diff --git a/youtube_dl/extractor/abc.py b/youtube_dl/extractor/abc.py
index 9153bbc72..04695806b 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/extractor/abc.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/extractor/abc.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from ..utils import (
 
 class ABCIE(InfoExtractor):
     IE_NAME = 'abc.net.au'
-    _VALID_URL = r'http://www\.abc\.net\.au/news/([^/]+/){1,2}(?P<id>\d+)'
+    _VALID_URL = r'http://www\.abc\.net\.au/news/(?:[^/]+/){1,2}(?P<id>\d+)'
 
     _TESTS = [{
         'url': 'http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-05/australia-to-staff-ebola-treatment-centre-in-sierra-leone/5868334',