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Contents
E.W. Scripps recently made an announcement that TrueReal, their digital broadcasting network, would be integrated into the Defy TV network. Both TrueReal and Defy TV were launched in 2021, as part of Scripps’ larger digital broadcasting portfolio. The decision to merge the two networks came as a result of the company’s ongoing evaluation of the best ways to generate value from its spectrum. The most popular programs from each network were selected for the merger while maintaining the established Defy branding.
TrueReal primarily aired reruns of popular A&E reality TV shows such as Storage Wars, Wahlburgers, Intervention, and Hoarders. Scripps has not yet specified which of these programs will be included in Defy TV’s lineup following the merger. Regular TrueReal viewers will need to switch to Defy TV and keep an eye out for their favorite shows to see if they have been carried over.
While some viewers may still rely on traditional cable to access networks like Defy TV and TrueReal, many others use streaming platforms to watch these channels. Despite rebroadcasting other shows, these channels have the potential to attract new audiences who may not have cable subscriptions. However, the recent merger between TrueReal and Defy TV has left some viewers in a state of confusion, as the former channel’s programming has been incorporated into the latter. In a surprising move, the channel that used to air TrueReal has now been leased out to Jewelry Television, a channel that doesn’t have a similar audience to TrueReal. It remains to be seen how this will affect viewership for all three channels. Nevertheless, Scripps appears to be optimistic about the merger, hoping that Defy TV can become a powerhouse in its own right and attract an even larger audience.
TrueReal was a TV network that catered to women aged 25–54 and was owned by the Katz Broadcasting subsidiary of the E. W. Scripps Company. Launched on July 1, 2021, TrueReal was part of a dual launch that included Defy TV, a complementary network aimed at men aged 25–54. With a broadcast coverage of 92% of the United States, both networks were available through cable subscriptions and various streaming platforms. However, on March 27, 2024, TrueReal’s programming schedule was merged with Defy TV, effectively discontinuing the channel as a standalone network. The channel space that TrueReal occupied was subsequently used to air programming from Jewelry Television.