The Walt Disney Company owns and founded Freeform.
Disney also owns and operates the ABC broadcast television network ; cable television networks such as Disney Channel , ESPN , A+E Networks , and Freeform ; publishing , merchandising , music , and theatre divisions ; and owns and licenses 14 theme parks around the world .	publishing	publishing	music	music	theme parks	theme parks	A+E Networks	A+E Networks	ABC	American Broadcasting Company	Disney Channel	Disney Channel	ESPN	ESPN	Freeform	Freeform (TV channel)	merchandising	merchandising	14 theme parks around the world	Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
The network was founded as the CBN Satellite Service , an extension of televangelist Pat Robertson 's Christian Broadcasting Network ; it evolved into a family-focused entertainment network in 1981 , eventually becoming known as The Family Channel by 1990 -- after the network was spun out of CBN into the for-profit International Family Entertainment .	founded	Television networks preceding Freeform	Pat Robertson	Pat Robertson	Christian Broadcasting Network	Christian Broadcasting Network	International Family Entertainment	International Family Entertainment
After the network began to struggle as a result of their changes , the venture was sold to The Walt Disney Company in May 2001 , in a sale that also included Saban Entertainment ; the channel altered its name to ABC Family six months later on November 10 .	The Walt Disney Company	The Walt Disney Company	ABC	American Broadcasting Company	Saban Entertainment	Saban Entertainment
