ABC was the first major television network in the United States to give exposure[1][2] to the Arena Football League.
Prior to 1998,[3][4][5] when ABC televised ArenaBowl XII, the most exposure that the league would receive was on ESPN, which would air tape-delayed games, often well after midnight.
From 1998-2002, ABC's ArenaBowl broadcasts were aired as under the Wide World of Sports[6] anthology umbrella.
Also televised were three Divisional Playoff games, both Conference Championships and the ArenaBowl on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC.
This particular arrangement with ABC was again in place in 2008 before NFL Network took over the broadcasting rights for the ArenaBowl for the next three seasons.