 On-air logo used since August 28, 2022. | |
| Network | ABC |
|---|---|
| Launched | 1961 |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Owner | ESPN Inc. |
| Headquarters | Bristol, Connecticut |
| Major broadcasting contracts | |
| Formerly known as | ABC Sports (1961–2006) |
| Sister network | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+ ESPN Deportes Disney XD |
| Format | Sports |
| Original language(s) | English Spanish (SAP; select events) |
| Official website | https://abc.com/collection/espn-on-abc |
ESPN on ABC (formerly known as ABC Sports from 1961 to 2006) is the branding used for sports event and documentary programming televised by ABC in the United States. Officially, the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, in 2006, ABC's sports division was merged into ESPN Inc., which is the parent subsidiary of the cable sports network ESPN that is majority owned by ABC's corporate parent, The Walt Disney Company, in partnership with Hearst Communications.[1][2]
ABC broadcasts use ESPN's production and announcing staff, and incorporate elements such as ESPN-branded on-screen graphics, SportsCenter in-game updates, and the BottomLine ticker. The ABC logo is still used for identification purposes such as a digital on-screen graphic during sports broadcasts on the network, and in promotions to disambiguate events airing the broadcast network from those shown on the ESPN cable channel.[3]
The broadcast network's sports event coverage carried the ABC Sports brand prior to September 2, 2006.[4][2] When ABC acquired a controlling interest in ESPN in 1984, it operated the cable network separately from its network sports division. The integration of ABC Sports with ESPN began after The Walt Disney Company bought ABC in 1996. The branding change to ESPN on ABC was made to better orient ESPN viewers with event telecasts on ABC and provide consistent branding for all sports broadcasts on Disney-owned channels (shortly thereafter, ESPN2's in-game graphics were likewise altered to simply use the main "ESPN" brand). Despite its name, ABC's sports coverage is supplemental to ESPN and (with occasional exceptions) not a simulcast of programs aired by the network.
Since 2021, ABC is the only broadcast television network to have rights to broadcast games from all four major professional leagues all at the same time. This is largely due to joint contracts with ESPN and those four leagues.
- ^ "ESPN, Inc. Fact Sheet". ESPNPressroom.com. ESPN Inc. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
ESPN launched on September 7, 1979, and is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Hearst holds a 20 percent interest.
- ^ a b Nagle, Dave (January 2, 2007). "ESPN, Inc.: 2006 in Review". ESPNPressroom.com. ESPN Inc. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
ESPN announces "ESPN on ABC" will become the brand for all sports carried on the ABC Television Network beginning Saturday, Sept. 2.
- ^ Deitsch, Richard (August 10, 2006). "Worldwide leader expands". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on August 23, 2006. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
- ^ "'ESPN on ABC' to debut during college football season". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. Associated Press. August 10, 2006. Retrieved April 30, 2021.