Freeform (TV channel)

Freeform
	Logo used since September 12, 2022
Country	United States
Broadcast area	Nationwide
Headquarters	Burbank, California
Programming
Language(s)	English; Spanish (via SAP audio track)
Picture format	720p HDTV; (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed);
Ownership
Owner	Christian Broadcasting Network (1977–1990); International Family Entertainment (1990–1997); News Corporation (1997–2001); The Walt Disney Company (2001–present);
Parent	ABC Family Worldwide
Sister channels	List ABC; Disney Channel; Disney XD; Disney Junior; FX; FXX; FXM; National Geographic; Nat Geo Wild; ;
History
Launched	April 29, 1977
Former names	CBN Satellite Service/CBN Satellite Network (1977–1981); CBN Cable Network (1981–1988); The CBN Family Channel (1988–1990); The Family Channel (1990–1998); Fox Family Channel (1998–2001); ABC Family (2001–2016);
Links
Website	freeform.com
Availability
Streaming media
Streaming services	YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, Vidgo, DirecTV Stream

Freeform is an American basic cable channel owned and operated by ABC Family Worldwide, a sub-division of the Disney Entertainment business segment and division of the Walt Disney Company. Freeform primarily broadcasts programming geared toward teenagers and young adults – with some skewing toward young women – in the 14–34 age range, a target demographic designated by the channel as "becomers". Its programming includes contemporary off-network syndicated reruns and original series, feature films, and made-for-TV original movies.

Since the network was launched on April 29, 1977, it has undergone various changes to its programming format and naming under 4 different owners. The network was originally founded as a religious channel, the CBN Satellite Service—an extension of televangelist Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network. It evolved into a family-focused entertainment network in 1981. It was spun off into a for-profit company known as International Family Entertainment (IFE) in 1990, eventually becoming known as The Family Channel. As a condition of the spin-off, the channel was contractually required to maintain airings of The 700 Club and an annual telethon the last Sunday in January; these conditions have applied to all future owners of the channel.

In 1997, IFE and the Family Channel were acquired by a joint venture between News Corporation and Haim Saban. This resulted in its rebranding as the Fox Family Channel a year later. The new owners wanted to reposition the network toward younger viewers as a companion for the unpopular Fox Kids Network. The venture was sold to Disney in October 2001 after the network began to struggle as a result of their changes. The channel altered its name to ABC Family one month later on November 10.^[1]^[2] The network was later rebranded as Freeform on January 12, 2016.^[3]^[4]^[5]

As of September 2023, Freeform was available to more than 55 million households in the United States, according to Nielsen estimates.^[6] The network's president reports to the chairman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment.

^ "News Corp. and Haim Saban Reach Agreement to Sell Fox Family Worldwide to Disney for $5.3 Billion". Saban Entertainment. July 23, 2001. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
^ Carl DiOrio (October 24, 2001). "Fox Family costs Mouse less cheese in final deal". Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
^ Elizabeth Wagmeister (October 6, 2015). "ABC Family to Rebrand Network 'Freeform' in January". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
^ David Bauder (October 6, 2015). "ABC Family Changing Name To Freeform". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
^ Petski, Denise (December 10, 2015). "ABC Family Name-Change To Coincide With 'Pretty Little Liars' & 'Shadowhunters' Premieres". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
^ Cite error: The named reference thr-break-bundle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[FoxFamilySell-1] "News Corp. and Haim Saban Reach Agreement to Sell Fox Family Worldwide to Disney for $5.3 Billion". Saban Entertainment. July 23, 2001. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2009.

[SaleToDisney-2] Carl DiOrio (October 24, 2001). "Fox Family costs Mouse less cheese in final deal". Variety. Reed Business Information. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2009.

[variety-freeformrebrand-3] Elizabeth Wagmeister (October 6, 2015). "ABC Family to Rebrand Network 'Freeform' in January". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2016.

[tvnc-freeform-4] David Bauder (October 6, 2015). "ABC Family Changing Name To Freeform". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved October 6, 2015.

[Deadline12102015-5] Petski, Denise (December 10, 2015). "ABC Family Name-Change To Coincide With 'Pretty Little Liars' & 'Shadowhunters' Premieres". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.

[thr-break-bundle-6] Cite error: The named reference thr-break-bundle was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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