Freeform (TV channel)

===Freeform (2016–2018)===
[[Image:Freeform.svg|thumb|left|200px|Freeform's logo from January 12, 2016 to March 5, 2018.]]
In a December 3, 2014, article, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that ABC Family executives were proposing a relaunch of the network that would occur as early as 2015, including the expansion of programming appealing more toward young adults between the ages of 14 and 34 as opposed to families or teenagers, as well as adopting new branding (including a new name), among the options being considered.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disney's ABC Family Cable Network Mulling Reboot|url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/disneys-abc-family-cable-network-mulling-reboot-1201370137/|author=Brian Steinberg|periodical=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=December 3, 2014|access-date=January 18, 2015|archive-date=January 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113074940/http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/disneys-abc-family-cable-network-mulling-reboot-1201370137/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the channel's 2015–16 upfront presentation on April 14, 2015, ABC Family executives announced that it would establish a focus on "becomers," a group termed by network representatives to refer to what are normally identified as "millennials". ABC Family president [[Tom Ascheim]] explained in describing this demographic, "The most important question that young people ask themselves as they're going from [[high school]] to their thirties is, 'Who am I becoming?' So we call the life stage 'becoming' and the people going through it Becomers".<ref name="variety-freeformrebrand"/><ref>{{cite web|title=ABC Family Plots Big Scripted Music Push as Focus Shifts to "Becomers"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/abc-family-plots-big-scripted-788503|author=Lesley Goldberg|periodical=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=April 14, 2015|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-date=October 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006221349/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/abc-family-plots-big-scripted-788503|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="variety-becomers">{{cite web|title=Upfronts: ABC Family Turns Up the Volume to Change Direction|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/abc-family-pretty-little-liars-upfronts-1201472636/|periodical=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=April 14, 2015|access-date=January 23, 2016|archive-date=January 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119230207/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/abc-family-pretty-little-liars-upfronts-1201472636/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 6, 2015, Disney–ABC Television Group announced that ABC Family would be rebranded as Freeform. Ascheim explained that "Freeform" was intended to represent how "becomers" are in the "formation" of their lives and that the brand would reflect a participatory experience for viewers across multiple platforms. An extensive campaign to promote the rebrand kicked off on the date of the announcement and encompassed the network's popular [[31 Nights of Halloween]] and [[25 Days of Christmas]] blocks during the fourth quarter of that year.<ref name="deadline-freeform"/><ref name="TVI-freeform"/> The new name – which was chosen among 3,000 proposals, with some initial consideration of retaining "ABC" in the name – was necessitated after an audience survey that sampled opinions of regular ABC Family viewers as well those who watched the channel on an infrequent basis, revealed that although regular viewers understood the network's youth-skewing concept, non-frequent viewers perceived the channel as still being more of a "wholesome" family-oriented network.<ref name="variety-freeformrebrand"/><ref name="thewrap-freeform"/>

At the [[Television Critics Association]] Winter Press Tour on January 9, 2016, in addressing the reasoning behind the name (which had been derided by some viewers on [[social media]] and news websites reporting on the pending rebrand), ABC Family president Tom Ascheim noted that while it does not mind the "wholesome" perception, it does "not necessarily represent" the network.<ref name="thewrap-freeform"/> While it was rumored that the sale of the network from International Family Entertainment to Fox contained a stipulation that the channel must contain "Family" in its name in perpetuity, regardless of its owner (as supported by the failed proposal to relaunch the channel as "XYZ"), in initially announcing the channel's rebranding, Ascheim clarified that this was merely an [[urban legend]] as no such clause has been corroborated to have existed.<ref name="deadline-freeform"/><ref name="TVI-freeform"/>

The rebranding as Freeform took effect on January 12, 2016, coinciding with the premiere of the second half of ''[[Pretty Little Liars (TV series)|Pretty Little Liars]]''{{'}} [[Pretty Little Liars (season 6)|sixth season]], and the series premiere of ''[[Shadowhunters]]'', a fantasy drama based on [[Cassandra Clare]]'s novel series ''[[The Mortal Instruments]]''.<ref name=Deadline12102015/> As Freeform, the channel planned to double the amount of original programming on its schedule through 2020. However, despite firmly focusing on its specified target audience, Freefor continued to carry much of the existing programming it aired beforehand under the ABC Family brand, including family-oriented series and films, and its annual ''25 Days of Christmas'' and ''31 Nights of Halloween'' events.<ref name="deadline-freeform">{{cite web|title=ABC Family To Be Renamed As Freeform|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/abc-family-freeform-new-name-1201567915/|author=Nellie Andreeva|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=October 6, 2015|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123130107/https://deadline.com/2015/10/abc-family-freeform-new-name-1201567915/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TVI-freeform">{{cite web|title=Disney's ABC Family to Rename Itself "Freeform" This January|url=http://www.tvinsider.com/article/45148/abc-family-to-rename-itself-freeform-this-january/|author=Michael Schneider|website=TVInsider.com|publisher=TV Insider LLC|date=October 6, 2015|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-date=October 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031072722/http://www.tvinsider.com/article/45148/abc-family-to-rename-itself-freeform-this-january/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="thewrap-freeform">{{cite news|title=Inside ABC Family's Dramatic Name-Change Decision|url=https://www.thewrap.com/inside-abc-family-freeform-name-change-decision/#sthash.X0JZhL8o.dpuf|author=Daniel Holloway|website=[[The Wrap]]|date=October 6, 2015|access-date=October 6, 2015|archive-date=October 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020072213/http://www.thewrap.com/inside-abc-family-freeform-name-change-decision/#sthash.X0JZhL8o.dpuf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although the [[Social conservatism|socially conservative]] views expressed during the programs conflict with the [[Cultural liberalism|culturally progressive]]/adult content of some of the channel's secular programming, Freeform also retained ''The 700 Club'' and ''The 700 Club Interactive'' (along with CBN's day-long telethon on the last Sunday in January), as network executives were not able to reach an agreement with Pat Robertson to [[Buyout|buy out]] CBN's time-buy contract with the channel (Disney–ABC offered to pay $42 million – roughly the same amount that the ministry earned in revenue during 2015 from syndication fees for ''The 700 Club'' and various related productions – to terminate the agreement with the Christian Broadcasting Network, though Robertson stipulated a higher payout that Ascheim deemed "astronomical" in comparison to its actual value).<ref name="tnr-longhistory"/><ref>{{cite web|title=ABC Family Will Keep 'The 700 Club' When it Becomes Freeform|url=https://www.thewrap.com/abc-family-will-keep-the-700-club-when-it-becomes-freeform/|author=Daniel Holloway|website=The Wrap|date=January 9, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016|archive-date=January 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110152515/http://www.thewrap.com/abc-family-will-keep-the-700-club-when-it-becomes-freeform/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=As ABC Family Becomes Freeform, Here's Why It's Still Stuck with 'The 700 Club'|url=http://www.tvinsider.com/article/62330/as-abc-family-becomes-freeform-heres-why-its-still-stuck-with-the-700-club/|website=TV Insider|publisher=NTVB Media|date=January 4, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016|archive-date=February 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225180747/http://www.tvinsider.com/article/62330/as-abc-family-becomes-freeform-heres-why-its-still-stuck-with-the-700-club/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ABC Family, No Matter What It Calls Itself, Can't Get Rid of Pat Robertson's The 700 Club|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/01/pat-robertsons-700-club-will-be-on-forever.html|author=E. Alex Jung|website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]|date=January 4, 2016|access-date=March 4, 2016|archive-date=March 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308173236/http://www.vulture.com/2016/01/pat-robertsons-700-club-will-be-on-forever.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The network airs disclaimers before and after the show airs, mentioning that the network did not produce the programming, and are often delivered in a sardonic tone similar to the bumpers on [[Adult Swim]]. The disclaimers range from apologizing for carrying the program, suggesting viewers change the channel, and referencing the network's contractual obligation to carry the program.

On April 7, 2016, Freeform ordered a series from [[ABC Studios#ABC Signature|ABC Signature]] and [[Marvel Television]] based on the comic book series ''[[Cloak and Dagger (comics)|Cloak and Dagger]]'', marking the first work in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] to have been developed for the network.<ref name="variety-cdfreeform">{{cite web|title=Freeform Greenlights Marvel Romance Superhero Series 'Cloak and Dagger' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/marvel-cloak-and-dagger-freeform-series-1201747907/|periodical=Variety|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=April 7, 2016|access-date=April 7, 2016|archive-date=April 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407213750/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/marvel-cloak-and-dagger-freeform-series-1201747907/|url-status=live}}</ref> Marvel Television had a Cloak and Dagger and Mockingbird-based series in development for the network as early as 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/comic-con-marvel-tv-aka-jessica-jones-hulk-cloak-and-dagger/ |title=Comic-Con: Marvel TV Announces Development Slate; Includes Live-Action AKA Jessica Jonfes (Alias), The Hulk, Cloak and Dagger, Mockingbird, Animated Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H, More |last=Daniels |first=Hunter |publisher=Collider |date=July 23, 2011 |access-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121150011/http://collider.com/comic-con-marvel-tv-aka-jessica-jones-hulk-cloak-and-dagger/ |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Freeform also announced several new non-scripted productions in development, including ''Later Bitches'', a new [[late-night talk show]] produced by ''[[The Daily Show]]'' alumni Jennifer Flanz and Elise Terrel, an untitled late-night talk show starring [[Iliza Shlesinger]], and ''Snapshots''—a series of pop culture-oriented documentaries co-produced by [[ESPN Films]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wagmeister|first1=Elizabeth|title=Freeform Developing Late-Night Show With Comedian Iliza Shlesinger (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/iliza-shlesinger-late-night-show-freeform-netflix-stand-up-1201868483/|access-date=April 25, 2017|work=Variety|date=September 23, 2016|archive-date=April 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426060933/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/iliza-shlesinger-late-night-show-freeform-netflix-stand-up-1201868483/|url-status=live}}</ref> Shlesinger's new show, ''[[Truth & Iliza]]'', premiered on May 2, 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/iliza-shlesinger-hosted-show-gets-title-airdate-as-freeform-goes-late-night-1202061339/|title=Iliza Shlesinger-Hosted Show Gets Title & Airdate As Freeform Goes Late-Night|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=2017-04-04|work=Deadline|access-date=2017-05-16|language=en-US|archive-date=2017-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519132640/http://deadline.com/2017/04/iliza-shlesinger-hosted-show-gets-title-airdate-as-freeform-goes-late-night-1202061339/|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2017, the channel indicated that it would go to four nights of original programming starting in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maglio |first1=Tony |title=Freeform to Add 4th Night of Original Shows in 2018 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/freeform-grown-ish-alone-together-2018/ |access-date=November 4, 2019 |work=TheWrap |date=October 18, 2017 |archive-date=November 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104215602/https://www.thewrap.com/freeform-grown-ish-alone-together-2018/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== "A Little Forward" ====
[[Image:Freeform 2018.svg|thumb|200px|Freeform's logo from March 6, 2018 to September 11, 2022.]]
On January 18, 2018, Freeform unveiled a new logo and slogan, "A Little Forward", which officially debuted on March 6, 2018. The new slogan reflects refinements to the network's programming direction, with a larger focus on "forward-looking" series (such as ''[[The Bold Type]]'' and the ''[[Black-ish]]'' spin-off ''[[Grown-ish]]''). President Tom Ascheim explained that with the rebranding, Freeform was "purposefully and passionately moving our brand forward by defying expectations and dismantling conventions; busting stereotypes of theme, cast and culture in service to a more inclusive world on and off screen." The network also unveiled upcoming series in development, such as [[Scott Stewart (director)|Scott Stewart]]'s ''Augs'', as well as a new trailer and June 7, 2018 premiere date for ''[[Cloak & Dagger (TV series)|Marvel's Cloak and Dagger]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/freeform-goes-bold-forward-looking-branding-1075784|title=Freeform Goes 'Bold' With "Forward"-Looking Branding|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-01-19|language=en|archive-date=2020-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207202905/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/stephen-colbert-enlists-magic-school-bus-examine-trumps-health-1075705|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/01/freeform-new-logo-tagline-a-little-forward-1202248477/|title=Freeform Unveils New Logo & "A Little Forward" Tagline|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2018-01-19|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-01-19|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-01-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119034535/http://deadline.com/2018/01/freeform-new-logo-tagline-a-little-forward-1202248477/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 26, 2018, Freeform's president Karey Burke was promoted to president of the ABC Entertainment Group to replace the outgoing Channing Dungey. Burke's replacement at Freeform was to be determined at a later date.<ref name="nov16bombshell">{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/channing-dungey-abc-karey-burke-1203031129/|title=Channing Dungey Exits ABC; Karey Burke Named Network President|last=Holloway|first=Daniel|date=2018-11-16|work=Variety|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-11-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119064833/https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/channing-dungey-abc-karey-burke-1203031129/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/channing-dungey-exits-abc-karey-burke-take-as-entertainment-president-1162211|title=Channing Dungey Exits ABC; Karey Burke to Take Over as Entertainment President|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en|archive-date=2018-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122052031/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/channing-dungey-exits-abc-karey-burke-take-as-entertainment-president-1162211|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 27, 2019, Freeform announced that the channel was placing two animated series into development called ''[[Betches]]'' and ''Woman World''. These were the network's first original animated series since changing its name from ABC Family,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldberg |first1=Lesley |title=Felicia Day, Emma Roberts to Produce Pair of Animated Comedies for Freeform |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/felicia-day-emma-roberts-produce-pair-animated-comedies-freeform-1197452 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 27, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328204344/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/felicia-day-emma-roberts-produce-pair-animated-comedies-freeform-1197452 |url-status=live }}</ref> and served as the foundation of a female-oriented animation block.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Freeform To Share 'The Simpsons' Off-Network Rights With FXX |url=https://deadline.com/2019/05/freeform-the-simpsons-off-network-rights-share-fxx-1202614164/ |access-date=November 4, 2019 |work=Deadline |date=May 14, 2019 |language=en |archive-date=November 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104162144/https://deadline.com/2019/05/freeform-the-simpsons-off-network-rights-share-fxx-1202614164/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== 2020–present; Shift of programming towards Hulu and end of Spectrum carriage ====
In May 2020, former Netflix executive [[Tara Duncan (media executive)|Tara Duncan]]—who was signed to an overall deal with sister streaming service Hulu in April 2020<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=2020-04-08 |title=Hulu Strikes Overall Deal With Former Netflix Exec Tara Duncan & Sets Adaptation Of Zakiya Dalila Harris' Novel 'The Other Black Girl' |url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/hulu-overall-deal-tara-duncan-zakiya-dalila-harris-the-other-black-girl-1202903034/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>—became the new president of Freeform, replacing the departing Ascheim (who left to join [[Warner Bros. Television Studios#Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics|Warner Bros. Kids, Young Adults and Classics]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Elaine |date=2020-05-28 |title=Former Netflix Exec Tara Duncan Named President of Freeform |url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/tara-duncan-president-freeform-1234618879/ |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

In April 2022, the network began a larger expansion into non-scripted programming, announcing the projects ''Day to Night'' (later retitled ''[[The Come Up (TV series)|The Come Up]]''),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-02 |title=Freeform's NYC-Based Gen Z Series 'The Come Up' Sets Cast |url=https://www.thewrap.com/freeform-the-come-up-new-york-gen-z-cast/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Dear Pony: Keep This Between Us'' —a documentary on [[child grooming]] in American high schools, and ''The Deep End''—a documentary on [[Teal Swan]].<ref>{{cite web |last=White |first=Peter |date=April 5, 2022 |title=NYC Reality Series & Amy Berg-Directed Grooming Docuseries Lead Freeform's First Move Into Non-Fiction |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/nyc-reality-series-amy-berg-directed-grooming-docuseries-lead-freeforms-first-move-into-non-fiction-1234994790/ |access-date=September 18, 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-11 |title='The Deep End' Trailer: Is This Guru a Savior or a Scammer? |url=https://www.thewrap.com/deep-end-trailer-teal-swan-freeeform-docuseries/ |access-date=2022-10-04 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On September 12, 2022, Freeform underwent a second rebranding initiated by Duncan and designed by Collins, which launched alongside the premiere of ''The Come Up.'' The logo consists of a wordmark with curved cut-outs in its "F" lettering, intended to create [[illusory motion]]s; Freeform's senior vice president of content marketing Joe Ortiz explained that the designs were intended to reflect "the ability to change and an openness to change", and "[create] a sense we are never static and always growing."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schneider |first1=Michael |title=Freeform Introduces New Logo, The Network's Third Since Switching From ABC Family in 2016 |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/freeform-new-logo-joe-ortiz-tara-duncan-1235386275/ |website=Variety |date=September 28, 2022}}</ref>

On the evening of August 31, 2023, Disney pulled Freeform and the company's other cable networks from [[Charter Communications]]' [[Spectrum (brand)|Spectrum]] cable TV services, which have 14.7 million subscribers, due to a [[Disney–Charter Communications dispute|carriage dispute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/espn-abc-pulled-charter-spectrum-carriage-dispute-1235579642/|title=Disney Channels, Including ABC and ESPN, Go Dark on Charter Spectrum In Major Carriage Dispute|first=Alex|last=Weprin|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=August 31, 2023|access-date=September 12, 2023}}</ref> When the dispute was eventually resolved on September 11, the companies announced that Freeform and certain other Disney-owned channels would not be reinstated by Spectrum under their new deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/disney-charter-settle-cable-dispute-espn-monday-night-football-1235719696/|title=Disney, Charter Settle Cable Dispute Hours Before Debut of ESPN's 'Monday Night Football'|first=Brian|last=Steinberg|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 12, 2023}}</ref> Its programming will remain accessible to Spectrum subscribers via Hulu.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/archer-final-season-disrupted-disney-charter-deal-its-always-sunny-grown-ish-bluey-impact-spectrum-1235543248/|title='Archer' Final Season Disrupted As Disney-Charter Deal Also Impacts Linear Viewing For 'It's Always Sunny', 'Grown-ish' & 'Bluey'|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 12, 2023}}</ref> Though Disney emphasized that there would be no change to its commitment to the Freeform brand, some analysts expressed doubt about it remaining as a linear channel in future provider negotiations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/disney-commitment-fxx-freeform-reaction-charter-deal-dana-walden-1235543864/|title=Disney Top Executives Assure Staff Of Commitment To FXX, Freeform & Other Cable Nets Dropped By Charter|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=September 11, 2023|access-date=September 12, 2023}}</ref><ref name="thr-break-bundle">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-spectrum-charter-pay-tv-1235587933/|title=Disney and Charter Avoided Breaking the Pay TV Bundle. Is That Good?|first=Alex|last=Weprin|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=September 12, 2023|access-date=September 12, 2023}}</ref>