 Logo used since 2020 | |
| Formerly |
|
|---|---|
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | Television production |
| Predecessors | |
| Founded | March 15, 1949; 76 years ago (1949-03-15) |
| Headquarters | Burbank, California ,United States |
Key people | Karey Burke (president) |
| Products | Television programs |
| Parent |
|
| Website | dmdcentral |
20th Television, Inc.[1] (formerly known asTCF Television Productions, Inc.,20th Century-Fox Television and20th Century Fox Television) is thetelevision studio arm of20th Century Studios, owned byDisney Television Studios, a division of theDisney Entertainment business segment ofthe Walt Disney Company. It was founded on March 15, 1949. Productions from this company are distributed on/inhome media formats byWalt Disney Studios Home Entertainment through the20th Century Home Entertainment banner.[2]
20th Television was part of the majority of21st Century Fox's assetsacquired by Disney in 2019.[3][4] On August 10, 2020, when Disney dropped the "Fox" word from the names of the acquired 21st Century Fox assets to avoid brand confusion withFox Corporation, the company's current name was adopted, and subsequently started to use it for the copyright of 20th Television and20th Television Animation productions on December 4. 20th Television has beenABC's flagship television production arm since the closure ofABC Signature on October 1, 2024.
20th Television has divisions from before and post-Disney.
20th Century Fox Television was originally formed in 1949 by20th Century-Fox as other studios were branching out into television production. The company was known as TCF Television Productions, Inc. from its inception until 1958. Its first television series wasCrusade in Europe, which was produced forABC.[5]
In 1955, Fox intended to set up a television film subsidiary on the company's Western Avenue lot in Hollywood, but it never materialized.[6][7]
Fox did not produce another television show until 1955, when it launched its very first series,The 20th Century-Fox Hour onCBS, after the success of ABC's hit showDisneyland.[8] In 1956, Fox sold its second show to CBS,My Friend Flicka, which is based on theFlicka film series.[9]
Later that year,Irving Asher, who was a very successful film producer, was made general manager of TCF Television Productions.[10] In 1956, Fox sold theBroken Arrow television project, which is based on the 1950 film of the same name, to ABC.[11]
In 1957, Fox cemented a pact with National Telefilm Associates (NTA) to produceHow to Marry a Millionaire, which was based on the 1953 film of the same name, andMan Without a Gun. NTA served as distributor of the series, which were to play on theNTA Film Network.[12][13]
In 1958, the company was renamed to20th Century-Fox Television (the hyphen in-between the "Century" and "Fox" words was dropped in 1985). Around the same time,Martin Manulis, producer of CBS'Playhouse 90, joined 20th Century-Fox as head of television.[14] Under Manulis' watch, the company developedAdventures in Paradise for ABC,The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis for CBS andFive Fingers forNBC.[15][16] In the following year, Fox also sold the dramaHong Kong to ABC.[17]
By 1960,Roy Huggins, who was lured fromWarner Bros. Television, was tapped to join 20th Century-Fox Television as vice president in charge of production.[18] During Huggins' watch, he refreshed theHong Kong show.[19] He also oversaw the development of the three programs for ABC, which were the comedyMargie and dramasFollow the Sun andBus Stop.[20] In 1961,William Self was appointed to replace Huggins.[21]
In 1962, the company decreased its output to one show, then produced none the following year. Roy Huggins departed to joinRevue Studios.[22] During the short-lived dark period in 1963, the company had signedHal Kanter andPaul Monash to production deals.[23] Later that year, highly successful feature film producerIrwin Allen was moved from its feature film unit to its television unit to serve as producer for the studio.[24]
The company had returned to producing prime-time programs by 1964. The first shows were the ABC sitcomValentine's Day, the ABC dramasPeyton Place,Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and12 O'Clock High; and the NBC dramaDaniel Boone.[25] Later that year,William Dozier and his Greenway Productions studio signed a deal with 20th Century-Fox to develop television shows.[26] By 1965, Fox was producing several new shows for primetime, such asThe Legend of Jesse James,The Long, Hot Summer,The Loner and Irwin Allen's science-fiction dramaLost in Space,[27] to be followed byBatman, which is based on the comic book series, andBlue Light.[28][29]
The 1966–67 season proved to be a difficult year for Fox's television unit, which was producing the ABC sitcomThe Tammy Grimes Show and the ABC dramasThe Man Who Never Was,The Felony Squad,The Green Hornet andIrwin Allen's science-fiction showThe Time Tunnel. Although most of the new shows in the season did not last long,Felony Squad turned out to be a hit.[30] The 1967–68 season was similarly poor for Fox, as it only had two new shows,Custer andJudd, for the Defense, both for ABC. AlthoughCuster bombed,Judd, for the Defense was initially popular, but was later cancelled after only two seasons. Fox also expanded its output to commission a Saturday morning show in collaboration withFilmation,Journey to the Center of the Earth.[31]
The 1968–69 season was also difficult for 20th Century-Fox Television, which saw the British co-productionJourney to the Unknown andIrwin Allen's final science-fiction drama to be produced,Land of the Giants, for ABC; the CBS dramaLancer; and the NBC sitcomsThe Ghost & Mrs. Muir andJulia. AlthoughJulia was deemed a hit, most of the shows in the season crumbled. Fox did have one additional Saturday morning cartoon for Filmation,Fantastic Voyage.[32][33] In 1969, Fox entered the game show fray by signing a deal to distributeBeat the Clock, a revival of the popular 1950s game show.[34] The decade closed out with the 1969-70 television season and two new programs,Room 222 for ABC andBracken's World for NBC.[35] Also that year,Grant Tinker was hired to join the studio, but he would quit two years later due to conflicts with runningMTM Enterprises.[36][37]
While the 1970s were difficult for Fox's television unit, the studio initially started off the decade with the showsNanny and the Professor on ABC andArnie for CBS, which proved to be modest successes.[38][39] The studio would then produceM*A*S*H in 1972 for CBS, which would go on to be incredibly successful, lasting eleven seasons. Later on, in 1979, the studio producedTrapper John, M.D., which was popular throughout the 1980s.[40] Other Fox shows for the 1970s, such asCade's County,The New Perry Mason, Irwin Allen'sThe Swiss Family Robinson,Young Dan'l Boone,W.E.B.,The Paper Chase,Loves Me, Loves Me Not, andBilly all bombed, althoughThe Paper Chase became a cult classic and gave Showtime additional seasons.[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]
Fox also distributed the game showMasquerade Party, produced byStefan Hatos-Monty Hall Productions, which aired during the 1974–75 season.[53] From 1976 to 1978, Fox distributedLiar's Club, as well asCelebrity Sweepstakes, both of which were produced by Ralph Andrews Productions.[54][55] In 1973, Fox distributed the syndicated Canadian videotape productionThe Starlost, produced byGlen-Warren Productions.[42]
In 1980, television producerGlen A. Larson quit Universal and joined 20th Century-Fox Television.[56] The first show wasThe Fall Guy, which was successful, though it would end up being the only Fox/Larson show to become so. The other collaborations,Trauma Center,Manimal,Automan,Masquerade,Cover Up andHalf Nelson did not fare well due to poor ratings.[57][58][59][60] By August 1980, other producers and agencies, likeClyde Phillips (Blue Hill Avenue Productions), former employee of Bob Banner Associates and Marc Merson (Brownstone Productions), former employee of Lorimar Productions had struck a deal with the studio.[61]
Other series of the early 1980s, likeHagen,Breaking Away,Ladies' Man,Jessica Novak,9 to 5,It's Not Easy,Emerald Point N.A.S. andAfterMASH did not fare well in the ratings, althoughAfterMASH was initially a minor hit, especially in its first season, and9 to 5 did well in syndication after being a minor network hit in its original ABC run.[62][63][64][65][66][67][68] In 1984, James L. Brooks and hisGracie Films company was moved to 20th Century-Fox for a film and television partnership, creating a long relationship that lasted until the early 1990s when he moved to Sony.[69]
In 1985, after Steven Bochco left MTM and theHill Street Blues program, he moved to 20th Century Fox Television to start the NBC crime dramaL.A. Law and the ABC dramedyHooperman, and marked the return of success for its television studio.[70] During that same year, Fox returned to success with the sitcomMr. Belvedere, which was an instantly popular hit. Also that same year, Fox sold its sitcomCharlie & Co. to CBS, which flopped after only one season.[71] The second new sitcom under the Murdoch regime wasFathers and Sons, which was sold to NBC, which also flopped after one season.[72]
In 1986, Fox had purchased the assets ofMetromedia, including its television stations and the distribution subsidiary, Metromedia Producers Corporation, which was distributing the seriesSmall Wonder.[73][74][75] Fox also soldThe Wizard to CBS, andHeart of the City to ABC for the 1986–1987 television season in addition toL.A. Law on NBC, which helped save the television industry of Fox.[76][77] Fox also introduced the sketch comedyThe Tracey Ullman Show, produced by Gracie Films for the Fox network, which introducedThe Simpsons, that the success in 1989 that saved Fox's struggling television unit.[78][79] Fox also distributed the sitcomThe New Adventures of Beans Baxter, produced internally by Fox Square Productions.[80]
For the 1987–88 season, Fox sold the sitcomSecond Chance to the then-new Fox television network, and sold the dramaLeg Work to CBS, and the sitcomPursuit of Happiness to ABC, in addition toHooperman.[81][82]
In 1989, 20th Century Fox Television's functions were taken over by Twentieth Television Corporation, a separate entity from 20th Century Fox. Both companies were subsidiaries of News Corporation unit Fox Inc.; the move was made to separate the television productions from the film studio in order to increase the latter's output.[83]
For the 1989–90 season, 20th Television was distributing programs from Steven Bochco Productions that were aired on ABC. The first to come out of the deal wasDoogie Howser, M.D., which lasted four seasons on the air. Also introduced this season wasAlien Nation to the Fox network, as well asSister Kate for NBC, in addition toThe Simpsons.[84] In mid-1990, 20th Television had sold the sitcomWorking Girl to NBC.[85] 20th Television also offered the variety seriesIn Living Color to the Fox television network, which introduced the talent of stars likeKeenan Ivory Wayans andDavid Alan Grier.[86]
For the 1990-91 television season, 20th Television soldWorking It Out to NBC, and also sold the sitcomsBabes,Good Grief andTrue Colors to the Fox network. 20th Television also distributed the showCop Rock, produced by Steven Bochco Productions for ABC via a development deal.[87] Also during this season, 20th Television had purchasedThe Sunday Comics to the Fox network.[88]
By the 1991–92 season, the 20th Television production company sold the comedyDrexell's Class to the Fox network, and distributed the Steven Bochco crime dramaCivil Wars to ABC.[89][90] 20th Television also distributed the midseason cartoonCapitol Critters, a joint production betweenHanna-Barbera and Steven Bochco, to ABC in the spring of 1992,[91] along with the Fox comedyStand By Your Man, which was part of a contract between Twentieth Television and British producerAllan McKeown's WitzEnd Productions.[92]
Also in 1991,David E. Kelley, who had produced two shows for Steven Bochco,L.A. Law andDoogie Howser, M.D., announced that he was quitting to sign a joint agreement with CBS and 20th Television.[93] The first program to come out of the deal was the family dramedyPicket Fences, which premiered in the 1992–93 season.[94] In 1992,Peter Roth, who had leftStephen J. Cannell's production company, joined 20th Television, and was instrumental in the development of the subsequent seasons.[95]
In the 1992–93 season, 20th Television sold the sitcomRhythm & Blues to NBC, but it failed to catch on in the ratings.[94] This was followed by a joint production between British-based WitzEnd Productions, 20th Television andCBS Entertainment Productions,Dudley, which was a vehicle forDudley Moore, which aired in the spring of 1993, but it also failed to catch on in the ratings.[96] The company had also distributed the half-hour crime dramaLikely Suspects for the Fox network, which was produced by Four Point Entertainment.[97] In mid-1992, actor Chevy Chase received a deal with 20th Television to star in a late night comedy show, titledThe Chevy Chase Show but it tanked after only one season on the air.[98]
By the 1993–94 season, 20th Television soldThe X-Files to Fox, which became very profitable for the division, spawning 9 seasons, a revival series anda multimedia franchise.[99] That same season, 20th Television distributed another high-profile project,NYPD Blue for ABC, produced by Steven Bochco Productions, which would go on to last for twelve seasons.[100] Fox also soldSouth Central, originally proposed by CBS, to the Fox television network for the spring of 1994.[101][102] Also, for the spring of 1994, Fox distributed the Steven Bochco-produced dramaThe Byrds of Paradise, which was aired on ABC.[103]
By the 1994–95 season,Chicago Hope, the second show from the Kelley–CBS–20th Television deal, went on to be a hit, lasting for six seasons. The 20th Television production company also soldThe 5 Mrs. Buchanans to CBS,[104] andWild Oats, to the Fox television network.[105]
Following a 1994 restructuring of Fox's television production companies, 20th Television was refocused on syndication and "non-traditional programs", while network television programming once more came under the 20th Century Fox Television banner and returned to being a division of the movie studio.[106]
For the 1995–96 season, the new 20th Century Fox Television production company sold the sitcomsThe Crew andThe Preston Episodes and the adventure seriesSpace: Above and Beyond to the Fox network andCleghorne! toThe WB. It distributed the crime dramaMurder One, produced by Steven Bochco Productions, which was sold to ABC during the season.[107]
In 1995, David E. Kelley signed a 5-year agreement with the studio, with the ability to produce television series, the first and third to be on ABC and the second and fourth to be on Fox, and so on. The first two projects to come out of the deal were ABC'sThe Practice and Fox'sAlly McBeal.[108] In 1996,Peter Roth was transferred to becoming president of Fox Entertainment.[109]Chris Carter, writer/producer ofThe X-Files also extended its contract with 20th Century Fox Television. The first project to come out of the new contract was the science-fiction fantasy dramaMillennium.[110] In the summer of 1996, Fox and the production company bought outL.A. Firefighters for a summer run on the Fox network.[111]
In 1996,New World Communications was bought out by News Corporation, which included its television stations, New World/Genesis Distribution and New World Entertainment.[112] The deal was finalized in 1997.[113] Shortly afterwards, Cannell bought back his library of rights from Fox in 1998.[114] Also that same year,Steven Levitan, producers ofJust Shoot Me! had signed a contract with 20th Century Fox Television.[115]
In 1997,MTM Enterprises became part of 20th Century Fox Television. MTM at that time was producing three showsThe Pretender for NBC, andGood News andSparks forUPN, at primetime, after layoffs hit at MTM's syndicated unit.[116] Later that year, Fox established another television production company,Fox Television Studios to house smaller production units, under executive David Grant.[117] Also, producerBarbara Hall signed an overall deal with the studio.[118]
In 2003,Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox Television produced the former's first three series that aired onCartoon Network, includingStar Wars: Clone Wars.
In 2006, TCFTV produced the first two series that aired on Fox's sister network,MyNetworkTV: the telenovelasDesire andFashion House.[119][120]
In 2012, 20th Century Fox Television was reorganized as a separate unit of News Corporation.[121]
In July 2014, it was announced that the operations of theFox Broadcasting Company and 20th Century Fox Television would merge into a new unit called the Fox Television Group.[122]
On March 20, 2019,the Walt Disney Companyacquired 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Television and Fox Television Animation as part of its completed acquisition of21st Century Fox and placed them under theDisney Television Studios division of Walt Disney Television (nowDisney Entertainment Television).[123]
On January 17, 2020, it was announced that the "Fox" name would be dropped from several of the 21CF assets acquired by Disney.[124]
On August 10, 2020, 20th Century Fox Television and 20th Television were merged into one unit as part of a restructuring plan by Disney regarding their television production units.[125] In 2020, Disney announced that theTouchstone Television label was folded into 20th Television, while20th Television Animation would be relaunched as a standalone unit.[126]ABC Signature was dissolved on October 1, 2024, and had its operations folded into 20th Television, which has since becomeABC's flagship production arm.[127]
In April 2025, Disney announced that it would not renew its lease with Fox Corporation and that it would vacate the Fox Studio Lot in Century City at the end of 2025. As a result, 20th Television will relocate to theWalt Disney Studios in Burbank.[128][129]
 | |
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry |
|
| Founded | 1989; 36 years ago (1989) |
| Defunct | August 10, 2020; 5 years ago (2020-08-10) |
| Fate | Merged with and folded into Disney Media Distribution (nowDisney Platform Distribution) |
| Successors |
|
| Headquarters | , United States |
| Parent | 20th Century Fox Television (1989–2019) Disney Television Studios (2019–2020) |
The original incarnation of20th Television was the television syndication and distribution arm of 20th Century Fox Television and the20th Century Fox film studio. It was formed in 1989 in order to separate television production from the 20th Century Fox division which oversaw film production.[83] During this time, 20th Television and 20th Century Fox served as two of Fox's four main units, along with theFox Broadcasting Company andFox Television Stations.[130] Following a 1994 restructuring of Fox's divisions, 20th Television was refocused on syndication and "non-traditional programs"; its television production arm was moved back under 20th Century Fox and took the 20th Century Fox Television name.[106]
20th Television distributed almost all programming and documentaries from the television production unit and its subsidiaries and the motion picture studio's output (and their own subdivisions). It owned programming from other production companies and studios they have acquired, includingMTM Enterprises, most by Metromedia Producers Corporation, and most byNew World Entertainment (including those byFour Star Television andGenesis Entertainment).
The company also syndicated and/or co-syndicates product from partners such asRegency Television andDebmar-Mercury, the latter until April 2019.[131][132]
As part of the restructuring that stemmed from News Corporation spinning off its entertainment assets into21st Century Fox, it was announced on July 8, 2013, that 20th Television will operate under the management of 20th Century Fox Television having previously moved under Fox Television Stations. As a result, the former company's president reported to the latter's chairmen.[133]
On August 10, 2020, Disney announced 20th Century Fox Television would be renamed 20th Television, and the syndication arm would be absorbed into Disney Media Distribution (nowDisney Platform Distribution).[134]
The second incarnation ofTouchstone Television (formerly known asFox 21 Television Studios) was an American television production company that was a subsidiary ofDisney Television Studios, the television studios arm of theWalt Disney Television division ofthe Walt Disney Company.[135] Founded in 2014 from the merger of Fox Television Studios and Fox 21, it was given its second and final name in mid-2020 following theacquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney and got merged with and folded into 20th Television on December 1, 2020.[126]
MTM Enterprises (alternatively known asMTM Productions) is an American independent production company established in 1969 byMary Tyler Moore and her then-husbandGrant Tinker to produceThe Mary Tyler Moore Show forCBS. The name for the production company was drawn from Moore's initials.[136] MTM produced a number of successfultelevision programs during the 1970s and 1980s. Rights to most of its library is currently owned byThe Walt Disney Company.
Four Star Television, also calledFour Star International, is an Americantelevision production company. Founded in 1952 asFour Star Productions by prominentHollywood actorsDick Powell,David Niven,Charles Boyer andJoel McCrea, it was inspired byLucille Ball andDesi Arnaz foundingDesilu Productions a year earlier.
Four Star produced several popular programs in the early days of television, includingFour Star Playhouse (its first series),Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre,Stagecoach West,The June Allyson Show (also known asThe DuPont Show Starring June Allyson),The Dick Powell Show,Burke's Law,The Rogues andThe Big Valley.
| International | |
|---|---|
| Other | |
