Freeform is an American cable network owned by the television division of the Walt Disney Company. The network launched in 1977 as a Christian religious channel owned televangelist Pat Robertson. In the 1980s, the network moved away from overtly religious programming. It focused instead on innocuous mainstream programming. During this period, the network was acquired by tabloid magnate Rupert Murdock. It was rebranded as The Family Channel and Fox Family Channel.
Disney bought the network in 2001 and rebranded it ABC Family. The network was rebranded as Freeform in 2015. The network continues to lean toward family-friendly fare. But its original programming has included somewhat edgier series such as the mystery soap opera Pretty Little Liars.
