Freeform TV | AppleVis

Description of App

The new WATCH ABC Family app gives you two ways to enjoy your favorite ABC Family shows like Pretty Little Liars & The Fosters. Watch full episodes anytime, anywhere, or watch live right now on your favorite Apple device! Just sign in with your TV provider* and start watching! *Geographical and other restrictions apply. You must sign in with a participating TV provider to view pre-selected ABC Family programs or to view the WATCH ABC Family live stream, in the U.S. on your computer or on supported mobile phones and tablets. TV show ratings vary by episode within the application. For definitions of each TV episode rating go to www.tvguidelines.org.

Version

3.1.0

Free or Paid

Free

Apple Watch Support

Not Known

Device(s) App Was Tested On

iPhone

Accessibility Comments

Not everything is as accessible as you would want it to be.

VoiceOver Performance

VoiceOver reads most page elements.

Button Labeling

Most buttons are clearly labeled.

Usability

There are some accessibility issues with this app, but it can still be used if you are willing to tolerate these issues and learn how to work around them.

Other Comments

You will need a sighted friend to get you through the Welcome screen for the first time when you open this app. Once you get to the Main page. You will be offer some of the shows to watch. There are some you can watch with out being verified. Others you have to verify your cable provider to watch the shows. For the most part it is alright but quirky.

App Store Link

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-family/id505728417?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Developer's Website

http://abcfamily.go.com/site/mobile

Developer's Twitter Username

@ABCFamily

Options

Comments

Not all the buttons are accessible

The menus may be accessible, but once you click on a show or movie to play, the buttons on the player screen are not accessible. In order to pause the video, you have to interrupt it (I do this with a two-finger double tap to turn on music, then double tap again to turn that off, too). In order to start the video again, you have to turn Voiceover off and tap around on the screen until it hits the play button (near the center). Finally, I have yet to find a way to back out of a video once it has started, other than just restarting the entire app. Not to mention that, while some of the shows have audio description when viewed through cable, there is no option for audio description through the app, so anyone watching ABC Family shows through the app don't get that accessibility. Personally, I am very disappointed in ABC, both for this app and the broader ABC Player. Accessibility is obviously not on their list of must-have's.

Downgrade

Hello Jewel, Thanks for pointing that out to us! Quite a shame indeed. It has appeared that since 2.0 that it has lost many of the accessibility of the app. Looks like we need to inform ABC on this problem.

app renamed and accessibility comments

Hello, I think this app has been renamed from ABC Family to WATCH ABC Family. Also, this app doesn't seem to be accessible at all anymore. When I updated and installed the app this morning, it began by asking to use my current location. When I allowed it to use my current location, it went to a screen which was not usable with VoiceOver at all. I tried removing and reinstalling the app, and I received the same results.