 | |
| Industry | Media |
|---|---|
| Founded | November 7, 2023 |
| Founder | Jonathan Katz |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia , United States |
Key people | Jonathan Katz (President/CEO) |
| Products | Television networks |
| Brands |
|
| Website | freetvnetworks |
Free TV Networks is an American specialized digital multicasting and advertising-supported video on demand network media company. The company owns and operates three broadcast television networks. The company was founded and is led by broadcasting veteran Jonathan Katz, who previously launched what is now the Scripps Networks division of competitor E. W. Scripps Company.
Structure
[edit]The venture launched with two digital multicast television networks on January 1, 2024, each resembling networks Katz originally launched, which are 365BLK (originally The365), a channel for Black audiences (similar to Bounce TV) and Outlaw, a network for Western programming (similar to Grit).[1] The venture launched its third broadcast network, Defy, on July 1, 2024 in partnership with A&E Networks, which features action and male-targeted reality programming from A&E Network's library; Scripps's Defy TV (which previously carried said library) ended operations the day before with the move of that programming library to Defy and was replaced by Ion Plus.[2][3] The365 quietly rebranded at the start of 2025 to 365BLK to clarify its target audience.
A third over-the-air network, Busted, will launch on March 1, 2025, mainly made up of law enforcement-related reality series from the A&E Networks catalog (including series from its various Wars and Cam programs), along with repeats of World's Wildest Police Videos, Jail and Cops Reloaded.[4]
Programming
[edit]365BLK
[edit]- All About the Andersons
- All of Us
- Are We There Yet?
- Dear White People
- Eve
- For Your Love
- God Friended Me
- Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
- In the House
- Judge Mathis
- The Parent 'Hood
- Queen Sugar
- Roc
- Steve Harvey's Big Time Challenge
Outlaw
[edit]- The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
- Bonanza
- The Cowboys
- The Dakotas
- F Troop
- Kung Fu
- Longmire
- The Rounders
- The Yellow Rose
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Keys, Matthew (December 30, 2023). "TV stations replacing Circle Country with new networks Outlaw, The365 on January 1". The Desk. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
- ^ "Defy Hits The Air". Free TV Networks (Press release). July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
- ^ Keys, Matthew (July 1, 2024). "Free TV Networks rebrands multicast network Dare as Defy". The Desk. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
- ^ "Free TV Networks To Launch Fourth Diginet". Radio–Television Business Report. January 31, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.