Defy (TV network)

{{Infobox television channel

| name = Defy

| logo = Defy 2024 logo.png

| type = Digital multicast television network

| country = United States

| area = (64% U.S coverage)

| headquarters = Atlanta, Georgia

| language = English

| picture_format = {{ubl|720p HDTV (Master feed)|480i SDTV (Most OTA subchannels)}}

| owner = E. W. Scripps Company (2021–24)
Free TV Networks (2024–present)

| parent = Scripps Networks (2021–24)
Free TV Networks / A&E Networks (2024–present)

| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2021|7|1}}

| replaced_by = Ion Plus (Scripps version)

| former_names = Defy TV (2021–24)

| website = {{URL|defynetworktv.com}}

| terr_chan_1 =

}}

Defy (also known by its original name Defy TV) is an American digital multicast television network owned by Free TV Networks in partnership with A&E Networks, airing primarily reality shows from the latter company, having launched on July 1, 2021, with broadcast coverage of 64% of the United States.

History

On March 2, 2021, Scripps announced that it would launch two new multicast networks—Defy and TrueReal—in the wake of its acquisition of Ion Media and television transmitters shutting Qubo and Ion Plus down across the United States.{{Cite news|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|title=E.W. Scripps Co. to Launch Doozy and Defy TV Multicast Networks|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/doozy-defy-tv-scripps-multicast-1234919677/|date=March 2, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2021}} The channels are part of Scripps's strategy to increase perception among cord cutters that do not have traditional pay TV packages.{{Cite news|last=Roettgers|first=Janko|title=Scripps's response to cord cutting: Launch new TV networks|work=Protocol|url=https://www.protocol.com/scripps-defy-truereal-cord-cutting|date=June 2, 2021|access-date=July 4, 2021}}

The services launched on July 1, 2021 with 92% national coverage, mostly on Ion transmitters but also on subchannels of some Scripps local TV stations and by agreement with other station groups.{{Cite news|last=Jon|first=Lafayette|title=New Scripps Networks Defy TV, TrueReal Launch in 92% of U.S.|work=Broadcasting & Cable|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/new-scripps-networks-defy-tv-truereal-launch-in-92-of-us|date=July 1, 2021|access-date=July 3, 2021}}

On March 10, 2023, Scripps announced that TrueReal would shut down on March 27, 2023, merging its programming into Defy TV.{{Cite web|last=Lafayette|first=Jon|title=E.W. Scripps Folding TrueReal Digital Network Into Defy TV|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/ew-scripps-folding-truereal-digital-network-into-defy-tv|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=March 10, 2023|access-date=March 10, 2023}}

On June 17, 2024, Scripps quietly announced on Defy's social media platforms that a refreshed version of Ion Plus would return on Defy TV's channel space on July 1, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=838618741473990|title=Get MORE with ION Plus. More suspense, more action, more to love - every day of the week!|website=Facebook|date=March 17, 2024|access-date=June 24, 2024}} The A&E programming library would move to a new over-the-air digital network, Dare, owned by the Free TV Networks joint venture.{{Cite web|last=Rice|first=Lynette|title=Free TV Networks To Launch New Over-The-Air Channel In Partnership With A+E|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/free-tv-networks-launching-dare-new-over-the-air-channel-unscripted-programming-1235875158/amp/|website=Deadline|date=April 3, 2024|access-date=April 10, 2024}}

Shortly before the network's launch on July 1, 2024, Free TV Networks acquired the rights to the Defy branding from Scripps Networks and launched a new version of the network at 6:00 a.m. ET the same day, nixing its plan to launch under the originally announced Dare name. The "TV" portion of the original Defy name was removed prior to its immediate relaunch.{{Cite press release|url=https://freetvnetworks.com/press-releases|title=Defy Hits The Air|work=Free TV Networks|date=July 1, 2024|access-date=July 1, 2024}}

Programming

The network's schedule is mainly made up of repeats of unscripted shows from the library of A&E Networks (mainly A&E and History channels), including reality programs: Swamp People, American Pickers, Ax Men, Counting Cars, UFO Hunters, Forged in Fire and Pawn Stars.{{Cite news|last=Miller|first=Mark|date=July 1, 2021|title=Defy TV And TrueReal To Debut Today|work=TVNewsCheck|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/defy-tv-and-truereal-to-debut-today/|access-date=July 4, 2021}}

References

External links

{{Official website|defynetworktv.com}}

Category:A&E Networks

Category:Television networks in the United States

Category:Men's interest channels

Category:Women's interest channels

Category:Television channels and stations established in 2021

Defy TV

Category:E. W. Scripps Company