ABC News to stream video on local sites

Cory Bergman September 25th, 2006

Less than a month ago, ABC announced that it would allow local stations to stream ABC’s primetime shows with local ad positions. Now ABC News is announcing it will make its player available to over 200 ABC affiliate websites this fall. The player will feature clips of World News with Charles Gibson and Good Morning America, with additional video highlights from across all ABC News broadcasts. And coming soon, affiliates can integrate their own content into the player. There’s no mention of advertising, but I imagine it will be a similar set-up as the the primetime streaming program. Of all the network groups, ABC seems to be making the fastest headway with integrating its affiliates into a cohesive video strategy. Press release…

PRESS RELEASE — Dedicated to expanding its network and channels across multiple platforms and connecting viewers with their favorite content anytime and anywhere, Disney-ABC Television Group today announced that it will make an ABC News online video player available for hosting on local affiliate websites. Beginning this fall, the video player will be offered to over 200 ABC affiliate websites and will feature clips of “World News with Charles Gibson” and “Good Morning America,” with additional video highlights from across all ABC News broadcasts.

“ABC News is pleased to offer our affiliates an online destination for streaming both national and local news,” said David Westin, president, ABC News. “As the digital space grows, this kind of innovation is essential for all of us to enhance the experience for our news consumers and expand the distribution of our video online.”

“The Network, ABC affiliates and owned stations have a strong on-air relationship, and we’ve created a mutually beneficial arrangement that extends it online,” said John Rouse, senior vice president, Affiliate Relations, ABC Television Network. “We are actively discussing additional news ventures as well.”

“We think this initiative holds promise and potential opportunity for the ABC affiliates in their respective markets. The ABC Affiliate Board has endorsed the plan and recommends it to the affiliate membership,“ said Ray Cole, chairman, ABC Affiliate Relations Board of Governors. “We look forward to continued discussions with the network regarding additional new media initiatives.”

Under this agreement, ABC News will be offering national news content and custom branding for affiliates through a new broadband player. In the coming months, ABC affiliates will have the option to add local news content to the player. In addition, ABC affiliates will also be promoting the co-branded syndicated player on-air and online.

This announcement is part of the Disney-ABC Television Group’s overall Digital Media multiplatform business initiative and demonstrates the Group’s ongoing commitment to launching new digital products and working with strategic partners in the digital media space to make its high-quality, informative and entertaining content available to consumers whenever and wherever they choose.