RFD-TV was associated with Dish Network from the start. According to the company's history, the network started in December 2000 as "a public interest channel on Dish Network"; at that time there were 4 million subscribers.
The network joined Dish Network's larger rival, Direct TV, in 2002 and became a main-satellite channel in 2004; RFD-TV added cable to its outlets in 2003, but did not have national cable coverage until the next year. Through all these changes, RFD-TV continued to be available via Dish Network.
Viewers can watch RFD-TV on Dish Network's Channel 231. It is also available in high-definition,1080i format, featuring all network programming.