NEW YORK — Nasdaq-traded Versant, the entity spun off from NBCUniversal that includes MVPD-distributed channels such as USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel, now officially has a stable of digital multicast broadcast networks.
As part of the deal, that entity’s founder is joining Versant, reporting to its Chief Revenue and Business Officer.
As RBR+TVBR first reported on December 5, Versant has acquired Free TV Networks, the Jonathan Katz-founded digital broadcast network created after the December 2020 sale of his Katz Broadcasting to Scripps Networks.
For Versant, it brings a potential broadcast home for its MVPD-distributed brands in an era where “cord-cutting” is imperiling traditional cable television services while free ad-supported streaming television is on the rise. Concurrently, it opens up free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel possibilities for Versant, as the company notes Free TV Networks will operate within Versant as a dedicated business, “expanding the company’s reach across over-the-air and FAST distribution, extending its footprint beyond traditional pay-TV, and scaling access to audiences engaging with free, ad-supported television.”
Katz (whose name is pronounced “Kay-tz”), said in December, “All of us at Free TV Networks are excited to bring new, scaled, and differentiated reach to Versant’s portfolio. From day one, our focus was to become the leading media company serving value-conscious consumers, by filling the entertainment gap for these viewers within the broader media marketplace. With Versant, we can scale faster, extend our ability to connect with more underserved segments, and deliver even larger audiences for our advertisers.”
Katz is now a Versant employee; his title was not disclosed as he reports to Chief Revenue and Business Officer David Pietrycha.
Katz will continue to lead day-to-day operations of the business, which has been based in Atlanta. Its roster of diginets includes 365BLK, Outlaw, Defy and Busted. Free TV Network launched 366BLK and Outlaw on January 1, 2024, thanks to a partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery and Lionsgate and a distribution agreement with Gray Media. Defy arrived on July 1, 2024; Busted debuted in March 2025.
The acquisition follows Versant’s recent acquisition of INDY Cinema Group, operating under the well-known Fandango brand.
