Fox Networks Group
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Predecessor | Fox International Channels |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Rupert Murdoch |
| Defunct | 2021 |
| Fate | Assets split between The Walt Disney Company and Fox Corporation; brand dissolved |
| Headquarters | United States (specific city not stated) , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (reached more than 1.7 billion households globally) |
Key people | Peter Rice (CEO), Randy Freer (COO), Uday Shankar (President Asia-Pacific) |
| Products | Television channels and networks including Fox, Fox Sports, National Geographic, BabyTV; on-demand platforms Fox Play and Fox Plus |
| Owner | News Corporation (until 2013), 21st Century Fox (2013–2019), then assets split between The Walt Disney Company and Fox Corporation |
| Parent | News Corporation (until 2013), 21st Century Fox (2013–2019) |
Fox Networks Group (FNG), previously known as Fox International Channels (FIC), served as the television networks division for News Corporation and subsequently 21st Century Fox from 1993 until 2021. It was responsible for the creation, broadcasting, and distribution of prominent channels such as Fox, Fox Sports, National Geographic, and BabyTV across the United States and reaching more than 1.7 billion households globally. Additionally, FNG operated on-demand platforms including Fox Play and Fox Plus.
Up until 2016, Fox International Channels was co-managed by 21st Century Fox's domestic broadcast units before these were consolidated under FNG. Its U.S.-based holdings encompassed the Fox Television Group (Fox and 20th Century Fox Television), Fox Cable Networks, Fox Sports Media Group, Fox News Group, National Geographic Partners, and the Fox Networks Digital Consumer Group.
Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox in March 2019, FNG’s assets were split between Disney and the newly established Fox Corporation. Disney reinstated the Walt Disney Television brand for its networks division, folding FNG’s international branches into its reorganized structure—initially named Disney International Operations, then Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International, and later integrated into Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. In 2021, Walt Disney Television was rebranded as Disney General Entertainment Content; DMED was dissolved in 2023 with its functions transferred to Disney's new division, Disney Entertainment. Under Disney’s regional subsidiaries, channels were rebranded as either FX or the Star Channel. The final rebranding of a Fox channel took place in Spain on March 11, 2024.
Origins and Growth
In 1993, Australian media magnate Rupert Murdoch acquired Hong Kong-based broadcaster Star TV, establishing Fox International Channels (FIC) as the global expansion division of the American Fox Broadcasting Company within News Corporation. Star TV was subsequently rebranded as Fox Networks Group Asia Pacific (currently known as Disney Networks Group Asia Pacific). By 1997, FIC expanded its content creation capabilities through the acquisition of documentary producer NHNZ.
FIC entered Spain's market in 2001 with the launch of Fox, followed by National Geographic Channel, Fox Crime, and Fox Life. In the UK and Ireland, FX289 debuted in 2004; it was renamed FX in 2005 and later rebranded to Fox in 2013.
Expansion in Latin America occurred via acquisitions and partnerships, including majority ownership of Telecolombia (renamed Fox Telecolombia) and BabyTV’s international operations. The Argentine lifestyle channel Utilisima was purchased in 2007 and later transformed into Fox Life to enable wider distribution across Latin America, North America, Europe, and Oceania.
FIC enhanced its footprint in India by introducing multiple Nat Geo and Fox-branded channels starting from 2008. In the Middle East, collaboration with Rotana Media Services led to launches of Fox Movies and Fox Series in 2008 alongside acquiring stakes in Rotana to facilitate content distribution.
The group ventured into specialized markets with channels such as Fox Next in Portugal (2008), Real Estate TV in the UK (2008), and National Geographic Abu Dhabi through a partnership with Abu Dhabi Media Company launched in 2009. It also invested in animation development initiatives like Fox Inkubation.
Between 2004 and 2008, Fox Life was rolled out across various territories. To support marketing and sales efforts, regional offices were established including one in Estonia serving the Baltic region from 2011.
In 2009, News Corporation restructured Star TV into Star India and Star Greater China units, integrating these regional operations under FIC to sharpen market focus. By 2010, Middle East and North Africa operations were centralized in Abu Dhabi while production capabilities were expanded through NHNZ.
Among joint ventures was a collaboration with Jan Dekker Holdings managing Dutch channel 24Kitchen; FIC acquired full ownership by 2014. The company launched Fox Crime Norway in 2011, purchased Finnish free-to-air Suomi TV (rebranded as Fox), and broadened pay-TV offerings including Fox Movies in Portugal and Angola.
In the United States market, FIC partnered with RCN Televisión to establish MundoFox (later MundoMax), a Spanish-language network which ceased operations in 2016 after FIC withdrew from the joint venture.
Between 2012 and 2013, FIC increased its ownership stake in Latin American pay-TV provider LAPTV until it became sole proprietor, subsequently rebranding Moviecity as Fox+. Former FIC president David Haslingden acquired NHNZ along with Beach House Pictures during this period.
The company further diversified sports programming by purchasing Setanta Sports Africa channels in 2013, rebranding them as Fox Sports ahead of the 2014–15 football season. In addition, FIC assumed distribution responsibilities for major channels previously managed by Star Select following its closure in the Middle East region.
July 2014 saw the creation of Fox Television Group under the umbrella of Fox Networks Group to consolidate U.S. television assets. Strategic alliances included forming The Jackal Group with Gail Berman for content development and DNA TV Limited alongside DNA Films for global production initiatives.
Regional consolidation continued with merging Turkey’s pay-TV and free-to-air operations in 2014 and launching a new Fox-branded channel in Sweden. Full control over Dutch channel 24Kitchen’s joint venture was also secured.
In Italy, A&E Networks obtained full ownership of History channel from FIC Italy by 2013. Nat Geo Adventure channels were rebranded as Nat Geo People throughout Asia-Pacific during 2014. The UK introduced YourTV targeting female viewers in 2015; however, it closed down four years later.
A key partnership formed in 2015 between 21st Century Fox and National Geographic Society created National Geographic Partners to oversee commercial activities including National Geographic channels; advertising sales continued under Fox Networks Group management.
January 2016 marked a restructure where 21st Century Fox dissolved FIC as an independent entity. Its international divisions were absorbed into Fox Networks Group under CEO Peter Rice and COO Randy Freer to streamline global operations under the unified corporate identity known as Fox Networks Group International.
On December 5, 2017, Uday Shankar—then CEO of Star India—was appointed president for Asia-Pacific at Fox Networks Group to lead television and online video platform strategies across the region; this appointment aligned leadership globally without impacting film production reporting lines.
Disney acquisition and subsequent shutdown
On December 14, 2017, The Walt Disney Company revealed its intention to purchase the majority of 21st Century Fox's assets, encompassing FX Networks, a significant share in National Geographic Partners, and Fox Networks Group's international operations. The Murdoch family maintained control over Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Television Stations, American Fox Sports divisions, Fox News Channel, and Fox Business Network through the newly established Fox Corporation. Although Disney acquired regional Fox Sports Networks, the United States Department of Justice required their divestiture within 90 days because of Disney's ownership of ESPN.
On April 10, 2018, the European Commission conducted a search at Fox Networks Group's West London offices as part of an antitrust inquiry regarding sports broadcasting rights.
Fox Corporation was spun off from 21st Century Fox and began trading on the Nasdaq on March 19, 2019. The next day, Disney finalized the $71.3 billion deal, dissolving Fox Networks Group as an independent entity. FX Networks and U.S.-based National Geographic channels were consolidated under Walt Disney Television, while 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios became part of Disney Television Studios. Peter Rice, CEO of Fox Networks Group, assumed the role of Chairman at Walt Disney Television. The international Fox Networks were integrated into Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer and International (later renamed Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution).
On January 17, 2020, Disney removed the "Fox" branding from film divisions 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures. Following this rebranding, numerous Fox Networks Group channels were shuttered due to diminishing viewership as Disney shifted its emphasis toward Disney+. Remaining international Fox channels adopted new identities as either Star Channel or FX Channels, except in Japan and Turkey where they were renamed to revive Dlife and Now, marking the end of the Fox Networks Group brand.
Fox Television Group
- Fox Broadcasting Company – transferred to Fox Corporation
- 20th Century Fox Television – integrated into the restructured Walt Disney Television (currently part of Disney General Entertainment Content)
- Fox 21 Television Studios – merged into Disney Television Studios
- Fox Television Animation – incorporated within Disney Television Studios
- The original 20th Television – absorbed by Disney Television Studios
National Geographic Partners
Transferred under Disney General Entertainment Content A joint venture with the National Geographic Society where Fox held a 73% stake
- National Geographic Global Networks
- National Geographic Media assets including print publications, digital content, travel services, and tours
FX Networks
Now under Disney General Entertainment Content
- FX
- FXX
- FX Movie Channel
- FX Productions
- FX Entertainment
- DNA TV Limited – a collaborative venture with DNA Films, operated by the DNA Films team
Fox Sports Media Group
- Fox Sports – moved to Fox Corporation alongside other national cable outlets and the Big Ten Network
- Fox Sports 1
- Fox Sports 2
- Fox Deportes
- Fox Soccer Plus
- Big Ten Network (majority ownership at 51% in partnership with Big Ten Conference)
- Fox Sports Networks – divested to Diamond Sports Group, a partnership between Sinclair Broadcasting Group and Allen Media Group
- Regional channels: Arizona, Detroit, Florida/Sun, Midwest (covering Indiana, Kansas City), North, Ohio/SportsTime Ohio, South/Southeast (Carolinas, Tennessee), Southwest (Oklahoma, New Orleans), West/Prime Ticket (San Diego), Wisconsin
- YES Network (holding an 80% ownership stake)
- Fox College Sports – acquired by Diamond Sports Group
- Home Team Sports (HTS) – responsible for advertising sales across sports networks and local brand integration; transferred to Playfly Sports
- Fox Sports College Properties – college sports rights for Big East Conference, Michigan State, Auburn, San Diego State, Georgetown, USC, and Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; sold to Playfly Sports
- Impression Sports & Entertainment – manages naming rights and event sponsorships; sold to Playfly Sports
Fox Television Stations Group
Transferred to Fox Corporation
- Fox Television Stations
- Portfolio of 28 stations
- MyNetworkTV
- Movies! (50% ownership)
Fox News Group
Now part of Fox Corporation
International
Fox Networks Digital Consumer Group
The Fox Networks Digital Consumer Group (FNDCG) was a segment within 21st Century Fox. Following the Disney-21CF merger, major digital services were reallocated: FXNOW and Nat Geo TV became part of Walt Disney Television (currently Disney General Entertainment Content), Fox Now was assigned to Fox Corporation, and Fox Sports Go (rebranded as the FanDuel Sports Network app) was divested to Diamond Sports Group, a partnership between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Allen Media Group.
| Country Subsidiary | Fox | Fox Crime | Fox Comedy | Fox Life | Fox Sports | Fox Movies | National Geographic | Nat Geo Wild | Nat Geo People | BabyTV | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Networks Group (UK) Limited | ||||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Italy SARL | ||||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Bulgaria EOOD | 24Kitchen | |||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Serbia | 24Kitchen | |||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Hungary | Romania | |||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group France SA | Voyage | |||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Greece | FX | |||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Russia | Russia | |||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Polska Sp. z o.o. | ||||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group (Finland) Oy | ||||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Scandinavia | Xee | |||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group España, S.L.U. | Viajar | |||||||||||
| Fox Networks Group Portugal SA |
| Unit | Transferred to |
|---|---|
| FXNOW | Disney General Entertainment Content |
| Nat Geo TV | |
| Fox Now | Fox Corporation |
| Fox Sports Go (now FanDuel Sports Network app) | Acquired by Diamond Sports Group, a joint venture of Sinclair Broadcast Group and Allen Media Group |
Fox Networks Group Content Distribution
The Fox Networks Group Content Distribution division functioned as the worldwide distributor for both scripted and unscripted content produced by Fox Networks Group, facilitating its expansion in international markets.
Fox Networks Engineering & Operations
Fox Networks Engineering & Operations was responsible for overseeing the technical systems and operational support essential to the broadcasting functions of Fox Networks Group.
Fox Global Networks
The role of Fox Global Networks involved managing the distribution and promotional efforts of Fox Networks Group’s U.S.-originated content, thereby enhancing its presence in global markets.
Fox Media
Fox Media concentrated on developing advanced advertising sales collaborations, including native advertising and branded content across various platforms, aimed at increasing revenue opportunities.
Fox Hispanic Media
Specializing in advertising sales for Fox’s Spanish-language properties, Fox Hispanic Media targeted the expanding Hispanic demographic segment.