20th Television

20th Television is an American television production and distribution brand whose origins lie in the television operations established by 20th Century-Fox in 1949. The business was created as Hollywood film studios increasingly entered television production, supplying broadcast networks and syndication distributors with dramas, comedies, game shows, animated programs, television movies, and other programming. Its early identity was TCF Television Productions, Inc.; in 1958 it became 20th Century-Fox Television, later dropping the hyphen in the company name. Over subsequent decades, the studio worked with ABC, CBS, NBC, the Fox Broadcasting Company, cable outlets, and international distributors. The company’s catalogue includes long-running and influential programs such as M*A*S*H, Trapper John, M.D., The Fall Guy, L.A. Law, Mr. Belvedere, The Tracey Ullman Show, The Simpsons, Doogie Howser, M.D., Picket Fences, The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ally McBeal, Malcolm in the Middle, Modern Family, and Homeland. Some projects were produced by independent production companies under studio arrangements, while 20th Television supplied financing, production infrastructure, network relationships, distribution, or rights administration. Its historical business therefore extended beyond programs carrying the company name on screen. In 1989, television production and distribution functions were reorganized under Twentieth Television Corporation, a separate entity from the film studio, within the broader Fox corporate structure. The separation was intended to distinguish television operations from 20th Century Fox’s theatrical activities and to support a larger television output. The brand and its divisions subsequently participated in the expansion of the Fox network and in the development of a large syndicated and international catalogue. Fox Television Animation operated as an associated animation business from 1999 until Disney separated it from the 20th Television structure in 2020. The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets in March 2019. The acquired television operations became part of Disney’s television-studio organization. On August 10, 2020, Disney removed “Fox” from the names of several acquired entertainment businesses in order to distinguish them from Fox Corporation. The television production brand consequently adopted the name 20th Television, and the new copyright identity began appearing on 20th Television and 20th Television Animation productions in December 2020. Today, 20th Television operates as a Disney Television Studios production label. It develops and produces scripted television, animation-related projects, and other programming for broadcast networks, cable channels, streaming services, and international markets. Its work can be distributed through Disney-owned businesses and through outside partners. Home-entertainment distribution of relevant productions has been associated with Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment under the 20th Century Home Entertainment banner. Following the closure of ABC Signature on October 1, 2024, 20th Television became described as ABC’s flagship television production arm. The brand is principally encountered through production credits, title cards, program publicity, licensing, and catalogue-rights administration rather than as a consumer retail product.

20th Television began in 1949 as TCF Television Productions, Inc., the television arm of 20th Century-Fox. Its first series was Crusade in Europe, produced for ABC. Fox expanded its television facilities in Hollywood during the 1950s and sold programs including The 20th Century-Fox Hour, My Friend Flicka, Broken Arrow, How to Marry a Millionaire, and Man Without a Gun. In 1958, the company adopted the name 20th Century-Fox Television. During the 1960s, the studio developed programs for all three major broadcast networks and for the emerging Fox production ecosystem. Its output included Adventures in Paradise, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Peyton Place, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, Batman, The Time Tunnel, Julia, Room 222, and other series. The decade also saw experimentation with game shows, animation, television movies, and co-productions. Although several projects were short-lived, the business established a broad production and distribution capability. The 1970s brought both failures and major successes. Fox produced M*A*S*H for CBS in 1972, a series that became one of American television’s most successful programs and ran for eleven seasons. Trapper John, M.D. followed in 1979 and remained popular through the 1980s. Other work included The Paper Chase, syndicated programs, game shows, and genre productions. In the early 1980s, the studio worked with Glen A. Larson and other outside producers, producing or distributing programs such as The Fall Guy, AfterMASH, 9 to 5, and The $100,000 Pyramid. The mid-1980s marked a revival in the television business. Steven Bochco’s relationship with the studio produced L.A. Law and later other programs, while Mr. Belvedere became a successful sitcom. The 1986 acquisition of Metromedia assets strengthened the corporate group’s television distribution and station interests. The Tracey Ullman Show, produced with Gracie Films for the new Fox network, introduced The Simpsons, whose success helped establish Fox as a significant U.S. television force. In 1989, the television production and distribution functions were placed under Twentieth Television Corporation, separate from the film studio. The reorganization supported a larger television slate and helped distinguish television operations from theatrical production. Twentieth Television distributed and produced programs for Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, and syndication, including Doogie Howser, M.D., The Simpsons, In Living Color, Picket Fences, The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ally McBeal, and many other series. The group also maintained specialist units, including television distribution, television-movie operations, international television activities, and animation. The 1990s and 2000s expanded the company’s role in independent-producer partnerships, international licensing, animation, and catalogue management. Fox Television Animation, established in 1999, supported animated production associated with the Fox television system and later operated separately from 20th Television after Disney’s 2020 restructuring. The wider catalogue continued to include major network and syndicated properties across comedy, drama, science fiction, animation, reality, and television movies. Disney’s 2019 acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets brought the operation into Disney Television Studios. In 2020, Disney removed “Fox” from the acquired entertainment brand names to prevent confusion with Fox Corporation, renaming 20th Century Fox Television as 20th Television. The renamed label continued to produce and distribute television content for broadcast and streaming services. After ABC Signature closed in 2024, 20th Television assumed a more prominent role as ABC’s flagship television production arm. It remains an active Disney television label with a substantial historical catalogue and an international licensing footprint.

• 2024

  ABC flagship production role

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Following ABC Signature’s closure, 20th Television became ABC’s flagship television production arm.

• 2020

  20th Television name adopted

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Disney removed the Fox name and renamed the television brand 20th Television.

• 2019

  Acquired by Disney

  [2]Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disneyen.wikipedia.org

  Disney acquired most of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets, including the television operation.

• 1999

  Fox Television Animation launched

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  An animation company was established within the Fox television structure.

• 1989

  Twentieth Television reorganization

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Television functions were separated from the film studio under Twentieth Television Corporation.

• 1986

  Metromedia assets acquired

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Fox acquired Metromedia assets, including television stations and a distribution subsidiary.

• 1972

  M*A*S*H enters production

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The studio produced M*A*S*H for CBS, beginning an exceptionally successful eleven-season run.

• 1958

  Renamed 20th Century-Fox Television

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  The television company adopted the 20th Century-Fox Television name.

• 1955

  Dedicated television facility expanded

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Fox converted its Western Avenue lot in Hollywood primarily for television production.

• 1949

  Television operation established

  [1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  20th Century-Fox formed TCF Television Productions, Inc., beginning the business that became 20th Television.

A major American television studio and catalogue owner serving broadcast, cable, streaming, home-entertainment, and international distribution markets.

• Television series · 1972

  M*A*S*H

  A CBS comedy-drama produced by the studio beginning in 1972. Its eleven-season run made it one of the defining American television programs of its era and a central success in the studio’s catalogue.

• Animated television series · 1989

  The Simpsons

  An animated comedy that emerged from The Tracey Ullman Show and became a foundational Fox program. Its long run and global licensing presence made it one of the most recognizable properties associated with the Fox television and later Disney television businesses.

• Drama television series · 1993

  The X-Files

  A science-fiction and investigative drama produced for Fox. The series became an international franchise and a major catalogue title in the company’s television distribution business.

• Legal drama · 1986

  L.A. Law

  A legal drama developed through the studio’s relationship with Steven Bochco Productions and broadcast by NBC. It helped mark a significant return to television success for the Fox studio in the mid-1980s.

• Situation comedy · 2009

  Modern Family

  A long-running ABC comedy produced through the Disney-era television portfolio and associated production-company arrangements. It became one of the prominent contemporary comedy properties linked with 20th Television.

• Drama television series · 2011

  Homeland

  A serialized espionage drama distributed and produced within the company’s later television portfolio. It illustrates the brand’s participation in premium and cable-oriented scripted programming.

• 2024

  Strengthen 20th Television’s ABC production roleStrategy

  Background

  ABC Signature closed on October 1, 2024, changing Disney’s television production-label structure.

  Action taken

  20th Television became ABC’s flagship television production arm.

  Aftermath

  The change increased the label’s strategic importance within Disney’s broadcast and scripted-television operations.

  Source

• 2020

  Remove Fox from the television brand nameStrategy

  Background

  After Disney acquired the relevant 21st Century Fox assets, it sought to distinguish the acquired entertainment businesses from Fox Corporation.

  Action taken

  20th Century Fox Television was renamed 20th Television, with the new identity subsequently used in production copyrights.

  Aftermath

  The label continued operating as part of Disney Television Studios and serving broadcast, streaming, home-entertainment, and international markets.

  Source

• 1989

  Separate television operations from the film studioStrategy

  Background

  Fox sought to distinguish television production and distribution from the theatrical film business and increase television output.

  Action taken

  Television functions were placed under Twentieth Television Corporation, a separate entity within the broader Fox structure.

  Aftermath

  The reorganized business continued producing, distributing, and licensing programming across broadcast, cable, syndication, and international markets.

  Source

• 2024

  ABC Signature closes[1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After ABC Signature ceased operations on October 1, 2024, 20th Television became ABC’s flagship television production arm.

• 2020

  Disney renames 20th Century Fox Television as 20th Television[1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Disney removed the Fox name from the acquired studio brand and adopted 20th Television as the television production identity.

• 2020

  20th Television copyright identity begins use[1]20th Televisionen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The renamed identity began appearing in copyright notices for 20th Television and 20th Television Animation productions in December.

• 2019

  Disney completes acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox entertainment assets[2]Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disneyen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The television operations associated with 20th Century Fox entered The Walt Disney Company’s television-studio organization.

1. 120th Televisionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disneyen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Disney rebrands 20th Century Fox to 20th Televisioncinemaexpress.com
4. 4Disney rebrands historic 20th Century Fox Television as 20th Televisionindiantelevision.com
5. 5Disney rebrands TV studio divisionsc21media.net
6. 6Disney Rebrands TV Studios, 20th Century Fox TV to Become 20th Televisionvariety.com