ABC NEWS RELEASES INNOVATIVE APPLICATION FOR iPAD

News App Makes Perfect One-Two Punch with ABC’s Tremendously Successful

Entertainment Video App

App Features Unique Three Dimensional Interactive Globe Allowing Users to Spin, Shake and Touch to View ABC News Videos, Stories and Photos

ABC News today announced the release of a new application for the Apple iPad, available in the Apple App Store. The new application takes full advantage of the form and functionality of the iPad, using as the principal navigation tool a unique interactive three dimensional globe on which news stories appear.  The launch of the ABC News iPad app marks the second time in recent months that the Disney/ABC Television Group has created an innovative video offering for the new platform.  In April, DATG became the first to bring ad-supported video to the iPad via the acclaimed ABC Player app which has proven to be tremendously successful with more than 928,000 downloads and 5.9 million episodes started in just over three months. 

With the unique three dimensional interface, users can spin the ABC News globe by touching the face of the iPad and then can choose the stories of most interest to them (ABC News iPad Demo Video). Users are able to define the sorts of stories that populate their ABC News globe on the iPad, from politics, health, entertainment, and more.  ABC News’ library of archival footage is available as an option for users to explore “This Month in History.” They are also able to set up their globe to include stories from “Good Morning America, “World News with Diane Sawyer,” “Nightline,” “20/20,” and “This Week.”  Users can select stories to be bookmarked and viewed later.  And, they are able to share the stories they select with friends through Facebook, Twitter, or email. 

The ABCNEWS.com site is also now optimized in HTML5 and is available on the iPad with full functionality for all features, including video.  At launch, the ABC News application is sponsored by the Jeep® Brand and Truvia™ natural sweetener.

“ABC News continues to leverage technology to tell the stories no one else can and this innovative new app is the next step in our effort to redefine broadcast journalism for today’s consumer,” said Anne Sweeney, co-chair Disney Media Networks and president, Disney-ABC Television Group.  “Paired with ABC’s hugely successful entertainment app, our newest addition gives consumers the best in news and primetime programming on a very powerful and popular platform.”

 “We’re excited to provide Apple iPad users with a unique news application that features the best of ABC News reporting and takes full advantage of what the iPad has to offer to news consumers in an exciting and imaginative way,” said David Westin, President, ABC News.

ABC News App for iPad is available now from the App Store or at www.itunes.com/appstore. For more details and to see a demo of the ABC News app on the iPad, go to www.abcnews.com/ipad.

About ABC News Digital

ABC News Digital Media Group includes ABCNEWS.com; ABC News NOW; ABC News Mobile; ABC News Productions; ABC News International; and VideoSource, ABC News’ library of historic news events dating back to 1963. ABCNEWS.com is the 24-hour online news service of ABC News launched in May 1997 and is consistently ranked among the top news sites. ABC News NOW is a digital network that offers a wide range of live and on-demand programming and is available to 44 million subscribers on broadband, cable and mobile platforms. ABC News is available anytime, anywhere on your mobile device: m.abcnews.com and on the iPhone.