The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is a publicly traded television network and one of the “Big Three” broadcasters in the United States. Headquartered in Burbank, California, ABC is known for its wide range of programming, including news, entertainment, dramas, reality shows, and children’s programming.
ABC is not an independent public stock entity but is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol DIS.
Founded in 1943 from the former NBC Blue Radio Network, ABC grew into a national broadcasting powerhouse. In 1995, it became part of Disney through the acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC. As of September 2025, Disney is led by CEO Bob Iger, who resumed his role in 2022.
Ownership Status of ABC
There is no single private owner of the ABC TV network. It is wholly owned by The Walt Disney Company, and since Disney is publicly traded, ownership is distributed among institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders.
Major Shareholders of Disney (which owns ABC)
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vanguard Group, Inc. | ~8% | Large passive investor via index funds (13F filings). |
| BlackRock, Inc. | ~7% | Global investment firm, top Disney shareholder. |
| State Street Corporation | ~4% | Major institutional index fund investor. |
| Capital Research & Mgmt | ~2–3% | Actively managed Disney stake. |
| Retail & Other Investors | ~78% | Includes mutual funds, pensions, and individual investors. |
Note: ABC’s ownership flows directly through Disney, so these investors indirectly own ABC.
Key Shareholder Highlights
- Vanguard holds the largest stake (~8%) in Disney, largely through passive index funds, making it a significant indirect owner of ABC.
- BlackRock (~7%) is another top shareholder, known for its broad global investments and influence in corporate governance.
- State Street (~4%) is one of the “Big Three” passive investors, consistently appearing among Disney’s largest holders.
- Other active funds like Capital Research & Management maintain a meaningful but smaller position.
Together, these firms shape Disney’s shareholder base and thus indirectly influence ABC’s governance through their voting power in Disney’s corporate matters.
Recent Developments in Ownership
- In 2023–2024, reports surfaced that Disney was exploring options to potentially sell or spin off its linear television networks, including ABC. However, Disney has publicly stated it is not actively selling ABC.
- Regular changes in Disney’s shareholder base occur due to institutional fund flows, buybacks, and market trading, but Disney continues to fully own and control ABC.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of ABC?
ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company. Since Disney is publicly traded, ownership is divided among institutional investors and retail shareholders.
2. Is ABC publicly traded or privately owned?
ABC itself is not traded; it is part of Disney, which trades on the NYSE under ticker DIS.
3. Who founded ABC?
ABC was founded in 1943, emerging from the former NBC Blue Network.
4. Has the ownership changed recently?
Ownership of Disney (and therefore ABC) shifts among institutional investors over time, but Disney has remained ABC’s parent company since 1995.
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