# Defy (TV network)

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American digital multicast TV network

Television channel

Defy Type Digital multicast television network Country United States Broadcast area (64% U.S coverage) Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia Programming Language English Picture format 720p HDTV (Master feed) 480i SDTV (Most OTA subchannels) Ownership Owner Scripps Networks (2021–2024) Free TV Networks (50%, 2024–present) A+E Global Media (50%, 2024–present) Parent E. W. Scripps Company (2021–2024) Jonathan Katz (50%, 2024–2026) Versant (50%, 2026–present) A+E Global Media (50%, 2024–present) History Launched July 1, 2021; 5 years ago (2021-07-01) Replaced by Ion Plus (Scripps version) Former names Defy TV (2021–24) Links Website defytvnet.com

**Defy** (also known by its original name **Defy TV**) is an American [digital multicast television network](/source/Digital_multicast_television_network) owned by the [Free TV Networks](/source/Free_TV_Networks) subsidiary of [Versant](/source/Versant) in partnership with [A+E Global Media](/source/A%2BE_Global_Media), airing primarily [reality shows](/source/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, the [E. W. Scripps Company](/source/E._W._Scripps_Company) announced that it would launch two new multicast networks—Defy and [TrueReal](/source/TrueReal)—in the wake of its acquisition of [Ion Media](/source/Ion_Media) and television transmitters shutting [Qubo](/source/Qubo) and [Ion Plus](/source/Ion_Plus) down across the United States.[1] The channels are part of Scripps's strategy to increase perception among [cord cutters](/source/Cord_cutter) that do not have traditional pay TV packages.[2]

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.[3]

On March 10, 2023, Scripps announced that [TrueReal](/source/TrueReal) would shut down on March 27, 2023, merging its programming into Defy TV.[4]

On June 17, 2024, Scripps quietly announced on Defy's social media platforms that a refreshed version of [Ion Plus](/source/Ion_Plus) would return on Defy TV's channel space on July 1, 2024.[5] The A&E programming library would move to a new over-the-air digital network, Dare, owned by the [Free TV Networks](/source/Free_TV_Networks) joint venture.[6]

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.[7]

On July 1, 2025, Defy began to be carried anew by eleven Ion stations, this time under an affiliation agreement with Scripps, along with some new Gray stations after the expiration of other subchannel network deals.[8]

## Programming

The network's schedule is mainly made up of repeats of unscripted shows from the library of [A&E Networks](/source/A%26E_Networks) (mainly [A&E](/source/List_of_programs_broadcast_by_A%26E) and [History channels](/source/List_of_programs_broadcast_by_the_History_Channel)), including reality programs: *[Swamp People](/source/Swamp_People)*, *[American Pickers](/source/American_Pickers)*, *[Ax Men](/source/Ax_Men)*, *[Counting Cars](/source/Counting_Cars)*, *[UFO Hunters](/source/UFO_Hunters)*, *[Forged in Fire](/source/Forged_in_Fire)* and *[Pawn Stars](/source/Pawn_Stars)*.[9]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Littleton, Cynthia (March 2, 2021). ["E.W. Scripps Co. to Launch Doozy and Defy TV Multicast Networks"](https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/doozy-defy-tv-scripps-multicast-1234919677/). *Variety*. Retrieved July 4, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Roettgers, Janko (June 2, 2021). ["Scripps's response to cord cutting: Launch new TV networks"](https://www.protocol.com/scripps-defy-truereal-cord-cutting). *Protocol*. Retrieved July 4, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Jon, Lafayette (July 1, 2021). ["New Scripps Networks Defy TV, TrueReal Launch in 92% of U.S."](https://www.nexttv.com/news/new-scripps-networks-defy-tv-truereal-launch-in-92-of-us) *Broadcasting & Cable*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210701140220/https://www.nexttv.com/news/new-scripps-networks-defy-tv-truereal-launch-in-92-of-us) from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 3, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Lafayette, Jon (March 10, 2023). ["E.W. Scripps Folding TrueReal Digital Network Into Defy TV"](https://www.nexttv.com/news/ew-scripps-folding-truereal-digital-network-into-defy-tv). *Broadcasting & Cable*. Retrieved March 10, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Get MORE with ION Plus. More suspense, more action, more to love – every day of the week!"](https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=838618741473990). *[Facebook](/source/Facebook)*. March 17, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Rice, Lynette (April 3, 2024). ["Free TV Networks To Launch New Over-The-Air Channel In Partnership With A+E"](https://deadline.com/2024/04/free-tv-networks-launching-dare-new-over-the-air-channel-unscripted-programming-1235875158/). *Deadline*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240409194931/https://deadline.com/2024/04/free-tv-networks-launching-dare-new-over-the-air-channel-unscripted-programming-1235875158/) from the original on April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Defy Hits The Air"](https://freetvnetworks.com/press-releases). *[Free TV Networks](/source/Free_TV_Networks)* (Press release). July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Free TV Networks Expands Reach With New Affiliate Launches For 365BLK And Defy"](https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/free-tv-networks-expands-reach-with-new-affiliate-launches-for-365blk-and-defy/) (Press release). TVNewsCheck. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Miller, Mark (July 1, 2021). ["Defy TV And TrueReal To Debut Today"](https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/defy-tv-and-truereal-to-debut-today/). *TVNewsCheck*. Retrieved July 4, 2021.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.defytvnet.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Defy (TV network)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defy_(TV_network)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defy_(TV_network)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.