ABC needed the OK from its stations because they will have to clear the time on their schedules to make way for the programs. On Saturday mornings, many ABC stations air children's programming.

ABC previously had weekend news programs, but they were eliminated several years ago in a cost-cutting move.

This has not only given its rivals a competitive edge among news aficionados on the weekend, it leaves the network at a disadvantage when big news breaks. ABC affiliates were angry last February when the network, with a skeleton news crew available, was slow reporting on the space shuttle explosion.

The network would also like to see a national news program on Sunday to provide a stronger lead-in to George Stephanopoulos' struggling "This Week."