Freeform Builds on Success as it Presented its 2018 Upfront as Part of the Combined Disney|ABC Television Presentation

Freeform President Tom Ascheim and Executive Vice President of Programming and Development Karey Burke unveiled today the new and returning projects for The Walt Disney Company's young adult cable network at the combined Disney|ABC Television's presentation for the national advertising community at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall.

Freeform announced new series "Besties," a half-hour multi-camera comedy from co-creators Kenya Barris and Ranada Shepard, and drama "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists," featuring returning fan favorites Sasha Pieterse and Janel Parrish, and starring Sofia Carson (Disney's "Descendants"). The network also ordered a second season of new cable drama "Siren."

Additionally, FreeForm will expand its holiday dominance with over 1000 hours of themed programming kicking off with the brand-new "31 Nights of Halloween" onOct. 1, an increase of the annual "13 Nights of Halloween." This year, FreeForm offers viewers "Decorating Disney: Halloween," a behind-the-scenes special that will reveal all the tricks and treats behind the transformation of the WALT DISNEY WORLD and Disneyland resorts into the scariest, yet still magical, places on Earth! Finally, FreeForm will continue the spooktacular festivities with a celebration for one of the most beloved Halloween movies with the "Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Extravaganza."

The network also introduced FreeForm Santa ("Shadowhunters" star Isaiah Mustafa) and November's "Kick Off to Christmas." The iconic "25 Days of Christmas" returns to the entire Disney|ABC Television on December 1, the only major media network to offer a unified holiday programming initiative. Original holiday films "Life Size 2" and "Sleeping Together," will also be part of Freeform's holiday lineup.

Freeform continues to dominate the young adult landscape in cable with the No. 1 comedy ("grown-ish") and the No. 1 new drama ("Siren") with young adults and holds the No. 2 slot with women 18-34 and women 12-17. Also claiming the title of No. 1 most social cable network for the 7th year in a row and the No. 1 network in digital viewing, FreeForm is delivering on its new tagline "A Little Forward."