Jonathan Katz launches digital broadcaster, Free TV Networks, with WBD, Lionsgate & Gray TV

Dear White People (Source: Lara Solanki/Netflix/Kobal/Shutterstock)

Industry veteran Jonathan Katz has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), Lionsgate and station owner Gray Television to launch a new digital broadcast network, Free TV Networks.

The new company will deliver ad-supported over-the-air and streaming channels that are free-to-consumers and will featuring both WBD and Lionsgate programming, with the first channels focused on African American programming and Westerns.

Katz will serve as president & CEO of the new company, which will launch on 1 January 2024 with The365 positioned as its flagship brand, serving African American films and series, including Warner Bros.’ I Am Legend, Purple Rain and Queen Sugar, as well as Crash and Monster’s Ball, Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion and the satirical comedy-drama Dear White People from Lionsgate.

Also launching on New Year’s Day is Free TV Networks’ second over-the-air network, Outlaw, which will target male demographics with tales of the Old West, including Warner Bros. movies Unforgiven, Chisum, Pale Rider and Wyatt Earp.

The over-the-air networks will launch with distribution in 80% of the US, supported by Gray Television. Additional distribution for the networks will be across RNN Media Group and HC2 Broadcasting’s footprint of over-the-air stations.

In addition, Free TV Networks will launch several ad-supported FAST networks in the coming months driven by acquired content, including streaming versions of The365 and Outlaw, along with channels featuring pop-culture fan-favorite movies and series from the VHS era titled VCR Action and VCR Haha.

“Never underestimate the power of ‘free.’ Audiences and advertisers have driven the thriving ad market for digital broadcast networks to well over $1bn, with FAST channel revenues now more than $5bn,” said Katz.

“The Free TV Networks team has a successful and profitable track record scaling well-defined brands designed to serve the ever-growing number of value-conscious consumers combining free over-the-air and FAST channels with their favorite streaming services.”

Jonathan Katz (Source: Free TV Networks)

Team and board structure

Serving as advisors, Free TV Networks founders and board directors include human rights activist and philanthropist, Martin Luther King III, and entertainment businessman Alan Haymon.

Katz’s senior leadership team will include former Scripps Networks and Katz Networks exec Maria Harvey as chief financial officer and former Epix and Lionsgate exec Phil Oppenheim as chief content officer.

Scripps and Warner Media alum Richard Steiner has been named chief digital officer, while Teton Ridge and Raycom Media’s Joe Cantrell will serve as EVP of network operations and development.

Katz is the founder of the Katz Networks, a digital over-the-air networks company whose portfolio included broadcast networks Bounce, Escape, Grit, Laff and Court TV, along with corresponding free ad-supported streaming services.

The Katz Networks were acquired by the EW Scripps Company in 2017, and then combined with Ion Media in 2021, at which point Katz became the COO and head of entertainment for the Scripps Networks, where he led both the ION broadcast network and the Katz Networks’ portfolio.

Prior to that, Katz was SVP & GM, worldwide program planning & acquisitions for the Turner Entertainment Group, leading the division responsible for acquiring all licensed and key original content for Turner’s Entertainment Networks as well as The WB broadcast network.

Most recently, Katz was president of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, responsible for businesses including Redbox, Crackle, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Screen Media Ventures and Halcyon Studios.