After having attempted a 20-minute online news program three times a week hosted by Sam Donaldson in 1999 , ABC News launched a forerunner of ABC News Now in March 2003 . The service was fee based except for the customers of America Online , Comcast , and a few other Internet providers . Later , mobile phone users could access the programming through Sprint 's MobiTV . The ABC News Now service launched on July 24 , 2004 , with extended coverage of the Democratic National Convention and Republican National Convention . The station was carried by digital subchannels of 70 ABC-owned stations and affiliates . The service was also available online as a subscription-based outlet
Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
ABC News Now