‘Watch ABC’ App For iOS To Start Steaming Live Shows

ABC is bringing live streams of show from local networks to its iOS app.

The new feature will include a “Live” button in the Watch ABC app for iPhone and iPad users. The move marks the first time a major US broadcaster has decided to provide live streams of its channels via a mobile app.

Users in New York and Philadelphia will be the first to receive live streams of ABC programs via their Apple-based devices.

According to the New York Times a presentation from ABC to advertisers on Tuesday will show off the new option along with announcing six other cities that will receive the feature this Summer.

The Watch ABC app will launch in cities where ABC owns broadcast stations, ABC will then need to discuss the program with more than 200 affiliates in order to open the program up to viewers in other areas.

While ABC plans to launch the program on iOS supported gadgets the company hopes to launch similar options for Google Android and other OS users before the end of the year.

The Disney owned company is the first to offer the program in the US, although the BBC iPlayer has already proven the success of such programs in the UK.

According to Disney-ABC Television Group Anne Sweeney:

“We watch how people are behaving with their devices, and we really felt that we needed to move faster.”

The move to push Watch ABC to customers could be a direct response to broadcast streaming app Aereo. That program streams local broadcasts to a cloud-based DVR service. Aereo was sued over copyright issues but lawsuits against the company have failed in court.

ABC officials claim to have thought up the live broadcasting app well before Aereo came into existence.

Will you be using the Watch ABC app on your iOS-based mobile device?

[Image via appadvice]