Format
Newsmagazine / True Crime
Length
60 min (regular) / 120 min (specials)
Timeslot
Friday 9:00 PM ET, ABC
Exposé length
2–4 pages
Gripping, emotional, accessible. ABC 20/20 tells true-crime stories and investigative reports for a broad network audience. The tone is dramatically tight — every episode is structured like a thriller, with narrative arc, cliffhangers, and surprising twists. The storytelling is character-centered: victims, perpetrators, investigators are at the core. The anchors (David Muir, Deborah Roberts) guide through the story with authority and empathy. 20/20 is more emotional than NBC Dateline — the human tragedy stands alongside the facts. Archival material, police footage, and exclusive interviews create an immersive narrative flow. Two-hour specials allow deeper immersion into complex cases.
Network TV standard with true-crime aesthetic. Police footage (body-cam, interrogation videos, surveillance cameras) is essential. Exclusive interviews professionally lit. Archival material and family photos tell the victims' story. Graphics for timelines, crime scenes, and connections. Reconstructions sparse but atmospheric. The edit is fast and tension-driven — cliffhangers before every commercial break. Music is deployed strategically for suspense. The visual language is professional but not cinematic — television, not cinema.
Editorial notes
20/20 has been on air since 1978 and is one of the longest-running newsmagazines on US television. Since the 2010s, the format has specialized heavily in true crime and competes directly with NBC Dateline. The Friday-night slot on ABC regularly reaches 3–5 million viewers. Two-hour specials are particularly successful and are produced for high-profile criminal cases. 20/20 is produced in-house by ABC News. The show also has streaming offshoots on Hulu. Exclusive interviews are the most important selling point — first interview access to a key person can determine the production. 20/20 has won numerous Emmy Awards. [TO CHECK] Current executive producer and submission pathways for external producers.