The US has Disney’s commercial ABC with primetime hits like American Idol and Grey’s Anatomy. Australia has its own government-funded ABC — more like the BBC. Both networks run full daily slates, but they share neither programming nor schedules. This guide unpacks what’s on ABC tonight across both regions, how to find local listings, and where to catch a live stream when you need one.

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Primary Network: American Broadcasting Company · Owner: The Walt Disney Company · Official Site: abc.com · AU Counterpart: abc.net.au

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • American Idol airs at 8:00 pm on ABC US (onTVtonight)
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35 pm (onTVtonight)
  • Grey’s Anatomy, Dancing with the Stars are flagship ABC US shows (ABC.com)
2What’s unclear
  • Local time slots by zip code for US listings
  • Exact programming for ABC Australia on any given night
  • Whether specific shows run in your regional market
3Timeline signal
  • Good Morning America at 07:00 am
  • ABC World News Tonight at 6:30 pm
  • World News Now at 11:00 pm
4What’s next
  • Check abc.com/schedule for updated US listings
  • Use Freeview for Australian live TV guide
  • Stream via abc.com in supported US markets

The table below consolidates the key identifiers and reference points for navigating ABC listings in both countries.

Label Value
Network ABC (American Broadcasting Company)
Key Site abc.com/schedule
AU Site abc.net.au/tv
Sample Show Grey’s Anatomy
US Primetime Start 7/6c (AFV)
Late Night Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35 pm

What TV shows are on ABC now?

The current ABC US primetime block runs on Eastern and Pacific time, with shows cycling throughout the evening. According to the official ABC schedule page, a typical night opens with America’s Funniest Home Videos at 7/6c, followed by the 8/7c prime slot.

Current prime-time lineup

Late-night options

  • 11/10c: Late Local News in most US markets (ABC.com late-night schedule)
  • 11:35 pm: Jimmy Kimmel Live! (onTVtonight verified listings)
  • 11:00 pm: World News Now (onTVtonight overnight listings)
Why this matters

ABC US runs a consistent primetime ladder, but local affiliates can insert regional news or sports at any slot. Your zip code determines what appears between national programs.

How can I find local ABC listings?

Finding what’s actually on your ABC affiliate requires checking a few specific tools — the official network site plus third-party aggregators give you the clearest picture.

Official ABC sites

Aggregator tools

  • onTVtonight.com — detailed timed listings with episode info for US ABC (onTVtonight ABC Schedule)
  • TVInsider.com — two-week ABC schedule overview with streaming links (TV Insider two-week ABC Overview)
  • Freeview Australia — free-to-air TV guide covering ABC AU live and on-demand (Freeview Australia guide)
The upshot

For US viewers, abc.go.com/schedule is your fastest path to tonight’s grid. Australians should head to Freeview first — the ABC AU site redirects there for live listings.

What channel is ABC TV on?

ABC’s channel number varies by provider, market, and country. The US and Australia operate entirely separate channel structures.

US channel numbers

In the United States, ABC is carried as a local affiliate channel — typically in the single digits on most cable and satellite packages. According to listings data, ABC affiliates use digital subchannels that may carry additional programming. The exact position depends on your service provider and geographic market. ABC World News Tonight With David Muir, for instance, airs at 6:30 pm as Season 2026, Episode 174 in listings verified by onTVtonight.

Australia variations

ABC Australia is a free-to-air network available via antenna on channel 2 in most markets, with additional channels like ABC Kids and ABC Comedy on digital subchannels. Unlike the US model, Australian ABC does not carry advertising and operates as a public broadcaster funded by government allocation.

Bottom line: US viewers tuning to their local affiliate (often channel 7, 10, or 13) will find ABC; Australian viewers on free-to-air can access ABC on channel 2 via antenna. Each country’s service requires separate tuning.

What are the big shows on ABC?

ABC US has built its primetime identity around reality competition, medical drama, and procedural franchises — several of which rank among the highest-rated shows in their genres.

Flagship series

  • American Idol — singing competition entering multiple seasons; confirmed at 8pm tonight (onTVtonight verified airtime)
  • Grey’s Anatomy — long-running medical drama from ShondaLand
  • Dancing with the Stars — live dance competition
  • 9-1-1 — emergency services procedural
  • The Rookie — police drama
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live! — late-night talk show at 11:35 pm (onTVtonight verified airtime)

Tonight’s highlights

Based on verified listings for recent dates, tonight’s standout slot is American Idol at 8pm — the show regularly draws multi-million audiences. For news-minded viewers, ABC World News Tonight With David Muir at 6:30 pm remains one of the highest-rated evening newscasts in the country.

“A complete schedule of absolutely everything airing on ABC over the next two weeks.”

— TV Insider, TV Listings Guide (TV Insider ABC Schedule)

What to watch

If you’re catching ABC tonight, the 8pm American Idol slot is the highest-profile program on the evening schedule. Local affiliates typically insert regional news at 6pm before the national broadcast.

What’s on ABC Tonight at 8pm?

The 8pm Eastern/Pacific slot is ABC’s most-watched real estate — networks fight fiercely for it because that’s when the largest audiences are available.

8pm slot details

According to verified schedule data from onTVtonight, American Idol currently holds the 8pm slot on ABC US. The show airs Season 8 Episode 16 titled “Out Of Time” at 8:00 pm. This puts Idol opposite NBC’s The Voice and CBS’s Thursday comedy block — meaning the ratings battle is fierce on Thursday nights.

Follow-up at 9pm

The 9pm hour typically transitions to a second program — Celebrity Jeopardy! All-Stars at 9/8c per ABC’s official listings. On other nights, this slot has held shows like The $100,000 Pyramid, which aired at 9:00 pm in listings dated June 29, 2025.

Bottom line: Viewers expecting ABC US at 8pm will find American Idol dominating that slot tonight and most nights this season. At 9pm, the network slots either a game show or drama depending on the evening’s rotation.

How to Access ABC Live Stream

Streaming ABC legally requires different pathways depending on whether you’re in the US or Australia — and which shows you want to catch.

  • Visit abc.com/watch-live for the US live stream in supported markets
  • Use abc.go.com/schedule to browse the full grid with streaming options
  • Australian viewers can access live ABC via Freeview Australia TV Guide
  • ABC News Live, 20/20, and local station feeds like ABC7 are available in the US stream package (ABC Network Homepage)
  • No cable login required for the basic stream on abc.com in supported markets
The catch

The US ABC live stream only works in markets where ABC has a local affiliate agreement. If you’re outside a supported DMA, the stream won’t activate — check the abc.com map before planning to stream.

Confirmed

  • American Idol at 8pm on ABC US from abc.com and onTVtonight
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35 pm from verified listings
  • ABC.com live stream available in supported US markets
  • Freeview Australia provides AU ABC listings
  • Grey’s Anatomy, Dancing with the Stars are flagship ABC US shows

Unclear

  • Exact programming for ABC AU on any specific night
  • Local time variations by US zip code beyond national slots
  • Whether NBA or Monday Night Football programming affects tonight’s schedule
  • Specific guest lists for Jimmy Kimmel beyond listed examples

“Be sure to watch full episodes on ABC.com with the livestream link below.”

— ABC Updates, Official ABC Schedule Page (ABC.com updates)

“See the lineup of everything coming your way tonight!”

— ABC Updates, Official ABC Schedule Page (ABC.com updates)

For US viewers, the path forward is straightforward: head to abc.go.com/schedule, confirm your local affiliate’s timing, and use abc.com/watch-live if you’re in a supported market. Australian viewers looking for ABC programming should check the Freeview Australia guide, which covers live and on-demand options for the government-funded broadcaster. The two networks operate independently — they share no programming and no schedules — so readers in each country should treat their respective listings as entirely separate grids.

Related reading: Will Smith Slap Oscars · Breaking Bad Cast

Additional sources

ontvtonight.com, abc.com, abc.com

Canadian viewers tuning into ABC’s primetime shows will find the ABC TV Schedule Tonight offers detailed listings with Eastern Time adjustments.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I watch ABC TV tonight live online?

Yes, if you’re in a supported US market. ABC offers a legal live stream at abc.com/watch-live for local affiliate content. Australian viewers can access live ABC via Freeview’s TV guide platform.

How do I find NBC TV schedule for tonight?

NBC maintains its own schedule at nbc.com/schedule. This guide focuses on ABC specifically — for NBC listings, check their official site or aggregator tools like TVInsider or onTVtonight.

What’s on CBS TV tonight?

CBS runs its own prime-time lineup separate from ABC. Check cbs.com/schedule for tonight’s listings. CBS operates independently from ABC under Paramount Global.

Is there a FOX TV schedule available?

Fox’s schedule is available at fox.com/schedule. Fox is a separate broadcast network from ABC, airing different programming on its own affiliate structure.

What’s on ABC TV schedule tomorrow?

Use abc.go.com/schedule for the most current multi-day grid. TVInsider also publishes a two-week ABC schedule overview with streaming links. Tomorrow’s lineup typically shifts one day forward on the weekly rotation.

What is playing on streaming tonight?

ABC’s streaming options include full episodes on abc.com, the live stream in supported markets, and ABC News Live for news content. Streaming availability varies by show and regional restrictions.

Is ABC like BBC?

In structure, yes — ABC in Australia is government-funded like the BBC. ABC in the US, however, is a commercial Disney-owned network, more comparable to NBC or CBS than to the BBC model. The two ABCs share only a name.