entertainment programs. ABC News Live is a separate, nonstop news feed built for apps and connected TVs.
The channel has been around longer than many viewers realize. It started in July 2004 as ABC News Now, a digital channel that was well ahead of the streaming boom. It was relaunched as ABC News Live in March 2018, first on Roku, and has since spread to most major streaming platforms.
One more thing to know: “ABC News” also refers to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s news service. That’s a completely different organization, and our ABC News Australia guide explains how to watch it from abroad. This article covers the American ABC News Live.
Every official way to stream ABC News Live
Because ABC News Live is supported by ads, most routes are free. The table sorts them by cost. Availability can change, so check the app on your device if a listing seems missing.
| Where to watch | Cost (as of October 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ABC News website and apps (iOS, Android) | Free | Official live player on abcnews.com |
| YouTube | Free | Live stream on ABC News’s channel |
| The Roku Channel | Free | Listed as channel 115 |
| Pluto TV | Free | Added in November 2023 |
| Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels, Vizio WatchFree+ | Free | Built into compatible smart TVs |
| Tubi, Xumo Play, Sling Freestream, Google TV, Prime Video live TV | Free | Free ad-supported live channels |
| Disney+ | Included with every plan | 24/7 live feed since September 2024 |
| Hulu and Hulu + Live TV | Included with subscription | Live and on-demand |
| YouTube TV, Fubo, DirecTV Stream | Included with subscription | Part of larger channel line-ups |
Watch free on the web or your phone
The fastest option is the live player on abcnews.com. Open the site’s live page in any browser, and the stream starts after a short ad. The ABC News app for iPhone and Android carries the same feed, plus breaking news alerts and video clips.
ABC News also streams the channel live on its YouTube channel. That’s handy on game consoles, smart TVs and any device with a YouTube app. Past segments and full newscasts show up there too.
Watch free on your TV
Most smart TVs and streaming players can show ABC News Live without a subscription. On a Roku, open The Roku Channel and find ABC News Live in the live TV guide. On Samsung, LG and Vizio TVs, look in the built-in free channel apps: Samsung TV Plus, LG Channels and WatchFree+.
Free services like Pluto TV, Tubi and Xumo Play also carry the channel. These apps run on Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, game consoles and phones. For step-by-step help, see our guides to news channels on Roku and live news on a Samsung or LG smart TV.
Inside Disney+ and Hulu
Since September 2024, all Disney+ subscribers have had access to ABC News Live as a 24/7 live stream inside the app. If you already pay for Disney+, there’s nothing extra to buy. Hulu carries it too, both on its regular streaming plans and on Hulu + Live TV.
This is often the most convenient route for households already using the Disney bundle. You get news without leaving the app you use for shows and movies.
Through live TV streaming services
YouTube TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream also include ABC News Live in their line-ups. These services are paid and include many other channels, so they only make sense if you want a full cable replacement. Our guide to watching news without cable compares them.
Coming soon: the NewsLive streaming app. We’re building one subscription for live international news on Android, Roku, Fire TV and desktop. The service is under development — follow NewsLive for launch updates.
What’s on: key ABC News Live programs
ABC News Live mixes live rolling coverage with anchored shows and replays of ABC’s network programs. These are the main weekday blocks we could verify, in Eastern Time. The line-up changes, and breaking news often takes over, so check the live page for what’s on now.
| Time (ET) | Program | Anchor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 12:00 pm | Daytime live coverage | Diane Macedo |
| 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Daytime live coverage | Kyra Phillips |
| 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | ABC News Live Reports | Kayna Whitworth |
| 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | ABC News Live Prime | Linsey Davis |
ABC News Live Prime is the channel’s flagship evening newscast. Linsey Davis anchors it on weeknights, with in-depth reports and interviews on the day’s biggest stories. For a viewer in London, the 7:00 pm ET start is midnight UK time for most of the year.
Outside those blocks, the channel carries replays and extended versions of ABC News programs. These include World News Tonight with David Muir, 20/20, Nightline and the Sunday political show This Week. Early mornings feature ABC World News Now and Good Morning America First Look, along with the Start Here news podcast in video form.
Watching ABC News Live outside the US
ABC News Live is aimed at US viewers, and most of the platforms above are US services. The Roku Channel, Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus and others have different channel line-ups in each country. So a channel that’s free in the US may simply not appear in your local version of the app.
ABC News hasn’t published a list of countries where the live stream is available. The practical approach is to try the official sources one at a time: the live page on abcnews.com, the ABC News app, the ABC News YouTube channel, and Disney+ in your country. If the live feed isn’t offered where you are, ABC News’s YouTube clips and on-demand reports are still a reliable way to keep up.
For a broader view of the options, see our guide on how to watch US news channels outside the US. Viewers comparing free services might also like our sister guide on the CBS News 24/7 live stream, which works in a similar way. NBC has its own version too, and our NBC News NOW guide lists every free way to watch it.
Why ABC News Live is worth bookmarking
Most US cable news networks lock their live channels behind a subscription. ABC News Live is different: it’s free, nonstop and available on nearly every device. That makes it one of the easiest ways to follow a breaking story, a presidential address or election night from an American broadcaster without paying.
The trade-off is that you’ll see ads, and some hours are replays rather than live coverage. If you want commentary-heavy prime-time talk shows, cable channels offer more of that. For straight news on demand, ABC News Live is hard to beat on price. For many viewers, that trade is well worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Is ABC News Live free?
Yes, in the US. You can watch it free on abcnews.com, the ABC News app, YouTube and free streaming services like The Roku Channel, Pluto TV and Samsung TV Plus. It’s ad-supported. It also comes included with Disney+ and Hulu.
Is ABC News Live the same as the ABC channel?
No. Your local ABC station is a broadcast channel with news, entertainment and sports. ABC News Live is a separate 24/7 streaming news channel run by ABC News. Some ABC network news shows are replayed on it.
What time is ABC News Live Prime?
ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis airs on weeknights starting at 7:00 pm ET. It runs until 8:30 pm ET. Breaking news can shift the schedule, so check the live page on the night.
Can I watch ABC News Live on Disney+?
Yes. Since September 2024, all Disney+ subscribers can watch ABC News Live as a 24/7 live stream inside the app, at no extra charge. Look for it on the Disney+ home screen or in the news section.
How do I watch ABC News Live on Roku?
Open The Roku Channel and go to the live TV guide, where ABC News Live is listed as channel 115. You can also use the ABC News app, YouTube, Pluto TV or Hulu on your Roku.
Can I watch ABC News Live from outside the US?
It depends on your country, because many free streaming services offer different channels abroad. Try abcnews.com, the ABC News app, YouTube and Disney+ where you live. ABC News’s YouTube clips are a good fallback if the live channel isn’t available.
