ABC Begins The New Year By Reconnecting The Cable Cord

Beginning Jan. 6, only select cable and satellite subscribers will be able to access the most recent episodes of ABC’s most popular shows online and on mobile devices. The change, which was first announced on the WatchABC website, is a step back for a network that has traditionally supported cord cutting efforts. Beginning Monday:

To watch the most recently aired episodes, sign in with your participating TV provider username and password. All you have to do is select your participating TV provider from the list, verify your username and password, and start watching! You can also watch several episodes without signing in.

At launch, access to ABC episodes within one week of air will be available to subscribers of the following participating TV service providers:

• AT&T U-verse
• Cablevision Optimum
• Charter
• Comcast XFINITY
• Cox Communications
• Google Fiber
• Midcontinent
• Verizon FiOS

For those without a subscription, ABC suggests purchasing new episodes on iTunes or through Amazon Instant Video. They also recommend buying a subscription to Hulu Plus. ABC's new policy is obviously a step in the wrong direction, and one that comes as a huge surprise. The Walt Disney company was the first U.S. network to offer video streaming on iOS devices. Up until this point, the free WatchABC app didn't require cable/satellite authentication. We're seeking comment from ABC, and will continue to follow this story. In the meantime, see: BBC To Take On iTunes, Netflix With A New On-Demand Video Service Of Its Own, and Check Out This Curved, iOS 7-Inspired Apple HDTV Concept.

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