In January 2012, DeFranco launched SourceFed, which at the time was produced by James Haffner.
This came around the same time in which DeFranco signed with Revision3, a multi-channel network.
In February, DeFranco stated he paid himself $100,000 a year, and reinvests the rest back into his company.

Later in the year, DeFranco hosted the 25th anniversary of Discovery Channel's Shark Week.

DeFranco, along with SourceFed co-hosts Elliott Morgan and Meg Turney, joined journalists at the 2012 Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention as part of YouTube's "Elections Hub".
The Philip DeFranco Show and SourceFed were nominated for awards in the 3rd installment of the Streamy Awards.

In September, it was reported that DeFranco received almost 30 million views a month, while by October, his channel was noted to have accumulated 2 million subscribers.
The Philip DeFranco Show and SourceFed were nominated for Streamy Awards; The PDS was nominated for Best First-Person Series and Best News and Culture Series.
SourceFed was also nominated for Best News and Culture Series, as well as Best Live Series and its "#PDSLive 2012 Election Night Coverage" program was nominated for Best Live Event.

In January 2013, DeFranco took part in a Google+ Hangout with United States Vice President Joe Biden and Guy Kawasaki, discussing gun laws.
In February, DeFranco was a featured as a guest judge on the second season of Internet Icon.

Later, in May, SourceFed Nerd, a branch of SourceFed, was launched.
In the same month, DeFranco's assets, including The Philip DeFranco Show and SourceFed, were acquired by Revision3, which itself was a subsidiary of Discovery Digital Networks.
Upon the acquisition, DeFranco became added as an exec of Revision3, the Senior VP of a new Revision3 subsidiary, Phil DeFranco Networks and Merchandise.
In October, as part of his new network, DeFranco launched the ForHumanPeoples channel, based on his clothing and merchandise line.
In November 2013, DeFranco was a special guest in a live pre-show simulcast for the Doctor Who 50th anniversary from YouTube Space LA.
Additionally, DeFranco has organized live shows and meetup events in locations such as Arizona, Los Angeles, and Toronto.

DeFranco aspired to have launched channels within his network by the end of 2013, though due to "the logistical complications of joining Discovery, adding staff and strategizing the future," those plans did not materialize.
DeFranco later planned 2014 to be the year that he would begin launching new channels.
These plans once again fell through, but in 2015, DeFranco was involved in the launching of Super Panic Frenzy, a gaming network, including a YouTube channel and a Twitch live-stream show.

Beginning in 2016, DeFranco became notably critical of YouTube's advertising policies, as they would begin to result in widespread demonetization–a term describing an incident in which something triggered YouTube's system to remove advertisements from a video–for creators across the platform.
DeFranco's criticism of YouTube regarding this topic would continue in the following years.
In January 2012, DeFranco launched SourceFed, which at the time was produced by James Haffner. This came around the same time in which DeFranco signed with Revision3, a multi-channel network. In February, DeFranco stated he paid himself $100,000 a year, and reinvests the rest back into his company.
Later in the year, DeFranco hosted the 25th anniversary of Discovery Channel's Shark Week.
DeFranco, along with SourceFed co-hosts Elliott Morgan and Meg Turney, joined journalists at the 2012 Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention as part of YouTube's "Elections Hub". The Philip DeFranco Show and SourceFed were nominated for awards in the 3rd installment of the Streamy Awards.
In September, it was reported that DeFranco received almost 30 million views a month, while by October, his channel was noted to have accumulated 2 million subscribers. The Philip DeFranco Show and SourceFed were nominated for Streamy Awards; The PDS was nominated for Best First-Person Series and Best News and Culture Series. SourceFed was also nominated for Best News and Culture Series, as well as Best Live Series and its "#PDSLive 2012 Election Night Coverage" program was nominated for Best Live Event.
In January 2013, DeFranco took part in a Google+ Hangout with United States Vice President Joe Biden and Guy Kawasaki, discussing gun laws. In February, DeFranco was a featured as a guest judge on the second season of Internet Icon.
Later, in May, SourceFed Nerd, a branch of SourceFed, was launched. In the same month, DeFranco's assets, including The Philip DeFranco Show and SourceFed, were acquired by Revision3, which itself was a subsidiary of Discovery Digital Networks. Upon the acquisition, DeFranco became added as an exec of Revision3, the Senior VP of a new Revision3 subsidiary, Phil DeFranco Networks and Merchandise. In October, as part of his new network, DeFranco launched the ForHumanPeoples channel, based on his clothing and merchandise line. In November 2013, DeFranco was a special guest in a live pre-show simulcast for the Doctor Who 50th anniversary from YouTube Space LA. Additionally, DeFranco has organized live shows and meetup events in locations such as Arizona, Los Angeles, and Toronto.
DeFranco aspired to have launched channels within his network by the end of 2013, though due to "the logistical complications of joining Discovery, adding staff and strategizing the future," those plans did not materialize. DeFranco later planned 2014 to be the year that he would begin launching new channels. These plans once again fell through, but in 2015, DeFranco was involved in the launching of Super Panic Frenzy, a gaming network, including a YouTube channel and a Twitch live-stream show.
Beginning in 2016, DeFranco became notably critical of YouTube's advertising policies, as they would begin to result in widespread demonetization–a term describing an incident in which something triggered YouTube's system to remove advertisements from a video–for creators across the platform. DeFranco's criticism of YouTube regarding this topic would continue in the following years.
Philip DeFranco