After years of fighting against illegal Web streaming, unpaid content services and the like, it seems ABC is joining the 21st century and adapting to reality. The network on Tuesday will launch a new “WATCH ABC” live-streaming service on during its 2013-14 upfront presentation (aka when it reveals its fall/spring schedule to advertisers). The app will be available first to users in New York via WABC-TV and in Philadelphia via WPVI.

This news comes only a month after fellow broadcast competitors CBS and Fox threatened to make viewers pay to access their network (aka switch to cable) due to recent battles with online streaming services.

Parent company Disney previously launched three similar services: WATCH Disney Channel, WATCH Disney XD, and WATCH Disney Junior, together yielding nearly 15 million downloads. The network will make available linear streaming of local ABC stations and on-demand full episodes of network programming to authenticated subscribers who will be able to access the service online and via the iOS app or Kindle Fire. WATCH ABC will eventually available on Samsung Galaxy devices.

According to Deadline, ABC promises the service will expand to all ABC-owned stations by the fall.

Unfortunately for fans of the recently canceled Happy Endings, this new app is just too little, too late. On the upside, it's great to see one of the major four networks trying to move forward into new technology territory. After several years of declining ratings (across all networks), this is the latest sign at least some execs are ready to integrate new tech into its formula.