• by Wayne Friedman , May 12, 2026

For the first time in its history, ABC Television Network is renewing its entire slate of scripted programming for a new year, for the 2026-27 TV season.

“We enter this fall season from a position of undeniable strength,” said Craig Erwich, president of Disney Television Group, in remarks before its upfront presentation. He added: “Our focus has always been simple: Make the best shows on television and get them to audiences however they want to watch.”

Just one new scripted program was announced by ABC during its upfront presentation: “The Rookie: North,” a spinoff of ABC’s “The Rookie” franchise show, which will debut sometime midseason in 2027.

In the fall, ABC will boost more prime-time sports, continuing its effort to bring more “Monday Night Football” to most Monday nights in the fall.

While Walt Disney’s upfront presentation placed emphasis on “Monday Night Football” -- in line with other sports-programming additions on other legacy TV network-focused companies -- it continues to focus on a variety of unscripted and scripted programming starting in September and continuing throughout the TV season.

“That strategy continues to drive the success of ABC and Hulu — from legacy hits being embraced by new generations to breakout series becoming the next cultural touchstones," Erwich said.

Onstage during the company’s upfront presentation, the new Chief Executive Officer of Disney Josh D'Amaro offered up a full picture of the marketplace and Disney’s place in it.

“Everyone, in their own special way is racing to assemble something -- studios, streaming services, sports rights, live events, and brands that audience feel something about,” he says. “It is, in a way, a real compliment to this company. Because what they are racing to assemble is more or less what we already are.”

ABC says that when looking at “multiplatform” season-to-date ratings it dominates other networks with the number-one drama, comedy, new comedy and alternative new series in the 18-49 demographic, but did not provide specific details.

Analyzing season-to-date Nielsen-measured viewers -- through May 3 -- in live-program-plus-seven-day time-shifted viewing, ABC’s top prime-time entertainment show is “High Potential," with 8.1 million viewers.

Longtime unscripted dance competition show “Dancing With The Stars” followed at 7.6 million, with “Will Trent” at 6.8 million and “American Idol” at 6.2 million.

ABC’s “Monday Night Football” was its strongest overall program, with 11.5 million viewers.