ABC7 New York
U.S. center
Background
WABC-TV signed on the air on August 10, 1948, as WJZ-TV, becoming one of the earliest ABC-affiliated television stations and the 32nd TV station in the United States. The station adopted its current call letters, WABC-TV, on March 1, 1953, following ABC's merger with United Paramount Theatres. For decades it operated under ABC, which itself was acquired by Capital Cities Communications in 1986. Disney purchased Capital Cities/ABC in 1996, bringing WABC-TV under Disney ownership, where it has remained. The station brands itself as 'Eyewitness News' and is recognized as the highest-rated local television station in the country by total viewers. In 2025, WABC-TV relocated to Disney's headquarters in Lower Manhattan. As a local New York City outlet, its editorial focus centers on metro-area news, and media watchdog organizations — including Media Bias/Fact Check and AllSides — rate it as center or least-biased, distinguishing it from the more left-leaning national ABC News network.
Sources
- WABC-TV – Wikipedia
- About WABC-TV, Eyewitness News and our history – ABC7 New York
- ABC7 New York Media Bias – AllSides
- ABC7 New York – Bias and Credibility – Media Bias/Fact Check
- ABC Owned Television Stations – ABC OTV Press
Profile compiled 2026-08-01; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.