Buyer Database · Buyer / Distributor · Updated

Abc

ABC operates as both a US broadcast network and an Australian public broadcaster, commissioning and acquiring scripted drama, comedy, and children's content across two distinct mandates.

Current mandate

ABC sits at an unusual crossroads in 2026, representing two distinct entities whose signals are tracked together: the US broadcast network owned by Disney, and the Australian public broadcaster (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). On the US side, the network is managing a significant affiliate dispute with Nexstar and Sinclair, whose refusal to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! has created clearance gaps across dozens of markets. Trade reporting indicates Disney is weighing its options following viewer and Hollywood backlash, and the network's position in affiliate negotiations is expected to strengthen ahead of its Super Bowl rights window in February 2027. Meanwhile, the possibility of exiting late-night altogether has been described as a live consideration, particularly as CBS moves to wind down The Late Show following Stephen Colbert's departure.

On the acquisition and commissioning side, the Australian ABC has been the more active entity in recent months, greenlighting and commissioning a range of scripted projects. Recent activity includes a third season of the comedy series Austin, the indigenous crime drama Pilli Sisters PI, the crime thriller Fortitude Valley, the comedy Separated at Birth, and a reboot of the children's mockumentary Little Lunch: New Class, the latter developed in partnership with the BBC and the Australian Children's Television Foundation. The US network, meanwhile, has ordered a Grey's Anatomy Texas spinoff and greenlit The Rookie: North, extending two of its most durable franchise relationships.

Material reaches the Australian ABC primarily through established independent production relationships and co-production partnerships, with the BBC and the Australian Children's Television Foundation appearing as documented collaborators on recent children's titles. On the US network side, franchise extensions and returning series dominate the recent order slate, with deals flowing through established studio and production company relationships. No open submission portal or named public call for entries is documented in tracked activity for either entity.

Signature peaks

  • ABC + BBC + ACTF Children's Co-Production Focus — Little Lunch: New Class was greenlit as a three-way co-production between the Australian ABC, BBC, and the Australian Children's Television Foundation.
  • Grey's Anatomy + The Rookie Franchise Extensions Active — The US network ordered a Grey's Anatomy Texas spinoff and greenlit The Rookie: North, doubling down on proven franchise IP.
  • Dozens of markets Affiliate Dispute Scale — Nexstar and Sinclair's refusal to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! has created clearance gaps across dozens of US markets, per trade reporting.

Mandate dimensions

Genre focus
Crime, Drama
Territory focus
Not disclosed
Budget tier (observed)
Not disclosed
Access pattern
For the Australian ABC, material is observed reaching the broadcaster through established independent Australian production companies and named co-production partnerships; the reboot of Little Lunch: New Class, for example, was developed with the BBC and the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF) as documented co-production partners. For the US ABC network, every tracked deal in the recent window came through existing studio and franchise relationships. No unsolicited pathway is documented for either entity.
Deal structure
The Australian ABC commissions and co-produces original content, often sharing financing with international partners such as the BBC and the ACTF. The US ABC network orders series through studio production agreements, typically as broadcast licence deals for scripted drama and comedy franchises.

Recent acquisitions

  • Austin Season 3

    2026-02-18T00:00:00.000Z · greenlit
    Australia's ABC has greenlit a third season of comedy series Austin

  • Caper Crew

    2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z · commissioned

  • Fortitude Valley

    2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z · commissioned

  • Grey's Anatomy Texas Spinoff

    2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z · ordered

  • Little Lunch: New Class

    2026-02-24T00:00:00.000Z · greenlit
    the ABC, BBC and the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF) are re-booting the 2015 children's mockumentary series, Little Lunch

  • Pilli Sisters PI

    2026-02-24T00:00:00.000Z · greenlit
    Australian pubcaster the ABC has greenlit new indigenous private investigator drama series, Pilli Sisters PI

  • Portrait Artist of the Year (Australia) - return season

    2025-08-12T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

  • RJ Decker

    2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z · Acquired

Market context

With affiliate tensions reshaping its US broadcast footprint and a children's content push driving Australian co-productions, ABC is navigating two very different strategic moments simultaneously.

ABC sits at an unusual crossroads in 2026, representing two distinct entities whose signals are tracked together: the US broadcast network owned by Disney, and the Australian public broadcaster (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). On the US side, the network is managing a significant affiliate dispute with Nexstar and Sinclair, whose refusal to air Jimmy Kimmel Live! has created clearance gaps across dozens of markets. Trade reporting indicates Disney is weighing its options following viewer and Hollywood backlash, and the network's position in affiliate negotiations is expected to strengthen ahead of its Super Bowl rights window in February 2027. Meanwhile, the possibility of exiting late-night altogether has been described as a live consideration, particularly as CBS moves to wind down The Late Show following Stephen Colbert's departure.

Common questions about Abc

Does ABC accept unsolicited scripts?

No open submission portal or public call for scripts is documented in ScriptMatch's tracked activity for either the US ABC network or the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Tracked deals on the US side flow through established studio and production relationships. For the Australian ABC, recent commissions have come through independent Australian producers and named co-production partners such as the BBC and the Australian Children's Television Foundation. No unsolicited pathway is documented for either entity.

What budgets does ABC typically work at?

Budget figures are not disclosed in any of the recent acquisition or commission records tracked by ScriptMatch for ABC. On the US network side, franchise extensions like the Grey's Anatomy Texas spinoff and The Rookie: North suggest mid-to-high broadcast television budget tiers, consistent with long-running network drama. The Australian ABC, as a public broadcaster, typically operates within publicly funded commissioning budgets, often supplemented by co-production financing from partners like the BBC and the ACTF.

What festivals does ABC source from?

Festival acquisition is not a documented pathway in ScriptMatch's tracked activity for ABC. The US network's recent orders are franchise extensions and returning series sourced through existing studio relationships. The Australian ABC's recent commissions, including Pilli Sisters PI, Fortitude Valley, and Little Lunch: New Class, appear to originate through direct relationships with independent Australian producers rather than festival markets. No specific festival sourcing pattern is documented in available data.

How do I get my script in front of ABC?

For the Australian ABC, the most documented route is through established independent Australian production companies, particularly those with a track record in children's content, drama, or comedy. Co-production partnerships with organisations like the BBC and the Australian Children's Television Foundation are also a documented pathway for children's projects. For the US ABC network, tracked deals flow through major studio and production company relationships. No named open call or submission portal is documented for either entity.

What genres is ABC currently acquiring?

The Australian ABC's recent commissioning activity spans children's mockumentary (Little Lunch: New Class), indigenous crime drama (Pilli Sisters PI), crime thriller (Fortitude Valley), comedy (Separated at Birth and Austin Season 3), and kids comedy (Caper Crew). The Australian ABC's public seeking statement emphasises high-quality, original children's content for global audiences. The US ABC network's recent orders lean into medical drama and procedural franchise extensions, with the Grey's Anatomy Texas spinoff and The Rookie: North both greenlit.

Is ABC currently active in the market?

Yes. ScriptMatch's pipeline shows 278 total records across the past 12 months, with the latest signal dated September 2026. The Australian ABC has been particularly active in early 2026, greenlighting and commissioning multiple projects across drama, comedy, and children's genres. The US ABC network is navigating an affiliate dispute with Nexstar and Sinclair but continues to order franchise extensions. Deal velocity metrics indicate ongoing activity, though no new deals were recorded in the most recent 30-day window.

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Related reading

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