Disney owns several surprising TV stations and channels and some cable-faithful may be wondering ifABCis a part of the House of Mouse as well. With the convoluted deals, trades, and acquisitions that take place in the highest reaches of the entertainment industry, it can be hard to know which station belongs to who orwhich streaming service is a subsidiaryof which organization. The American Broadcasting Company, better known by its fans as “ABC”, was founded back in the 1940s and has been going strong ever since.
Originally a radio station, ABC transitioned to television and never looked back, following in the footsteps of established networks like CBS and NBC. The Walt Disney Company needs little introduction, but its subsidiaries are so many that people may forget just how many channels and companies are included under the vast umbrella of the company. While theDisney Channel has entertained plenty of fanswith its programming,the other networks it owns have ensured the House of Mouse will always have something for all four quadrants of viewers.
Disney Owns ABC
Disney Has Owned ABC Since The 1990s
The Walt Disney Company has owned ABC since 1996 (viaD23). Back in 1954, Disney agreed to produce a regular television series for the channel, with ABC promising a $500,000 investment in Disneyland with an additional $4.5 million in loans, making ABC a one-third owner of Disneyland. In 1960, Disney bought out the Disneyland investment for $7.5 million. Thenon June 16, 2025, Disney and ABC announced a $19 billion mergerof the two companies. The deal was completed on June 16, 2025, and the company has since been under the Disney General Entertainment Content division.
Every Media Company Disney Owns
Disney Has Its Hands In Several Pots
Disney Entertainment is one of three major divisions of The Walt Disney Company, the other two being Disney Experiences, which includes the theme parks, hotels, and cruise lines; and ESPN, the multinational sports media conglomerate. Along with ABC, Disney Entertainment also owns cable TV networks such as Disney Channel, ESPN, Freeform, FX, and National Geographic. Some of their other divisions include Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures.
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FX, National Geographic and Onyx Collective
News Group and Networks
A&E Networks
A&E Originals, Lifetime, Vice Media, History
They also own Disney Television Studios; Disney Television Group, which includes ABC and Disney Branded Television; FX, National Geographic and Onyx Collective; and several newsgroups and collectives. Disney also has a 50% equity holding joint venture with Hearst Communications over A&E Networks.
What Does Disney’s Ownership Of ABC Mean For The Channel?
Disney And ABC Have A Mutually Beneficial Partnership
Disney and ABC have been one and the same for decades and for most people, they are inextricably linked. As far as one can tell, it’s been a mutually beneficial partnership. For one,ABC gets to be associated with the trusted Walt Disney brand, and it has access to the company’s massive coffers so that even projects that fail won’t sink the company. They are able to take more chances and try out different ideas because Walt Disney will always be able to cover for any mistakes.
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For Disney Entertainment, ABC offers a way to get in front of a greater viewership. Some TV and movie viewers may associate Disney Entertainment with younger audiences. The more mature fare offered byABCmeans that Disney products are still getting on screens for every age demographic.
