Evolution of Freeform: From ‘700 Club’ to ‘Shadowhunters’ (Photos)

Since its inception in the ’70s, the network now known as Freeform has been bought and sold several times, and been re-named even more. With the exception of “The 700 Club,” the network today bears little resemblance to its earliest days.

CBN Satellite Service (1977)
The network now known as Freeform got its start in 1977 as part of televangelist Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network, airing a mix of religious programming, family-friendly syndicated TV shows and classic westerns.

“The 700 Club” (1966)
CBN’s flagship talk show, “The 700 Club,” helped launch the network among Robertson’s followers, and continues to air to this day.