Disney+ To Launch New Daily ABC News Show “What You Need To Know”
Over the past year, Disney+ has slowly been adding more news coverage from ABC News, with the introduction of the ABC News Live stream, followed by the addition of many of the daily news shows such has “Good Morning America”, “World News Tonight with David Muir”, “ABC News Live Prime with Linsey Davis” and “Nightline”.
Today, Disney has announced that Disney+ will now be getting its own original news show called, ‘What You Need To Know’, which will be hosted by James Longman and Rachel Scott.
“What You Need to Know” is the fast, fresh way to stay ahead of the conversation as viewers start their day. From breaking headlines and the day’s biggest stories to entertainment buzz and viral videos, the show has everything you need to know.
The new show will debut on Disney+ on July 21st 2025, at 6 am ET. Each daily episode of “What You Need to Know” will be available on demand on Disney+ for 24 hours before refreshing with the next day’s news and headlines.
Almin Karamehmedovic, president of ABC News, said in a statement regarding the new show:
“We are proud to launch this innovative series with Rachel and James, who meet viewers where they are with essential news, context and analysis to help them better understand the world around us. This new effort expands ABC News’ significant footprint on Disney+, allowing us to reach and connect with new and diverse audiences.”
James Longman and Rachel Scott also put out a joint statement regarding the new show:
“We’re excited to be anchoring “What You Need to Know” as part of ABC News’ growing line-up of content on Disney+. Our goal is to cut through the noise, break down the top headlines, and bring viewers up to speed on the top stories of the day. We come from different corners of the newsroom, from the frontlines of foreign conflicts to the halls of power in Washington D.C., so we’ve got all the bases covered. Wherever we go, we’re excited to bring you with us.”
Alisa Bowen, president of Disney+, added:
“What You Need to Know is reimagining what a news experience can look like for Disney+ subscribers — delivering smart, bite-sized commentary on the stories that matter most. With the trusted voices of ABC News at the helm, this show marks an exciting evolution of our news offering.”
This isn’t the first ABC News show to use the name “What You Need To Know“, as the “Good Morning America” spin-off series, “GMA3” used to have it as part of the name, but was recently rebranded to just “GMA3:.
Unfortunately, it looks like “What You Need To Know” will only be available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States, as none of the other ABC News shows are available internationally either.
Roger’s Take: Following ESPN launching its own similar show, “SC+” on Disney+ earlier this year, I’m not surprised that an ABC News variation is now heading to Disney+. Disney+ subscribers are slowly being drip-fed more and more general entertainment content and getting ready for a future where Disney+ is one of the core hubs for people to find entertainment. ABC News is slowly becoming one of the pillars of Disney+, with new shows being added daily. I’m not 100% sure if a Disney+ exclusive news show is going to pull in the viewership it needs to be considered a success, but the idea of a quick blast of news information will likely be a draw for those who only want the highlights.
What do you think of Disney+ launching its own news show? Let me know on social media!
