Who owns ABC?
ABC is owned by Disney (the United States, NYSE: DIS), which has owned the brand since 9 February 1996.[1] ABC was founded in 1943 in the United States and was independent until 1996.
Key facts
- Current owner
- The Walt Disney Company verified
- Owned since
- Previous owner
- Independent (1943–1996)
- Owner HQ
- 🇺🇸 United States, Burbank, California
- Origin
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Founded
- 1943
- Category
- Media & entertainment › Film & television › Television networks
- Parent ticker
- NYSE: DIS
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About ABC
ABC is one of the three original American broadcast networks, and Disney acquired its parent Capital Cities in 1996 for $19 billion. That deal also brought ESPN, which turned out to be worth considerably more than the network itself. Its news division and its long-running soap operas came with the deal, and the network still carries the Oscars ceremony under a contract running into the 2030s.
Ownership timeline of ABC
Where ABC sits in Disney
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
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Other brands owned by Disney in media & entertainment
Latest news about ABC
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Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of ABC?
The parent company of ABC is Disney, a publicly listed company headquartered in the United States.
Is ABC American?
Yes. ABC originated in the United States in 1943 and its owner, Disney, is also headquartered in the United States.
Since when has Disney owned ABC?
Disney has owned ABC since 9 February 1996.
Who owned ABC before Disney?
ABC was an independent company from its founding in 1943 until Disney acquired it in 1996.
Is ABC still owned by Disney?
Yes. As of 8 September 2026, ABC is still owned by Disney. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] The Walt Disney Company Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 2025-11-13 — SEC EDGAR, SEC Form 10-K, published 13 November 2025; retrieved 8 September 2026.
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