freeform.com
To what extent should one cut the cord with old media? This question is having a notable resurgence in the last few years, as more and more people are looking to ditch cable TV and satellite content in favor of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
For many people, this decision was a no-brainer. They saw the negative effects of TV viewership on their mental and physical health, as well as the way that traditional television programming has diminished our sense of empathy for other humans. But this is not always the case. Some people remain apprehensive about cutting ties with old media because they value the nostalgic memories it conjures up or because they have difficulty letting go of things from their past.
A traditional cable TV service offers many conveniences that are unavailable with the major streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Watching a show live when it airs is something that I miss. You can't do this on Netflix or Hulu unless you get Hulu's live TV plan, but that's a whole different story.
Most people cite the high price of traditional cable as one of the main problems with it. For even the most basic cable plan, which runs around 60-70 dollars a month, this can be a serious issue. One of the main appeals to using premium streaming services, such as Netflix and Hulu, when they first came out was that they were much more affordable than traditional cable. However, this is no longer the case; now every single network and production company has their own streaming platform. This makes them much more expensive than traditional cable.
Nowadays, with all the streaming sites that there are and each site having its own exclusive original content that can't be watched on any other streaming service, between Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, NBC's Peacock, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video (each at around $10 a pop), if you want to be able to watch everything there is to watch then you're going to end up spending at least $70 a month. So, the affordability argument for using premium streaming services over traditional cable doesn't quite work the same anymore.
Given that, it may make more sense for some in 2021 to subscribe to Over The Top (OTT) cable than one would originally assume. However, ultimately it is all just a matter of personal preference. Some people see OTT cable as a necessity, especially those of us who like their sports. Others are just as happy to binge whatever Netflix and Hulu have available at the time. I am not here to tell you that one way of watching TV and movies is better than another. I am here, however, to tell you whether Freeform deserves its spot on the list of the best movie and TV streaming sites on the web.
Freeform, a popular cable TV network especially among teenagers and young adults, is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The network broadcasts content meant to target this demographic, known as "The Becomers," or "Millennials." The majority of what Freeform airs are off-network syndicated reruns, original series, made for TV movies, and feature films.
Although their movie streaming site is relatively new, the network has a long and storied history. The Family Channel, CBN Satellite Service, and Freeform have all gone by different names before becoming what we know today as Freeform. In fact, few streaming services have as rich a history as Freeform, which makes it an ideal place to start when exploring the world of streaming services. let's dive right in, shall we?
History
Freeform, formerly the CBN Satellite Service, began broadcasting in 1977 as a part of Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). The network aired only Christian programming until 1981 when they underwent their first major makeover.
On September 1st, 1981, the CBN Satellite Service became the CBN Cable Network and began airing secular programming. This change in programming direction still skewed towards family-friendly entertainment, with some religious themes still present. Additionally, traditional family programming like You Bet Your Life (starring Groucho Marx), The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and I Married Joan remained popular on the network. This lineup may have been one of the main inspirations for Nickelodeon's Nick at Night block of nostalgia.
On January 1, 1988, CBN incorporated the word "family" into their network name. This coincided with the network becoming too profitable to continue filing as a nonprofit. That year, CBN officially became a for-profit corporation, International Family Entertainment.
Then, the channel known as Fox Family became CBN Family when International Family Entertainment put it up for sale and News Corp put an undeniable offer up for it. The company's goal was to transform the Family Channel into a network that could compete with cable channels like Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, which would take advantage of the rich cartoon library of Fox Kids Worldwide. This is when the network really started to take off.
Then came the sale to the Walt Disney Company in 2001 (finally!). The purchase price was $2.9 in cash. This acquisition was one small part of a serious consolidation that was happening in the cable TV industry at the time, giving Disney a huge share of the world?s cable networks and entertainment assets (which continues to grow to this day). Anyway, Disney chose to slap the ABC brand over their family channel acquisition, resulting in ABC Family.
In 2014, ABC Family announced that it would be rebranded as Freeform, moving away from strictly family programming to attract a new audience. As of today, this has remained the name of the network. Who knows what Freeform will be known as in a few years from now!
Design
Freeform provides a stylish and user-friendly design. Anyone even vaguely familiar with any of the big-name streaming services will be able to navigate and use Freeform without difficulty. At the top of the page, you will find a site menu bar, making for easy and simple navigation to every corner of the site. Below that, you will find a giant banner of featured titles. And below that, you can browse by category and genre. It doesn't get any more straightforward than this!
Content and Features
And if you're a TV fan, don't forget to check out our live channel, Freeform Live. Tune in to watch your favorite shows as they air right now!
Freeform offers plenty of classic movies, new original shows, and old made for TV films. Plus, you can watch live TV with Freeform, tuning into your favorite shows as they air if you so desire. Or, of course, you can stream all of your Freeform faves on-demand. Enjoy classics like Jumanji or The Hunger Games (the entire series), or watch newer original programming such as Kal Penn Approves This Message, Love in the Time of Corona, and Grown-ish. And if you're a TV fan, don't forget to check out our live channel, Freeform Live. Tune in to watch your favorite shows as they air right now!
If you currently have a cable provider, I do not see any reason why you would not be taking advantage of every network streaming site, Freeform included.
Mobile and Desktop Experience
The Freeform streaming app has received positive reviews from users for its professional and intuitive desktop website as well as its excellent mobile app. The app is rated 4.7 on the Apple App Store, indicating that many users enjoy using it.
Pricing and Plans
Unfortunately, because Freeform requires a cable provider to access its content, viewers who don't have one will not be able to watch the network's programming. However, if you are already subscribed to a cable provider, Freeform will offer an additional subscription service with great content.
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