Thursday, January 2, 2014

WATCH ABC Will Require Users To Sign In Starting Jan. 6

Starting January 6 ABC's WATCH ABC website and app will require users to "sign in with a participating TV service provider account to view the most recent episode of your favorite ABC shows." WATCH ABC lets you view the ABC network live or on demand on various devices like smartphones, tablets, and your computer.

Currently the supported providers are as follows.

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

If you subscribe to any of these participating TV providers, you can verify your account with a username and password by following on-screen prompts on WATCHABC.com or in the WATCH ABC app. If you don't have a username and password, contact your TV provider customer service department for help.

If your provider is not listed, ABC says they are working to add more. In the meantime, you have a few options:
* Check your TV provider's video on-demand offering. Most offer next day viewing.
* You can access episodes on WATCHABC.com and the WATCH ABC app a week after they air.
* New episodes are also available with a subscription to Hulu Plus, or for purchase on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video.

The network explained the new requirements in an FAQ this way:
"Pay TV service providers are a key part of the television industry in delivering broadcast content through new technology platforms. Now, with the support of participating pay TV service providers, the ABC network is able to continue to bring live entertainment, news and sports programming on a national and local level as well as the latest on-demand episodes on new, emerging digital platforms at no additional cost to their subscribers."

10 comments:

  1. What is the point of this? Why make the app more difficult to use? It is so simple now. You guys should leave it that way.

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    Replies
    1. It all comes down to money I'm sure. If people without cable were watching someone somewhere felt they were losing money.

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  2. So people who only receive ABC over standard, broadcast (antenna) television can't watch? I also notice that the two major satellite providers DirectTV and DISH aren't on the list either.

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    1. I guess ABC is getting more money from the cable companies to do this than they are advertising dollars from people watching that aren't cable subscribers (although not sure how they know this since we're not logging in yet).

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  3. why are they making it harder to watch our soaps

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  4. What gets me is that ABC pulled SOAPnet from the air and now some people (me) who can't watch GH during the day, can no longer watch it at night on cable, nor online! I'm going to have to break down and subscribe to Hulu Plus so that I can keep up with the show. They sure are making it much harder, and for some almost impossible, to watch GH.

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  5. With soap veiwership down, why would you make it so hard for those of us that are actually still tuning in to watch GH? Not all of us can afford cable and need to watch it over the air. Stupid and very disappointing. You have just lost another viewer.

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  6. I am very disappointed to hear this. I am a nurse who works 12 hour shifts and cannot watch Greys Anatomy at the shown time. I cannot get any of the providers that you are going through to be able to sign in due to I live in a rural area. I only have antenna tv and the satellite providers in my area aren't a choice of yours either. I already have netflix and do not care for hulu , I have had it before. I love this abc ap for my iPad because I can watch tv shows that I regularly miss. Shame on you ABC for doing this when you could leave it an open option for those of us who cannot get access otherwise. I'm very disappointed in your decision to do this. But apparently your viewers don't matter to much to you, it's the mighty dollar that you bow to. Thanks for ruining my day.

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  7. I have standard broadcast (antenna) TV and now I can't access ABC on my IPad or Apple TV, what a bummer. Its all about money

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  8. try to get a friends user id and password it should work

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