 For the first time, the show aired nationally on ABC, in effect bringing an end to the Love Network of individual stations (the majority of which were ABC affiliates).The show was cut from three hours to two, airing beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT.The local segments were discontinued (phone pledges were accepted solely through a national toll-free number, instead of being collected directly by each station for the individual local or regional chapters of the MDA).