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Fox Television Studios

From Alfawiki
Touchstone Television (second incarnation)
Company typeDivision
IndustryTelevision production
PredecessorFox 21 Television Studios
Founded2014
FateFolded into 20th Television
Headquarters
United States
Key people
Bert Salke (President)
ParentDisney Television Studios (Walt Disney Company)

The second iteration of Touchstone Television, previously identified as Fox 21 Television Studios, operated as an American television production entity under the umbrella of Disney Television Studios, which is a division of the Walt Disney Company.[1] On December 1, 2020, Disney integrated this label into 20th Television.

Fox Television Studios

Fox Television Studios, Inc. functioned as a television production arm within Fox Entertainment Group, the primary entertainment branch of 21st Century Fox. Founded on August 1, 1997, with David Grant at the helm,[2] The studio comprised smaller production units, including the Greenblatt-Janollari Studio (G-JS), which specialized in comedy programming for ABC and CBS while maintaining an "independent mini-studio" status. Additionally, it collaborated with David Gerber's Gerber Company to develop telefilms and series.

By 2000, with Fox Entertainment Group holding a 20% interest in New Regency's parent company, Fox Studios established the joint venture Regency Television, overseen by Gail Berman. Another subdivision, Fox Television Studios Productions (FTSP), led by Lisa Berger, was responsible for producing shows such as Son of the Beach for FX. Early notable successes included Malcolm in the Middle (through Regency) and The Hughleys (via G-JS).

Fox Television Studios eventually branched into five distinct divisions:

  • The alternative division was responsible for programs like Talkshow with Spike Feresten, The Wanda Sykes Show, and E!'s The Girls Next Door. In 2002, Fox Alternative Productions was created under David Martin’s leadership.
  • The scripted division developed series such as The Shield along with various television movies.
  • The Fox World division, initiated in 2000, concentrated on producing international adaptations of reality shows including Joe Millionaire and Temptation Island, but it ceased operations in 2014.

In March 2005, Fox Television Studios extended its reach to the UK by acquiring the independent British company Scream Films, marking its initial British market entry. Scream Films functioned autonomously to create formats tailored for both UK and US audiences. By July 2006, it was renamed Fox Television Studios UK but was closed in June 2007 due to corporate restructuring led by president Emiliano Calemzuk. Following this reorganization, FTVS shifted focus toward developing unscripted formats internationally.

Eventually, only the scripted division remained operational. FTVS pursued international partnerships and found success with USA Network's Burn Notice. In August 2010, Dave Madden took over leadership of this unit; he expanded its production slate before his promotion to president of entertainment for Fox Broadcasting in August 2014.[3]

Fox Television Studios International

Fox Television Studios International functioned as the overseas branch of Fox Television Studios from August 1, 2000, until March 7, 2001. Under the leadership of Daniella Welteke, this division was ultimately consolidated into Fox World.

Fox Television Studios expanded into five distinct sectors: alternative, scripted, international, Fox World, and Regency Television:

  • The alternative division was responsible for producing programs such as Talkshow with Spike Feresten, The Wanda Sykes Show, and E!'s The Girls Next Door. In 2002, David Martin spearheaded the launch of Fox Alternative Productions.
  • The scripted division focused on creating series like The Shield alongside various television films and miniseries.
  • Established in 2000, the Fox World unit specialized in creating international adaptations of reality series including Joe Millionaire and Temptation Island. This division was eventually discontinued by FTVS in 2014.

Over time, the scripted division remained the sole active branch. FTVS engaged in international co-productions and found success with Burn Notice airing on USA Network. In August 2010, Dave Madden assumed leadership duties, broadening production efforts until his advancement to president of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting in 2014.

Fox World

Fox World—previously known as Fox Television Studios International—was a segment of Fox Television Studios launched in 2000 that concentrated on producing localized versions of reality television shows such as Joe Millionaire and Temptation Island.

In March 2001, Fox World formed a joint venture with SBS to create a production company targeting northern European markets.

By November 2004, Hayley Babcock had been elevated to senior vice president of production at Fox World, while Daniella Welteke continued to lead the division.

Fox World operated until its shutdown in 2014, when it was reintegrated into Fox Television Studios (which later became Fox 21 Television Studios and was ultimately merged into 20th Television).

Fox Lab

Fox Lab served as a production arm of 20th Television, originally founded in 1986 under the name Fox Television Stations Productions (FTSP). This division was behind landmark programs such as A Current Affair, Cops, and America's Most Wanted. The brand transitioned to Fox Lab in 1995, although the FTSP label continued to appear on certain shows until the conclusion of Cops in 2013.

In 1990, Fox Television Stations introduced the soap opera Tribes, which aired solely on Fox owned-and-operated stations but only lasted for one season. During the early 1990s, the company also produced the syndicated program Not Just News. In 1994, FTSP developed an international iteration of America's Most Wanted called Manhunter, aimed at global audiences. This concept later evolved into the U.S. syndicated series America's Most Wanted: Final Justice.

By 2003, Fox Lab produced the syndicated show Classmates, which ran for two seasons. The rights to this division’s programming catalogue are now jointly held by The Walt Disney Company and Fox Corporation.

Title Years Network Notes
Manhunter 1994–1995 International syndication Produced in partnership with Straight Shooter Productions
What's So Funny? 1995 FOX Co-produced alongside Funny Business, LLC
America's Most Wanted: Final Justice 1995–1996 Syndication Edited syndicated versions of AMW episodes; co-produced with Straight Shooter Productions
Classmates 2003 Syndication

Foxstar Productions

Foxstar Productions operated as a subsidiary within Fox Television Studios.

The original incarnation of Touchstone Television

Initially established in 1985 as a branch of Disney's Touchstone Pictures, the original Touchstone Television eventually evolved into what is now known as ABC Signature (renamed in 2020), having previously been called ABC Studios from 2007 to 2020.

Fox 21

Fox 21 (stylized as fox21.) functioned as a cost-efficient production division specializing in scripted and reality cable content under the umbrella of 20th Century Fox, part of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox empire. Its programming roster featured series such as FX’s Sons of Anarchy, Terriers, and Tyrant; A&E’s Breakout Kings; The CW’s Beauty and the Geek; Showtime’s Homeland; Comedy Central’s Brickleberry; WGN America’s Salem; and Lifetime’s Witches of East End. On December 4, 2014, Fox 21 combined forces with Fox Television Studios to create Fox 21 Television Studios.

Founded in 2004 by Dana Walden and Gary Newman, executives from 20th Century Fox Television, Fox 21 concentrated on producing distinctive shows with modest budgets. Jane Leisner was appointed as the initial executive director. Early notable successes included FX’s Sons of Anarchy and The CW’s Beauty and the Geek.

In 2010, leadership transitioned to Bert Salke, formerly of Brancato/Salke Productions at ABC Studios, who accelerated production efforts with acclaimed series like Showtime’s Homeland. In 2015, Mythology Entertainment entered into a first-look agreement with both Fox 21 and its sister company, 20th Century Fox Television.

The studio's output encompassed a broad variety of networks and genres, featuring FX’s Mayans MC, The Americans, and The Bastard Executioner; Showtime’s The Chi; Hulu’s Chance; alongside its earlier projects. This extensive portfolio strengthened its position as a competitive player in cable television production.

History

In December 2014, the merger of Fox 21 and Fox Television Studios resulted in the formation of Fox 21 Television Studios, uniting their focus on cable programming. This restructuring coincided with FTVS president David Madden moving to Fox Broadcasting Company, while Bert Salke assumed leadership of the newly combined studio.

By early 2020, Fox 21 broadened its strategic partnerships by securing first-look deals with Marta Kauffman’s Okay Goodnight studio and the Gotham Group. These agreements expanded its development pipeline with projects including an adaptation of The Dreamers.

Following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox assets, the studio was rebranded as Touchstone Television in August 2020, reviving the dormant brand to align with Walt Disney Television's corporate framework. Under this banner, it maintained a distinctive typewriter-style logo and produced content such as the Hulu film Books of Blood.

Nevertheless, by December 2020, Walt Disney Television announced a reorganization that led to the dissolution of Touchstone Television. Its operations were integrated into 20th Television, while Bert Salke transitioned into a producing role within Disney Television Studios, reflecting Disney's ongoing efforts to streamline its television production divisions.

Television series

... [Entries omitted for brevity; similar compression applied throughout the table] ... ...'Dice' and subsequent entries similarly compressed...
Title Genre Premiere date Finale date No. of
seasons 		Network Production company(s) Remarks
Fox Television Studios (1997–2014)
The Hughleys Sitcom September 22, 1998 (1998-09-22) May 20, 2002 (2002-05-20) 4 ABC (seasons 1-2)
UPN (seasons 3-4) 		The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and Willowick Entertainment
Maggie Winters September 30, 1998 (1998-09-30) February 3, 1999 (1999-02-03) 1 CBS The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and CBS Productions
To Have & to Hold Drama December 9, 1998 (1998-12-09)
Fast Food Films Variety show March 6, 1999 (1999-03-06) September 28, 1999 (1999-09-28) FX Gold Coast Television Entertainment
The X Show Magazine series May 31, 1999 (1999-05-31) April 2001 (2001-04) 2 Mindless Entertainment
Oh, Grow Up Sitcom September 22, 1999 (1999-09-22) December 28, 1999 (1999-12-28) 1 ABC The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio
Fox 21 Television Studios (2014–2020)
'The Comedians' 'Sitcom' 'April 9, 2015 (2015-04-09)' 'June 25, 2015 (2015-06-25)' '1' 'FX' 'Jennilind Productions, Larry Charles Projects, Tamaroa Productions, Flying Glass of Milk Productions, Fabrik Entertainment and FX Productions'
'Complications' 'Drama' 'June 18, 2015 (2015-06-18)' 'August 13, 2015 (2015-08-13)' '1' 'USA Network' 'Flying Glass of Milk Productions'
'Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll' 'Dramedy' 'July 16, 2015 (2015-07-16)' 'September 1, 2016 (2016-09-01)' '2' 'FX' 'Apostle and FX Productions'
'The Bastard Executioner' 'Historical drama' 'September 15, 2015 (2015-09-15)' 'November 17, 2015 (2015-11-17)' '1' 'Sutter Ink, Imagine Television and FX Productions'
'Damien' 'Horror' 'March 7, 2016 (2016-03-07)' 'May 9, 2016 (2016-05-09)' '1' 'A&E' '44 Strong Productions and Fineman Entertainment' 'based on The Omen'


See also

External links

  1. ↑ Established in 2014 through the consolidation of Fox Television Studios and Fox 21, it adopted the Touchstone Television name in mid-2020 after Disney completed its acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
  2. ↑ it operated alongside entities such as 20th Century Fox Television and 20th Television.
  3. ↑ Bert Salke later assumed leadership of the combined entity that became Fox 21 Television Studios.
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