Freeform (TV channel)
Freeform is an American basic cable channel owned and operated by ABC Family Worldwide, a sub-division of the Disney Entertainment 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.
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English Spanish (via SAP audio track) |
| Picture format |
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| Ownership | |
| Owner |
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| Parent | Freeform Group |
| Sister channels | |
| History | |
| Launched | April 29, 1977 |
| Former names |
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| Links | |
| Website | freeform |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Streaming services | YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, Vidgo, DirecTV Stream |
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 popular 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, 2001.[1][2] On October 6, 2015, Disney–ABC Television Group announced that the network would be rebranded as Freeform, officially adopting that name on January 12, 2016.[3][4][5]
As of January 2016, Freeform is available to 92 million households in the United States.[6] The network's president reports to the chairman of ABC Television Studios and ABC Entertainment.