Fox World (television production company)
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Predecessor | Fox 21 Television Studios, Fox Television Studios, Fox 21 |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Fate | Integrated into 20th Television (December 1, 2020) |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Bert Salke (President) |
| Parent | Disney Television Studios (Walt Disney Company) |
The second iteration of Touchstone Television, which was previously known as Fox 21 Television Studios, functioned as a television production division within Disney Television Studios, a branch of the Walt Disney Company. Established in 2014 through the consolidation of Fox Television Studios and Fox 21, it adopted the Touchstone Television name in mid-2020 after Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox. On December 1, 2020, Disney integrated this label into 20th Television.
Fox Television Studios
Fox Television Studios, Inc. operated as a subsidiary under Fox Entertainment Group, itself a component of 21st Century Fox. Launched on August 1, 1997, with David Grant at the helm, it functioned alongside 20th Century Fox Television and 20th Television as one of the company’s production arms. The studio included smaller entities such as Greenblatt-Janollari Studio (G-JS), which produced comedic content for major networks while maintaining an independent mini-studio status.
Fox Television Studios collaborated with David Gerber's firm to develop telefilms and series. Additionally, it established a joint venture called Regency Television, led by Gail Berman, capitalizing on Fox Entertainment Group’s investment in New Regency Productions. Another branch, Fox Television Studios Productions (FTSP), was responsible for shows including Son of the Beach, whereas G-JS created The Hughleys, and Regency produced Malcolm in the Middle.
The company was organized into five divisions: alternative, scripted, international, Fox World, and Regency Television. The alternative division was behind programs like Talkshow with Spike Feresten and The Wanda Sykes Show, and it launched Fox Alternative Productions in 2002. The scripted division developed series such as The Shield. The Fox World division focused on creating international adaptations of reality formats like Joe Millionaire and Temptation Island, but this unit was dissolved in 2014.
In 2005, Fox Television Studios expanded its presence in the United Kingdom by acquiring independent producer Scream Films. This entity was rebranded as Fox Television Studios UK in 2006 but was closed in 2007 during a corporate restructuring led by president Emiliano Calemzuk. Despite this closure, the studio maintained its emphasis on developing unscripted programming for both U.S. and global audiences.
Ultimately, the scripted division remained the studio’s primary focus. It pursued international co-productions and found notable success with USA Network’s Burn Notice. In August 2010, Dave Madden assumed leadership of this division, growing its production portfolio until his promotion to president of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting in 2014.
Fox Television Studios International
Fox Television Studios International served as the global branch of Fox Television Studios from August 1, 2000, until March 7, 2001. Under the leadership of Daniella Welteke, this division was eventually integrated into Fox World.
Fox Television Studios expanded into five distinct sectors: alternative, scripted, international, Fox World, and Regency Television:
- The alternative sector 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 launched Fox Alternative Productions, debuting with the show "The Coach".
- The scripted sector focused on creating series including The Shield along with various television films and miniseries.
- Established in 2000, the Fox World unit specialized in adapting reality shows like Joe Millionaire and Temptation Island for international audiences. This division was discontinued by FTVS in 2014.
Ultimately, only the scripted sector remained operational. FTVS concentrated on international co-productions of direct-to-series broadcast content, achieving notable success with Burn Notice on USA Network. In August 2010, Dave Madden took charge of this unit and expanded its production output until his promotion to president of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting in August 2014.
Fox World
Fox World, previously known as Fox Television Studios International, was a subdivision of Fox Television Studios created in 2000. Its primary focus was producing localized versions of reality television formats such as Joe Millionaire and Temptation Island.
In March 2001, Fox World partnered with SBS to establish a production company serving Northern Europe.
By November 2004, Hayley Babcock advanced to senior vice president of production at Fox World while Daniella Welteke retained her role as head of the division.
Fox World remained active until it was absorbed back into Fox Television Studios in 2014.
Fox Lab
Fox Lab was a production arm of 20th Television, originating in 1986 under the name Fox Television Stations Productions (FTSP). It was instrumental in developing prominent syndicated programs including A Current Affair, Cops, and America's Most Wanted. The division adopted the Fox Lab brand in 1995; however, the FTSP designation continued appearing on some productions until Cops concluded in 2013.
In 1990, Fox Television Stations introduced the soap opera Tribes, which aired solely on Fox owned-and-operated stations but lasted only one season. During the early 1990s, the division produced Not Just News for first-run syndication. In 1994, it developed an international adaptation of America's Most Wanted called Manhunter, which subsequently inspired the U.S. syndicated series America's Most Wanted: Final Justice.
By 2003, Fox Lab was behind the syndicated series Classmates, which ran for two seasons before the division ceased its operations. The rights to Fox Lab's content library are currently 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 syndication featuring earlier AMW episodes; co-produced with Straight Shooter Productions |
| Classmates | 2003 | Syndication |
Foxstar Productions
Foxstar Productions operated as a subdivision 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 has since been rebranded as ABC Signature as of 2020, having previously been known as ABC Studios from 2007 onward.
Fox 21
Fox 21 (stylized as fox21.) served as a cost-efficient production unit specializing in scripted and reality cable television under 20th Century Fox, part of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox within the Fox Entertainment Group. Its notable projects included 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 Television Studios combined with Fox 21 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 distinct programming with modest budgets. Jane Leisner was appointed as the initial executive. Early achievements included FX’s Sons of Anarchy and The CW’s Beauty and the Geek.
In 2010, Bert Salke, previously affiliated with Brancato/Salke Productions at ABC Studios, assumed leadership and expanded output with successful shows such as Showtime's Homeland. By early 2015, Mythology Entertainment entered into a first-look agreement with both Fox 21 and its sister company, 20th Century Fox Television.
The studio’s lineup also featured FX titles like Mayans MC, The Americans, and The Bastard Executioner; Showtime’s The Chi; Hulu’s Chance; alongside earlier productions including A&E’s Breakout Kings, Comedy Central’s Brickleberry, WGN America’s Salem, and Lifetime’s Witches of East End.
History
In December 2014, the merger of Fox 21 with Fox Television Studios resulted in the formation of Fox 21 Television Studios, unifying their cable television efforts under Bert Salke’s presidency after David Madden of FTVS advanced to lead Fox Broadcasting Company.
In January 2020, Fox 21 secured a first-look arrangement with Marta Kauffman’s Okay Goodnight studio, beginning with a project adapting the novel The Dreamers. The following month, in February 2020, it established another first-look deal with the Gotham Group to broaden its development slate.
On August 10, 2020, following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox and subsequent restructuring within Walt Disney Television, the studio was renamed Touchstone Television. This revival brought back a dormant brand last utilized before ABC Studios’ rebranding in 2007. This change was part of Disney’s initiative to consolidate its television production units. Touchstone Television maintained a typewriter-style logo that echoed its legacy from Fox 21. Its only production under this revived name was the Hulu film Books of Blood.
Nevertheless, less than four months later on December 1, 2020, Dana Walden, head of Walt Disney Television, announced another restructuring that led to the dissolution of Touchstone Television. Bert Salke moved into a producing position within Disney Television Studios while Touchstone’s functions were integrated into 20th Television, further streamlining Disney’s corporate framework and content creation operations.
Television series
... [Entries omitted for brevity] ... ... [Entries omitted for brevity] ...| 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 | May 20, 2002 | 4 | ABC (seasons 1-2) UPN (seasons 3-4) |
The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and Willowick Entertainment | |
| Maggie Winters | September 30, 1998 | February 3, 1999 | 1 | CBS | The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and CBS Productions | ||
| To Have & to Hold | Drama | December 9, 1998 | |||||
| Fast Food Films | Variety show | March 6, 1999 | September 28, 1999 | FX | Gold Coast Television Entertainment | ||
| The X Show | Magazine series | May 31, 1999 | April 2001 | 2 | Mindless Entertainment | ||
| Fox 21 Television Studios (2014–2020) | |||||||
| The Comedians | Sitcom | April 9, 2015 | June 25, 2015 | 1 | FX | Jennilind Productions, Larry Charles Projects, Tamaroa Productions, Flying Glass of Milk Productions, Fabrik Entertainment and FX Productions | |
See also
- ABC Signature, previously known as the original Touchstone Television
- Touchstone Pictures, an inactive film studio label
- 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox)
- Fox Television Stations
- 20th Digital Studio (previously Zero Day Fox and Fox Digital Studio)
External links
- Fox Television Studios at 21st Century Fox official site archive
- Articles with short description
- Disney Television Studios
- American companies established in 2014
- American companies disestablished in 2020
- Mass media companies established in 2014
- Mass media companies disestablished in 2020
- 2014 establishments in California
- 2020 disestablishments in California
- Television production companies of the United States
- Mass media companies of the United States
- Companies based in Los Angeles
- Walt Disney Studios (division)
- The Walt Disney Company subsidiaries
- Disney production studios
- Disney acquisitions
- Peabody Award winners
- 20th Television
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment
- American companies established in 2001