Disney+ Adds 8 Local Channels for U.S. Subscribers
Streaming services are regularly adding new channels for their customers, both free and subscriber. Disney+ is one of the latest platforms to increase offerings.
As of Wednesday, Disney+ subscribers in the United States now have access to continuous 24/7 livestreams of eight local ABC-owned television stations. All are from major markets.
What are the eight new ABC local streams on Disney+?
- Chicago (WLS-TV)
- Fresno, CA (KFSN-TV)
- Houston (KTRK-TV)
- Los Angeles (KABC-TV)
- New York (WABC-TV)
- Philadelphia (WPVI-TV)
- Raleigh-Durham, NC (WTVD-TV)
- San Francisco (KGO-TV)
"The 24/7 local news streams feature live, market-specific newscasts, breaking news, important weather updates and special community events and celebrations," reads the press release from The Walt Disney Company. "The streams are available in the ABC News Hub and the Live Hub. Over time, subscribers located in one of the eight markets will also see their local-market station featured in other locations on Disney+."
A standard Disney+ membership is all that's needed to access any of these streams in the United States.
"The move aligns with broader efforts by media companies to adapt legacy broadcast assets for digital streaming audiences, particularly as viewing habits continue to shift toward on-demand and app-based consumption," writes Cord Cutters News' Luke Bouma.
Disney+ already has plenty of national news options
While these new channels provide customers with more locally-tailored coverage, there were already several nationally-based news programs on Disney+.
National options for subscribers include World News Tonightwith David Muir, ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis, 20/20, Good Morning America, Nightline, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and What You Need to Know.