‘Disney Celebrates America’ Line-up Announced
This year, the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, and Disney has announced its lineup of special shows that will be coming to its linear channels, along with Hulu and Disney+.
“Disney Celebrates America” is a company-wide initiative honouring the 250th anniversary of the United States, featuring unparalleled programming, activations, and storytelling from across its iconic brands and businesses. For more than a century, Disney has helped shape the American story — showcasing the imagination, optimism, and sense of possibility that connects generations. This campaign is a reflection of this legacy and provides an opportunity for fans of all ages to celebrate both a nation and a forward-looking spirit.
Ken Potrock, President of Major Events Integration, The Walt Disney Company, said in a statement regarding the event:
“As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, ‘Disney Celebrates America’ is our way of honoring this historic milestone by celebrating the people, places, and shared moments that define who we are. Through immersive and creative park experiences and unprecedented broadcast moments, Disney invites everyone to come together and celebrate America in a truly meaningful way by reflecting on where we’ve been and imagining the extraordinary future we can create together.”
“Disney Celebrates America” comes to life through storytelling and experiences across the full breadth of The Walt Disney Company. On June 29, ABC will air a 2-hour primetime special entitled “Disney Celebrates America: The Pursuit of Happiness” hosted by 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts from Walt Disney World Resort and national correspondent Will Reeve from Disneyland Resort. From Main Street, U.S.A. and its turn-of-the-century nostalgia to Tomorrowland, where the nation lifts its gaze to the future, each stop will play host to true tales of American “firsts.” In this coast-to-coast event, Disney Parks and attractions are the portal through which America’s greatest stories, triumphs, and traditions are celebrated. The special will air from 8-10 p.m. PT/ET.
Beginning the evening of July 3 and continuing through July 4, ABC Entertainment, ABC News, ESPN, and National Geographic will present an unparalleled 24-hour, cross-platform broadcast spanning ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, FX, Freeform, ABC News Live, ESPN, and ABC Owned Television Stations and affiliates.
Led by “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir and featuring anchor Diane Sawyer, “Good Morning America” co-anchors Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan, “Nightline” co-anchors Juju Chang and Byron Pitts, “20/20″ co-anchor Deborah Roberts, Prime anchor and “World News Tonight” Sunday anchor Linsey Davis, “The View” co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Sunny Hostin, and Sara Haines along with more of the ABC News team and talent, the expansive programming event takes viewers across all 50 states to explore the people, places, and defining moments of the nation’s 250-year history. Featuring live celebrations, immersive storytelling, performances, and reporting from locations across the country, the broadcast delivers a comprehensive, daylong tribute to America’s past, present, and future.
Alongside a special edition of “Good Morning America”, “World News Tonight with David Muir”, and “Nightline”, curated segments include:
- Disney Celebrates America: Nashville’s Star-Spangled Bash is a one-of-a-kind live celebration with must-see performances by iconic artists and musical acts spanning multiple genres. In collaboration with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and ITV America Nashville, hundreds of thousands are expected to gather in-person in the heart of downtown Nashville for this milestone event, which will also feature one of the largest fireworks and drone shows in the United States set to a live score by the GRAMMY Award winning Nashville Symphony.
- Countdown to America’s 250th reporting features rare access inside the Statue of Liberty with a once-in-a-lifetime tribute, produced in close partnership with the Consulate General of France in New York
- GMA’s “50 States in 50 Weeks: America The Beautiful,” a culmination of the showcase series of the beauty of America’s land and people
- Dawn of America tracing American history from colonial times through the Declaration of Independence
- A look at the brave U.S. military service members, veterans, and their families who have helped defend their country for two and a half centuries
- America Expands Westward, highlighting America’s growth through a cross-country adventure, including broadcasts from Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder with celebrations from Ketchikan, Alaska
- Innovation and Invention presenting a special look at the birth of Hollywood cinema, the history of American fashion, the space race, and more
- Wonders of America, a special collaboration between ABC News anchors and National Geographic Explorers
The Wonders of America broadcast segment will feature the newly announced “Seven Natural Wonders of America,” a list created in collaboration between National Geographic and ABC News, highlighting the extraordinary and awe-inspiring locations across the country that represent the beauty of the United States of America. The first wonder revealed today on “Good Morning America” was the Hawaii volcanoes, with six more sites to be revealed on the Fourth of July during the broadcast with on the ground reporting from ABC News talent. National Geographic will further explore the nation’s stories through an expansive summer storytelling package across print, digital, and social platforms launching June 16.
ESPN’s flagship news and information program, “SportsCenter”, will present a special two-hour edition live on ABC on July 4 from 2-4 p.m. PT/5-7 p.m. ET, celebrating the people, moments, and stories that have shaped American sports culture. Co-hosted by Kevin Negandhi and Christine Williamson, the program will feature live reports from SportsCenter anchors across the country alongside original storytelling, historical retrospectives, and talent-driven segments from ESPN’s top personalities. Coverage will include features on iconic American sports moments and the enduring cultural impact of sports in America, complemented by essays and SC Featured storytelling.
ESPN.com will feature “AMERICA 250 Road Trips: A journey through the mystery and majesty of sports,” a five-day series of stories to mark America’s 250th anniversary on July 4. Five ESPN reporters followed a custom road trip to explore how sports shaped the country’s identity. The visual-heavy presentations will include maps, illustrations, photography, videos, and graphics.
Roger’s Take: Much like any major big event, ABC News’s daily lineup of shows is doing the majority of the heavy lifting in terms of making this event a big deal for the networks and streaming services. With over 24 hours of back-to-back coverage on ABC News Live, which is available to stream on Disney+, anyone watching, at any time, is certainly going to get to feel some of the magic of the celebration without needing to leave their home.
Are you looking forward to watching these 250th anniversary specials? Let me know on social media!
