Report: ABC working on mobile app for streaming live programming

By Mike Flacy March 18, 2013

abc streaming — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Reported by the New York Times today, the Walt Disney company is working on an application for mobile devices that will allow subscribers to watch ABC shows live. Rather than waiting to view the program on Hulu the following day, digital video consumers would be able to watch programming the moment that it airs using a smartphone, tablet or laptop. While this type of programming is free to watch in high definition using a simple antenna and a television, the ability to watch live programming at any location could be extremely popular with consumers dependent on the price of the service.

However, details behind the application are light at the moment and ABC has declined to comment on the stage of development. The subscriber would likely have to choose between the East or West coast feed dependent on their location within the United States. The application could hypothetically make streaming content immediately available after it airs, thus preserving the original advertisement slots and offering an experience similar to a DVR.

Over the years, ABC has been ahead of other networks in regards to offering digital versions of programming. ABC was the first network to make digital copies of television shows available on Apple’s iTunes and launched an application at the launch of the iPad that allows viewers to watch episodes, free of charge, that were supported by advertising.

While people within ABC indicate the app could launch as early as this year, ABC executives will likely need to navigate around mobile streaming contractual obligations for specific shows as well as details how local station content will be integrated into the application, if at all. Also owned by the Walt Disney company, ESPN launched a similar application during 2011 that allows iPhone or iPad owners to watch live sports. However, users have to be a paid subscriber to the ESPN network through Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks or Verizon FiOS TV in order to access the content.

Editors' Recommendations

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Deals

Save big on streaming and TV bundles for Streaming Day 2022

Telus LG TV with Optik 34r PVR box is connected to a TV with a football game on screen.

This content was produced in partnership with TELUS.
National Streaming Day 2022 is coming on May 20, which celebrates streaming media in many ways. Streaming service and TV providers usually save big announcements for the date, often unveiling new products, new streaming content, or exclusive deals. Overall it's a great opportunity to get in on some excellent streaming and TV deals -- much like what TELUS is offering its Canadian customers. Interestingly, TELUS is the only TV provider to incorporate streaming services into its plans, consolidating all of your streaming bills into one payment. You get comprehensive access to four streaming services of your choice, all through Optik TV -- plus you can take your favorites with you on the go with the Optik TV app. In celebration of Streaming Day, TELUS is offering an exclusive one-time coupon code, which you can use to sign up, stream, and save. Right now, you can use the code STREAMANDSAVE to save up to $50 when you go online and add Optik TV to your Telus internet, but hurry, this is a limited-time offer and expires on June 30th.
Start Streaming Now

Stream and save
Optik TV combines modern streaming services and live TV in one convenient package for one low price. With just one plan, you get access to all of the events, shows, sports, and news that are exclusive to live TV, plus your favorite streaming services like Netflix, Crave, Hayu, and Prime Video. Optik is the only TV platform in Western Canada that allows customers to save big by swapping out channels they don't watch with streaming services they do. Without the bundle, you'd have to individually subscribe to streaming plans on top of your live TV package. One of the best things about Optik TV is that you can protect yourself and your wallet by locking in the best deals on your favorite streaming services for two years. Rates will not increase during that time, and if streaming providers do raise their prices, the increase won't be passed on to you, so long as they're included in your Optik package.
Features and perks
Every customer gets a free movie rental included in their plan, which can be used on one of the thousands of options in Western Canada's largest On-Demand library. With the Optik app, you can surf live TV and stream content on multiple devices simultaneously, including your phone or tablet, and even manage your recordings from your phone and sync them with your PVR at home. To top it all off, you'll never run out of things to watch as TELUS offers the most HD and 4K channels, plus the largest selection of multicultural channels in Western Canada.

Mobile

5G coverage map: Where you can get 5G on Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile

Qualcomm 5G at CES 2019

Gone are the days when 5G was just a buzzword and deployment was experimental. Today, 5G is an established worldwide networking protocol built into most high-quality and flagship mobile devices. 5G stands for fifth-generation mobile technology, and it's destined to replace 4G (and older protocols) worldwide with speeds up to 100 times faster. Not only is it faster, but it is also more responsive for overall coverage and reception. That means faster uploading and downloading of documents, images, and videos. For home use, it means replacing fiber-optic cable with fast wireless connections.

There are two forms of 5G technology currently in use: Sub-6 relies on lower frequencies to deliver a much larger network, but the trade-off is that you'll receive only marginally faster speeds than you would with 4G. While mmWave connections rely on much higher frequencies that deliver dramatically faster download speeds, those radio waves can't physically travel long distances or make their way through obstacles like walls or even windows, which reduce signal strength.

Audio / Video

What is Chromecast? Google’s wireless streaming tech explained

Chromecast icon seen on a smartphone screen.

In 2013, Google debuted a small gadget called Chromecast. The device could wirelessly link people's TVs and other devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers. The versatile dongle that you simply plugged into an HDMI port on your TV was far more affordable than other streaming media devices like Roku and Apple TV, but it had less robust streaming offerings. Chromecast added a new meaning to the word "casting," virtually emulating the casting of a fisherman's line by wirelessly casting an image from one screen onto another.

Today, Google's Chromecast is on more than just a stick. It's implemented on a wide variety of smart devices, from TVs to soundbars and smart speakers. As the technology gains popularity, it's worth understanding what exactly Chromecast is, what it does, how to use it, and how it compares to similar wireless technologies. That's what we'll do here.
Is Chromecast hardware or software?