Freeform (TV channel)

===Early history (1977–1998)===
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2017}}
The channel traces its origins to the launch of the CBN Satellite Service (CBN Satellite Network), an arm of [[Pat Robertson]]'s [[Christian Broadcasting Network]] (CBN), on April 29, 1977. Focusing mainly on [[Religious broadcasting|religious programming]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.museum.tv/eotv/christianbro.htm|title=The Museum of Broadcast Communications - Encyclopedia of Television - Christian Broadcasting Network|website=www.museum.tv|access-date=2018-01-09|archive-date=2017-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720113316/http://www.museum.tv/eotv/christianbro.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> the channel was notable for being one of the first cable channels to distribute its signal nationally through [[communications satellite|satellite]] transmission (the third overall, as the method had been first pioneered by [[HBO]] in September 1975) as well as the first national basic cable-originated network ([[TBS (TV network)|TBS]] – which became the second cable channel in the U.S. to begin transmitting via satellite in December 1976 – originated as a feed of [[television station|broadcast television station]] WTCG (now [[WPCH-TV]]) in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]). The channel changed its name to the '''CBN Cable Network''' on September 1, 1981, and adopted a more secular programming format featuring a mix of family-oriented series and films while retaining some religious programs from various [[televangelism|televangelists]] (mirroring the format used by CBN's [[Independent station (North America)|independent television stations]] of that time). Around this time, the channel began airing a late night block of classic family oriented shows like ''[[You Bet Your Life]]'' with [[Groucho Marx]], ''[[I Married Joan]]'', and ''[[The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis]]''. This block of programming is said by some{{who|date=July 2023}} to have inspired the 1985 debut of the [[Nick at Nite]] classic TV block on [[Nickelodeon]]. By this point, its carriage grew to 10.9 million homes with a cable television subscription.

On January 1, 1988, the word "Family" was incorporated into the channel's name to better reflect its programming format, [[rebranding]] as '''The CBN Family Channel'''. By 1990, the network had grown too profitable to remain under the Christian Broadcasting Network umbrella without endangering the ministry's [[non-profit]] status. On January 8 of that year, CBN spun out the network into a new, for-profit corporation known as [[ABC Family Worldwide|International Family Entertainment]] (IFE). Managed by Pat Robertson's eldest son Timothy, IFE was co-owned by the Robertsons, with a minority interest held by [[Liberty Media]] and [[Tele-Communications Inc.]] (TCI) owner [[John C. Malone]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sold Family Channel Keeps Lineup|url=http://articles.dailypress.com/1990-01-10/news/9001100076_1_family-channel-timothy-robertson-international-family-entertainment|author=Joseph Pryweller|newspaper=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|date=January 10, 1990|access-date=October 9, 2015|archive-date=November 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124152130/http://articles.dailypress.com/1990-01-10/news/9001100076_1_family-channel-timothy-robertson-international-family-entertainment|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interview with Pat Robertson|url=http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/pat-robertson#|website=Archive of American Television|date=October 15, 2003|access-date=February 14, 2014|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924012927/http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/pat-robertson|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the spin-off, the channel's name was officially shortened to The Family Channel on September 15, 1990.

As a stipulation included as part of the spin-out from CBN to International Family Entertainment, The Family Channel was required to continue its daily airings of CBN's flagship program, ''[[The 700 Club]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Family Channel Strays from Religion, Embraces Clean Fun|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156256899.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105164105/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156256899.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2012|newspaper=[[Albany Times Union]]|publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]]|date=January 6, 1991|access-date=February 27, 2011}}</ref> During this time, from 1994 to 1997, The Family Channel sponsored [[NASCAR Sprint Cup Series|NASCAR Winston Cup Series]] driver [[Ted Musgrave]] in the #16 [[Ford Thunderbird]] for [[Roush Racing]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Musgrave Driver Information - 1994|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/musgrte01/1994/W|website=Racing-Reference.info|access-date=2014-04-09|archive-date=2015-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905160608/http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/musgrte01/1994/W|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Musgrave Driver Information - 1995|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/musgrte01/1995/W|website=Racing-Reference.info|access-date=2014-04-09|archive-date=2015-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905160928/http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/musgrte01/1995/W|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Musgrave Driver Information - 1996|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/musgrte01/1996/W|website=Racing-Reference.info|access-date=2014-04-09|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924122658/http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/musgrte01/1996/W|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ted Musgrave Driver Information - 1997|url=http://racing-reference.info/drivdet/musgrte01/1997/W|website=Racing-Reference.info|access-date=2014-04-09|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924122709/http://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/musgrte01/1997/W|url-status=live}}</ref>