ABC Plans 24-Hour News Digital Channel

Walt Disney Co.’s ABC television network and affiliates are planning a joint 24-hour news digital television channel heavy on local programming, a report said.

One industry source familiar with talks on the matter confirmed that plans were underway for the digital channel but said that it would be at least a few months before a deal could be announced.

Television Week magazine, which first reported the ABC news plans, also said that the project could be abandoned if federal regulators did not require cable television operators to carry new digital channels being developed by broadcasters.