The ABC Television Network stands as a prominent television network within the United States. Functioning as a division of The Walt Disney Company since 1996, its operations are managed through Walt Disney Television (previously known as Disney–ABC Television Group). To avoid confusion, the American Broadcasting Company is distinct from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's national broadcasting service. It is worth noting that the Australian ABC did in fact broadcast The Star Wars Holiday Special within Australia.
The initial interaction of ABC with Star Wars occurred in 1977, through the broadcast of a one-hour special titled The Making of Star Wars. Subsequently, ABC presented the two Ewok television movies, specifically Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). Furthermore, from 1985 until 1986, the network aired the animated series Star Wars: Droids and Star Wars: Ewoks. In 2014, ABC broadcast a special re-airing of Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion.
During the early 1990s, Bob Iger, who was then the chairman of ABC, authorized the production of George Lucas's series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, which was broadcast on the network from 1992 to 1993. By 2005, Iger had ascended to the position of CEO at Disney, and he played a pivotal role in negotiating the company's 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. with Lucas.
The network premiered the first two trailers for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 2016.
In 2020, a special sneak peek for season two of The Mandalorian was unveiled during Monday Night Football, which was simultaneously broadcast on both ESPN and ABC.
- Official website
- American Broadcasting Company on Wikipedia