The third of the three major television broadcasting networks in the U.S., ABC was formed in 1943 when Edward J. Noble, head of Life Savers candy, purchased the so-called Blue network of six radio stations from NBC.

ABC merged with United Paramount Theaters in 1952. While its larger rivals NBC and CBS prospered throughout the 1950s and 1960s, ABC subsisted on a diet of westerns and popular melodramas but consistently remained in third place, drawing fewer viewers and losing money. The network finally came into its own in the mid-1970s, and during the 1975-76 season it beat CBS and NBC in the ratings for the first time. This success was largely due to ABC's innovative sports programs, produced by Roone Arledge. Situation comedies and made-for-TV movies also featured in the network's programming.

The network's news coverage increased and improved during the 1980s (again under Arledge, who had become president of ABC news). ABC and its affiliate local stations led the way in popularizing news broadcasts with light human-interest features and newsroom chat. ABC was acquired by Capital Cities Communications, Inc., in 1986; the new company was known as Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. In addition to its television and radio broadcasting interests, the company is also involved in publishing, recording and other facets of the entertainment industry. In 1996 ABC was purchased by the Walt Disney Corporation.