Ion Television (stylized "ion TELEVISION") is a United States broadcast television network. Owned by ION Media Networks, the network commenced broadcasting on August 31, 1998 as PAX TV, a name it used until July 1, 2005, when it became i·Independent Television. The network was rechristened to it's current name of Ion on January 29, 2007. As of 2010[update], the network was reportedly viewable in 99 million homes in the U.S. through its group of 60 stations, as well as cable and satellite distribution. Its stations reach all of the top 20 U.S. markets and 37 of the top 50 markets.
The network was originally named Pax Net, but renamed PAX TV before its launch in 1998 by Lowell "Bud" Paxson, co-founder of the Home Shopping Network and chairman of Paxson Communications. The network also aired religious programming from The Worship Network during the late-night hours and contemporary Christian television network Praise TV on Friday and Saturday nights from midnight to 3 A.M. ET/PT.
Most of PAX's initial affiliates were Paxson Communications-owned affiliate stations of the Infomail TV Network or InTV, a broadcast network launched in 1995 by Lowell "Bud" Paxson, that relied solely on infomercial programming. The network launched on August 31, 1998 with PAX's initial schedule being much larger in scope than it would be in later years. It consisted of general entertainment programs from noon-midnight ET/PT weekdays and of paid programming from midnight-1 a.m. ET/PT, 5 a.m.–noon ET/PT, and all afternoon on Saturdays and Sundays.