The network was launched by Bud Paxson, co-founder of the Home Shopping Network and chairman of parent company Paxson Communications (the forerunner to Ion Media) It was originally to be called Pax Net, but was renamed Pax TV (often referred to as simply "Pax"; stylized as "PAX") shortly before its launch. The network's owned-and-operated stations cover 64.8% of the United States population, by far the most of any American station ownership group.