Who Owns Fox Television Network?

The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s film and TV assets significantly reshaped the media landscape. One common question that arises from this monumental merger is: Who Owns Fox Television Network? The answer is a bit more nuanced than simply “Disney.”

Disney’s acquisition, finalized in March 2019, encompassed a vast array of Fox’s entertainment properties, including its film and television studios, cable networks like FX and National Geographic, and a majority stake in Hulu. However, the Fox broadcast network, along with Fox News, Fox Sports, and various news publications under News Corp, remained separate.

These remaining assets, including the Fox Television Network, formed the newly independent Fox Corporation. This separation was essential due to regulatory restrictions preventing a single company from owning more than one major broadcast network in the United States. Disney already owned ABC, precluding them from acquiring the Fox network.

Therefore, Fox Corporation, headed by media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his family, retains ownership of the Fox Television Network. This network continues to operate independently, broadcasting primetime programming, sports events, and news coverage. While the network lost its in-house production studio (20th Century Fox Television) to Disney, it can still acquire content from various studios, including Disney.

The Fox Corporation’s business model now leans heavily on live programming, particularly news and sports, through Fox News and Fox Sports. Reality television also plays a significant role in the network’s programming strategy. While scripted programming continues, the focus has shifted, as evidenced by the success of shows like “The Masked Singer.”

This distinction between the broader Disney acquisition and the continued independence of Fox Corporation, including the Fox Television Network, is crucial for understanding the current media ownership landscape. The Disney-Fox merger significantly consolidated entertainment assets, but the Fox network remains a distinct entity under separate ownership.

The future of the Fox network under Fox Corporation involves navigating the challenges of operating without a dedicated production studio and competing in a rapidly changing media environment. While questions remain regarding long-term programming strategies and the network’s overall direction, Fox Corporation’s ownership ensures the continued existence of the Fox Television Network as a separate entity from Disney.

This complex ownership structure underscores the intricacies of media mergers and the ongoing evolution of the entertainment industry. Understanding who owns Fox Television Network requires recognizing the separation between Disney’s acquired assets and the independent existence of Fox Corporation. The Fox network, under Fox Corporation’s ownership, continues to be a major player in the broadcasting landscape, despite the seismic shifts caused by the Disney-Fox merger.