Tuff TV

Last updated
Tuff TV
Type Digital broadcast television network
BrandingTUFF TV
Country
Availability33% of US households [1]
Broadcast area
United States
OwnerTUFF TV, Inc.
(Seals Media Company)
Key people
Lou Seals
John Bonner
Launch date
June 30, 2009; (16 years ago) September 1, 2025; (relaunch)
DissolvedAugust 26, 2018; (7 years ago)

Tuff TV is an American digital broadcast television network targeted at men owned by the Tuff TV, Inc. division of Seals Media Company. Tuff TV launched on June 30, 2009, and ceased operations August 26, 2018. In March 2025, Tuff TV announced it's relaunch by the Seals Media Company in September 1.

Contents

Tuff TV carried a mixture of sports (combat, motor and some team sport), lifestyle (outdoors, cooking), automotive, dramas, movies and talk show programming geared mainly at a young male audience. The network carried 3 hours of weekly E/I children's programming to comply with federal broadcasting regulations. Stations affiliating with Tuff received five minutes of local advertising per hour. [2]

History

In 2009, Tuff TV was launched as a joint venture between Luken Communications and TUFF TV Media Group LLC. By July 2011, the network's main affiliate base were the Morris Family Broadcasting and NJR TV station groups. [2] In mid-July 2014, Tuff TV started crowdfunding equity on SparkMarket.com to raise Investment capital, but was limited to those living in the state of Georgia. [3]

Tuff agreed to carry some games from the first season of the Fall Experimental Football League in October and November 2014. [4] Tuff relocated their offices to the GPB Media Building in Atlanta on June 8, 2016. [5] On Friday, July 15, 2016, Tuff took over its distribution feed from Luken Communications earlier than planned. [6]

Shutdown

In 2017, Tuff TV was in a lawsuit and lost a case in civil court for Fair Labor Standards brought by a former employee. [7]

Tuff TV, along with its parent company Seals Media Company, ceased operations without announcement on August 26, 2018. The company eventually acknowledged the shutdown months later and indicated that they hoped to relaunch the channel by March 31, 2019; that date passed without a relaunch or any further news, and the site has only featured text indicating the network would be 'coming soon' with no set launch date. The network later claimed it would relaunch in 2022, but its current live stream is non-functioning, and no details about any new affiliation agreements or distribution details (be it as a broadcast subchannel or streaming network) have been made public.

Programming

Tuff TV's new lineup features original shows with unscripted and scripted writing including Atlanta Bodyguards, TURNER TOUGH, Peach Street Blues, The Air Marshal, TUFF M.D., and a live-action studio series, titled TUFF TV LIVE!

Relaunch

In March 2025, Seals Media Company CEO Lou Seals, announced the company would revive the network on broadcast and streaming platforms effective in September. [8]

References

  1. "The Top 25 Digital Broadcast Networks". TVNewsCheck.com. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 McAvoy, Kim (July 27, 2011). "Diginets Struggle For Place On TV's Frontier". TVNewsCheck.com. p. 4. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  3. Malone, Michael (July 24, 2014). "Tuff TV Turns to Crowd-Funding". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  4. "FXFL To Be Carried on ESPN3" (Press release). New York: FXFL. PR Newswire. October 1, 2014. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014 via NBC Right Now.
  5. "Tuff TV Announces New Corporate HQ, Studio". TV News Check. June 8, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  6. "Early Launch For Tuff TV's New Network Feed". TVNewsCheck. July 12, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  7. "FJC IDB Information for Garmon v. Tuff TV Media Group, LLC, 1:15-cv-04394 - CourtListener.com". CourtListener.
  8. Keys, Matthew (March 14, 2025). "Tuff TV to relaunch on broadcast TV, streaming platforms in September". The Desk. Retrieved 2 August 2025.