ABC World News Now

ABC World News Now (WNN) is ABC's overnight news program. Generally watched by insomniacs, college students, and parents of infants, it has featured serious as well as offbeat news interspersed with odd features such as the "World News Polka" played by Barry Mitchell on the accordion, video footage of dancing camels, and laughter coming from off camera. Weather predictions are made for obscure and exotic places around the world, some of which have ties to the show for various reasons. It also often replays clips from Nightline, ABC World News Tonight, and other ABC News programming. It has been a training ground for several young up and coming news anchors (See List Below) which eventually go on to higher profile network or local affiliate positions. The show is also unique for its interactive segments, some of which pioneered the email communication that is commonly used on newscasts today. The ABC News WNN Message board has been known offer to viewers questions and comments from the anchors themselves, during the course of the show.

Related Topics:
Insomniac - Barry Mitchell - Accordion - Camel - Weather - Nightline - ABC World News Tonight - ABC News - News anchor

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Of note is that World News Now was used as the prototype for Fred, ABC's plan to run a cable news channel. The plan was floated in 1996 and was later dropped due to issues with carriage.

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In 1994, World News Now was the first television program to be broadcast on the Internet, using the CU-SeeMe interface. The program was interactive with the few viewers with Internet access at the time (mainly college students). Victor Dorff, the producer of WNN at the time, arranged for viewers to send web cam images of themselves, which were broadcast in several interactive segments. http://www.canada.com/national/globalnational/newmanblog.html?post=1826 World News Now was also one of the first shows to webcast; between 1999 and 2001, free live streaming was on the ABC News web site.

Related Topics:
1994 - Internet - CU-SeeMe - 1999 - 2001

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The show is produced in three half-hour segments, Monday Morning-Friday Morning. Local affiliates can carry as many or few hours as they wish, with some smaller market affiliates replaying the entire show several times in an overnight period.

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WNN is currently anchored by Ron Corning and Heather Cabot.

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In many cities, this show is followed up by ABC World News This Morning.

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