FOX
FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company, also known as FOX, is an American television network owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, which is part of the media conglomerate News Corporation.
FOX has 180 owned-and-operated or affiliate stations in the United States and its territories. The FOX name has also been used internationally on other entertainment channels that are affiliated with News Corporation such as in South America, Portugal, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Spain, Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria, and Japan.
In 2003, FOX was viewed by approximately 96.18% of American households, reaching 102.565 million homes in the United States.
As of 2008, FOX was voted the number one network in the United States, offering primetime hit shows including American Idol; House; Bones; Hell’s Kitchen; King of the Hill; So You Think You Can Dance; The Simpsons; Prison Break; America’s Most Wanted; MADtv; American Dad; Family Guy; Back to You; Talkshow with Spike Feresten; and COPS.
Unlike other major networks, FOX does not air soap operas or any other network daytime programming.
History
The founding of FOX network started when Rupert Murdoch of News Corporation purchased half of the 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation in 1984. He then purchased the remaining half of the corporation in 1985. The two purchases amounted to $575 million. In the same year, he purchased six independent television stations in six major U.S. cities from Metromedia Company, namely: WNEW-TV, New York; KTTV-TV, Los Angeles; WFLD-TV, Chicago; WTTG-TV, Washington, DC; KNBN-TV, Dallas; and KRIV-TV, Houston. These first six stations were recognized as the Fox Television Stations group.
He later acquired another station in Boston. These stations allowed him to reach around 20% of all U.S. households. 20th Century Fox eventually declared that they had plans to form an independent television network that would compete with the Big Three networks (NBC, CBS, and ABC).
In 1986, FOX was launched and broadcasted to 96 stations. In 1987, its first prime time shows were launched such as Married…With Children and The Tracey Ullman Show, the show that spun off The Simpsons in 1989. FOX reduced the number of prime time hours that were offered every week and the network did not air morning shows or soap operas, thereby providing its affiliates more freedom to schedule their own shows and commercial broadcasts. Other successful shows included 21 Jump Street, Duet, and Mr. President. The network also eventually broadcasted crime reality shows such as COPS and America’s Most Wanted, which were recognized for bringing reality television into the mainstream.
In 1993, FOX gained significant recognition when they signed a deal with the National Football league to broadcast the NFC. In the 1990s, FOX launched several hit series like Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210, Party of Five, New York Undercover, The X-Files, In Living Color, Martin, Ally McBeal, and That ‘70s Show. During the early 2000s, more reality shows were aired such as Temptation Island, Joe Millionaire, Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire, and World’s Wildest Police Videos.
FOX is also home to successful shows like 24, The O.C. House, and American Idol, which became the nation’s highest-rated program for seasons 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Related Links:
A comprehensive profile on Fox Broadcasting Company is featured on Wikipedia.
A brief description of Fox Broadcasting Company is provided Hoovers.com.
A full list of FOX show sites can be viewed on its official website.