ABC Family changing its name to #Freeform

Say goodbye to ABC Family and hello to "Freeform."

It was announced on Tuesday that the popular cable network would be changing its name to Freeform this January. The name change is to reflect the network's pursuit of "becomers," an audience segment younger than millennials.

ABC Family expressed their excitement for the new network in a press release:

"Becomers are in high school, college and the decade that follows and are navigating the wonderful, fun, exciting, and scary time in life when you experience the most firsts - first car, first apartment, first job, first love, first heartbreak - all the firsts that exists between who they are and who they want to become. Becomers represent a life stage rather than a generation."

ABC Family President Tom Ascheim said that the network will deliver new original content while offering the same programming viewers currently enjoy.

"Freeform evokes the spirit and adventure of our audience," says Ascheim. "Freeform will deliver new, exciting original content as well as all the favorite shows our viewers already love on ABC Family."

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of ABC Family and this station.