365BLK

About 365BLK

365BLK is an American digital broadcast television network operated by Free TV Networks that programs films and series targeting African American audiences. Launched on January 1, 2024 under the name The365, the network was one of two channels that marked the debut of Free TV Networks, the company founded by veteran multicast entrepreneur Jonathan Katz. Built on content supplied by Lionsgate and Warner Bros. Discovery and carried at launch by Gray Media stations covering more than 80 percent of the country, 365BLK offers a 24-hour feed of Black-centered entertainment free over the air. In early 2026, the network's parent company was acquired by Versant, and a new carriage agreement with CBS's owned-and-operated stations expanded 365BLK's reach to 92 percent of American television households.

History and Launch

Free TV Networks was founded on November 7, 2023, when Jonathan Katz announced a new venture that would operate digital multicast television networks alongside free ad-supported streaming television services. Katz had previously run Katz Broadcasting, the company behind the Bounce TV and Court TV multicast networks, which he sold to the E. W. Scripps Company in 2017. The new company planned to launch two networks on January 1, 2024: The365, focused on programming for African American viewers, and Outlaw, a westerns channel. To supply content, Free TV Networks reached agreements with Lionsgate and Warner Bros. Discovery, and to secure distribution it partnered with Gray Media, which provided an initial affiliation base serving at least 80 percent of the country at launch. Both networks debuted on New Year's Day as planned.

Jonathan Katz and the Katz Broadcasting Legacy

Jonathan Katz is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the history of digital multicast television. As the founder of Katz Broadcasting, he built Bounce TV into the leading broadcast network targeting African American audiences and revived the Court TV brand, demonstrating that well-defined niche channels could thrive on broadcast subchannels. The sale of Katz Broadcasting to Scripps in 2017 gave him the capital and the track record to attempt the model a second time. With Free TV Networks, Katz returned to familiar territory: The365/365BLK reprised the audience focus of Bounce TV, while the company's structure, combining over-the-air multicast networks with streaming extensions, mirrored the playbook that had made his first venture profitable. Announcing the launch, Katz pointed to the thriving advertising market for digital broadcast networks and free ad-supported streaming as the opportunity the new company was built to capture.

From The365 to 365BLK

The network launched as The365, a name suggesting Black entertainment every day of the year. It was later renamed 365BLK, sharpening the brand identity while keeping the year-round promise of the original name. The rebrand aligned the channel's name with its programming mission and gave it a more distinctive mark in television listings and on-screen guides. Throughout the transition, the network's core proposition remained unchanged: a free, 24-hour feed of films and series centered on Black stories, Black stars, and Black culture, available to anyone with an antenna.

Programming

365BLK's schedule draws on the film and television libraries of Lionsgate and Warner Bros. Discovery, giving it access to a deep bench of titles with Black leads and culturally resonant stories. The launch lineup featured blockbuster movies such as Will Smith's I Am Legend and Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion, alongside hit series including Oprah Winfrey's Queen Sugar. The network's listings have included music-driven films such as Purple Rain, Graffiti Bridge, Under the Cherry Moon, and Krush Groove; action titles including the Lethal Weapon series and Passenger 57; blaxploitation-era classics such as Superfly, Lady Cocoa, and T.N.T. Jackson; and sitcoms including Eve. The mix of theatrical films and episodic series gives the schedule variety across dayparts, from daytime sitcom blocks to primetime movie showcases.

Ownership and the Free TV Networks Portfolio

365BLK is operated by Free TV Networks, LLC, an Atlanta-based broadcasting company led by president and chief executive Jonathan Katz. The company's initial board included boxing promoter Al Haymon and civil rights activist Martin Luther King III, both of whom had been original investors in Katz's Bounce TV. Within the Free TV Networks portfolio, 365BLK sits alongside Outlaw, the westerns network launched the same day; Defy, an unscripted network launched July 1, 2024 as a joint venture with A and E Networks; and Busted, a reality and true-crime network devoted to law-enforcement programming that launched March 1, 2025. In December 2025, Versant, the media company spun off from Comcast and NBCUniversal, announced it would acquire Free TV Networks, and the acquisition was completed in January 2026, with Katz staying on to manage the networks' day-to-day operations.

Distribution and Availability

365BLK launched with an affiliation base from Gray Media covering more than 80 percent of the country, an unusually strong debut footprint for a new multicast network. The channel is distributed on the digital subchannels of local broadcast stations, free to watch with an antenna. In February 2026, Free TV Networks announced a broadcast distribution agreement with CBS's owned-and-operated station group, placing 365BLK and Outlaw on 16 CBS stations in high-visibility channel positions. The company said the deal expanded 365BLK's consumer availability to 92 percent of American television households, reinforcing the network's standing as a scaled national destination for viewers and advertisers. The CBS agreement was described as the company's first major expansion since becoming part of Versant.

Target Audience

365BLK is programmed for African American viewers and for anyone who enjoys Black-centered film and television. The network's audience strategy mirrors the approach Katz pioneered with Bounce TV: serve an underserved demographic with culturally specific programming on free broadcast television, where the barrier to viewing is lowest. Its film-heavy schedule appeals to viewers who grew up with the stars and soundtracks it showcases, from Prince vehicles to Tyler Perry comedies to classic action films headlined by Black actors. As a free over-the-air service, the channel reaches antenna households and cord-cutters, including viewers in markets where pay-TV penetration is lower.

Growth and Momentum

The network's trajectory has been defined by steady distribution gains. The Gray Media launch partnership gave it national scale from day one, and the February 2026 CBS owned-and-operated deal pushed its reach to 92 percent of television households, a milestone few multicast networks achieve within their first two years. The Versant acquisition in January 2026 brought the backing of a major media company with streaming assets, positioning Free TV Networks for further expansion across broadcast and streaming. In February 2026, when the Paramount Skydance network Fave TV shut down, its affiliates were replaced with either Outlaw or 365BLK, a further sign of the Free TV Networks brands' growing carriage momentum.

Streaming and Digital Presence

In keeping with Free TV Networks' dual broadcast-and-streaming strategy, 365BLK extends beyond over-the-air transmission. The company operates free ad-supported streaming television extensions of its brands, and 365BLK programming is available through streaming platforms alongside its broadcast feed. The network maintains a social media presence, including a TikTok account that highlights featured films and stars, and its website provides schedule information and channel-finder tools. The streaming footprint gives the network a path to younger viewers who watch primarily on connected devices while preserving its core free broadcast offering.

How to Watch

365BLK is available free over the air with an antenna on the digital subchannel of a participating local station; channel numbers vary by market, so viewers should consult local listings and rescan their tuners periodically. The network's official website, 365blk.tv, offers schedule information, show details, and tools for finding the channel in each market. Streaming options extend the service to connected TVs, smartphones, and tablets, making the network's lineup of Black-centered films and series accessible well beyond traditional broadcast reception.