Let's be honest. In the age of social media, where a grainy cell phone video hits X (formerly Twitter) before a news van even starts its engine, the concept of waiting for a scheduled broadcast feels... well, a bit vintage. Yet, every time a tropical depression swirls in the Gulf or a major wreck shuts down the 610 Loop, thousands of people in Southeast Texas immediately scramble to find 13 Eyewitness News Houston live.
It isn't just a habit. It’s a survival instinct for Houstonians.
ABC13 (KTRK-TV) has been a fixture in the city since 1954. But staying relevant in 2026 isn't about being old; it's about being everywhere. Whether you're watching Gina Gaston or the next generation of anchors, the way we consume this "live" news has fundamentally shifted from the living room sofa to the smartphone screen in the checkout line.
Where to Find 13 Eyewitness News Houston Live Right Now
If you're trying to catch the broadcast this second, you have more options than you probably realize. You don't need a bulky cable box gathering dust under your TV.
The Official App Experience
The most direct route is the ABC13 Houston app. It's available on basically everything—iOS, Android, Fire TV, Roku, and Apple TV. They’ve leaned hard into the "always-on" model. Unlike the old days where the screen went dark between news blocks, they now run a 24/7 stream. When a live newscast isn't on, they cycle through breaking updates, weather loops, and digital-only segments like "13 Investigates" or "Texas True Crime."
The Browser Hack
Sometimes you’re at work and can’t download apps. In that case, just go to the ABC13 website. There’s a "Watch Live" button at the top that works remarkably well on mobile browsers too. It’s simple. It’s free. No login required for the news segments, though they’ll usually gate the national ABC prime-time shows behind a provider login.
Streaming Services (The Cord-Cutter's Choice)
If you’ve ditched Comcast or AT&T, you can still get the full KTRK experience through:
- YouTube TV: Generally the most reliable for local Houston feeds.
- Hulu + Live TV: Includes the local ABC13 feed based on your ZIP code.
- FuboTV: A solid choice if you're a sports fan who also wants local news.
- Sling TV: This one is tricky. You often need an AirTV or an antenna to integrate local channels, as they don't always carry ABC in the base Houston packages.
Why Do People Still Watch KTRK Live?
You'd think we'd get all our info from neighborhood Facebook groups. But those groups are usually filled with "Did anyone else hear that loud bang?" and "Lost dog" posts. When it comes to actual data, people go back to the source.
13 Eyewitness News Houston live coverage remains the gold standard for weather. Let’s talk about the "Space City" weather reality. When the humidity hits 90% and the sky turns that weird shade of green, Houstonians want a professional meteorologist. They want the Doppler radar. They want to know exactly which underpass is currently underwater.
There's also the "trust" factor. In a world of deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation, seeing a familiar face like Elita Loresca or the investigative team provides a layer of verification that a random "Breaking News" account on social media just can't match.
The Changing Faces of the Newsroom
The 2025-2026 season has seen some massive shifts in who we see on our screens. Longtime viewers probably noticed the absence of some legends. Melanie Lawson, a true Houston icon who spent over four decades at the station, announced her retirement in early 2025. That left a huge hole in the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. slots.
We’ve also seen a bit of a "musical chairs" situation with local talent. Jacob Rascon, who once anchored at 13, moved over to KHOU 11. Meanwhile, fresh faces from Austin and San Antonio are moving into the Houston market, bringing a faster, more digital-first energy to the morning shows.
This turnover is natural, but it changes the "vibe" of the live broadcast. The newer anchors are much more likely to interact with live comments from the streaming feed, making the whole experience feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation.
Breaking Down the Schedule
If you're a creature of habit, here is the basic layout of when you can catch the main live blocks:
- Early Mornings (4:30 AM – 7:00 AM): This is the "get out the door" news. High energy, heavy on traffic (which we all know is a nightmare on I-45), and quick-hit weather.
- The Midday (11:00 AM): A softer blend of news and community lifestyle segments.
- The Afternoon Surge (3:00 PM – 6:30 PM): This is the heavy hitter. It starts with a 3 p.m. block and runs almost continuously through the early evening.
- The Nightcap (10:00 PM): The final word on the day's events.
Common Misconceptions About Local News
One thing people get wrong is thinking that the live stream is just a mirror of the TV broadcast. It's actually more than that now.
Often, when the TV broadcast goes to a commercial break, the digital stream stays live. You might see the anchors chatting, checking their phones, or giving "behind the scenes" updates that don't make it to the airwaves. It’s a sort of "raw" feed that feels much more authentic.
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Another myth? That you need a high-speed fiber connection to watch. Honestly, even on a spotty 5G signal in the suburbs, the ABC13 app scales its quality pretty well. You might get a lower resolution, but the audio—the part that matters during an emergency—stays clear.
Staying Safe with Live Alerts
If you're watching 13 Eyewitness News Houston live because of a storm, don't just leave the stream running and walk away. The real value is in the push notifications.
The app allows you to toggle specific alerts. You can ignore the "Celebrity News" but keep the "Severe Weather" and "Breaking News" on. In Houston, where a sunny day can turn into a flash flood in twenty minutes, those live alerts are literally life-saving.
What’s Next for You?
If you haven't updated your news routine in a while, it's time to do a quick audit of your devices.
First, download the ABC13 app on your primary phone, but don't stop there. Install it on your smart TV or a streaming stick like a Roku. Having it ready to go before an emergency happens is key.
Second, check your settings. Ensure that "Location Services" are enabled for the app so you get the weather alerts specific to your part of town—whether you're out in Katy or deep in the Third Ward.
Lastly, if you're a "cord-cutter," spend five minutes checking if your current streaming subscription (like Hulu or YouTube TV) actually includes the KTRK local feed. Sometimes packages change, and you don't want to find out you're missing your local news right when a hurricane is entering the Gulf.