Where’s the remote?! Channel 18 is new ABC home for ‘GMA,’ ‘General Hospital,’ Canes-Notre Dame football

Heads up, South Florida, a historic change is coming to your TV channel guide on Monday: Say hello to Channel 18.

The new channel, scheduled to debut at 4:30 a.m.,  comes as WPLG-TV’s Channel 10 officially ends its nearly seven-decade relationship with the ABC network after a contract stalemate between the Berkshire Hathaway-owned television station and the Disney-affiliated network.

In a corresponding move, ABC struck a deal with WSVN’s parent company, Sunbeam Television, to broadcast network programming on the new ABC Miami, available on Channel 18 over the air and on Comcast, AT&T and DirecTV, plus YouTube TV, Hulu and other streaming services.

Here’s why some of your favorite shows are moving and how to find them.

Why is this happening?

WPLG-TV’s affiliate deal with ABC expired on Dec. 31 and after months of negotiations yielded no agreement, the station announced the divorce in March.

In a statement on the station’s website, WPLG CEO and president E.R. Bert Medina said the network wanted to charge too much money to remain an affiliate. Medina said the Pembroke Park-based station plans to use the savings to expand Local 10 programming.

“Instead of sending our money to New York, we will keep it in our community and use that money to finance a massive expansion in local news and other local programming,” Medina said. “We are Local 10. Local is in our name. A majority of our staff grew up here. We are excited for the future of Local 10. Just watch us. We are about to serve this community in an even bigger and better way.”

What’s on Local 10?

WPLG-TV’s Local 10 news and other programming will continue to be broadcast on Channel 10, but it will no longer be available on DirecTV, Hulu Live, Fubo and YouTube TV on Monday, according to the Local 10 website. Those customers will be able to stream content for free with the Local10 Plus app for Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Firestick, Android and Samsung Smart TV.

For over-the-air viewers, a frequency change requires them to rescan their TV to pick up the Channel 10 broadcast.

While ABC network shows will be pulled from the station’s schedule, Channel 10 will continue to be home for favorites such as  “Jeopardy!,” “Wheel of Fortune” and “LIVE with Kelly and Mark.”

WPLG-TV’s local news programming has a distinguished history that includes icons such as Ann Bishop, Bryan Norcross, Dwight Lauderdale and Michael Putney, with the ABC affiliation beginning in 1957. The station says it plans to add to the current staff that includes longtime favorites such as Calvin Hughes, Nicole Perez, Louis Aguirre, Kristi Krueger, Glenna Milberg, Jeff Weinsier and weatherman John Gerard.

For more information about Local 10 programming, visit Local10.com.

What’s on Channel 18?

ABC Miami is scheduled to begin broadcasting on Channel 18 at 4:30 a.m., and it will require no action for viewers on Comcast, AT&T, DirecTV, and Breezeline to have it appear on their channel guide. Blue Stream and Hotwire customers will find programming on Channel 3. Over-the-air viewers will need to rescan their TV to add the channel.

All ABC network shows formerly on Channel 10 will continue to air at their traditional times on Channel 18, from “General Hospital” and “Good Morning America” to “World News Tonight with David Muir” and “Monday Night Football.” Channel 18 also will be home to the Miami Hurricanes’ season-opening football game against Notre Dame on Aug. 31.

Fox-affiliated WSVN’s local “7News” will be simulcast on WSVN and ABC Miami at 5-7 a.m. and at noon, 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. The team includes Craig Stevens, Belkys Nerey, Lynn Martinez and Patrick Fraser of the popular “Help Me Howard” feature.

For more information about ABC WSVN.com/abc-miami-18.

Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at moc.lenitnesnus@llednarcb.