ABC News Launches 20/20 True Crime Podcast Channel
The new Apple Podcasts destination bundles two dozen investigative audio series under a premium subscription tier.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Television
Live Poll
Would you pay a monthly subscription fee to access exclusive ad-free true crime podcast content?
ABC News launched the 20/20 True Crime channel and a companion subscription service, 20/20 True Crime+, in late July 2026. The platform centralizes archival content and investigative audio series for listeners on Apple Podcasts.
Why it matters
By creating a dedicated hub, ABC News aims to leverage its existing production infrastructure to provide a sustained destination for long-form true crime storytelling. The move capitalizes on consistent listener interest in investigative audio and serialized forensic investigations.
The channel hosts roughly 24 true crime programs and holds a 4.0 listener rating. Subscriptions include a seven-day free trial.
The players
ABC News
This American news division of the American Broadcasting Company produces a wide range of investigative reports and journalistic programming.
Apple Podcasts
This is a digital audio service and media player application developed by Apple for the distribution of podcast content.
The details
The 20/20 True Crime+ tier provides subscribers with ad-free playback, early access to new series, and exclusive bonus material. The archive includes high-profile investigative reports, such as series covering the McStay family disappearance, the Luigi Mangione case, and The Dropout.
Timeline
The 20/20 True Crime+ subscription service launched in late July 2026.
The McStay family disappearance occurred in 2010.
The murder of a teenager in Idaho occurred in 1996.
Industry Dynamics
This move reflects a broader trend of major media networks gatekeeping investigative archives behind premium subscription tiers on platforms like Apple Podcasts. The strategy signals an effort to consolidate fragmented content libraries as competition in the true crime audio market intensifies.
Listeners can access the channel content for free or upgrade to the 20/20 True Crime+ subscription for ad-free playback and early access. Potential subscribers can evaluate the premium content during a seven-day free trial period before committing to the monthly or annual fee.
The takeaway
True crime enthusiasts can now access curated investigative series through a centralized network hub. Those interested in the service should utilize the seven-day trial to determine if the ad-free and early access features justify the subscription cost.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving digital media strategies in the United States Television section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cord Cutters News.
Live Poll
Would you pay a monthly subscription fee to access exclusive ad-free true crime podcast content?
