COWBOY CHANNEL The Cowboy Channel (formerly FamilyNet) is an American cable television network in over 42 million cable and satellite homes,[1] which carries Western and rodeo sports. The network was founded in 1979 as the National Christian Network, and took the name FamilyNet in 1988 under the ownership of Jerry Falwell.[2] It is owned by Patrick Gottsch, who also owns RFD-TV;[3] Gottsch operates both channels under the brand Rural Media Group.