FX
FX, originally stylized as "fX", launched on June 1, 1994.[17] The network's original programming aspires to the standards of premium cable channels in regard to mature themes and content, high-quality writing, directing and acting. FX also carries reruns of theatrical films and terrestrial-network sitcoms. The network broadcast from a large "apartment" in Manhattan's Flatiron District. fX was one of the first forays into large-scale interactive television. The channel centered on original programming, which was broadcast live every day from the "fX Apartment," and rebroadcasts of classic television shows from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, such as Batman, Wonder Woman, Eight Is Enough, Nanny and the Professor and The Green Hornet.[17] fX had two taglines during this period: "TV Made Fresh Daily" and "The World's First Living Television Network".[18] The "f" in the channel's name and logo was rendered in lower-case to portray a type of relaxed friendliness; the stylized "X" represented the channel's roots: the crossing searchlights of the 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures logos.
The channel prided itself on its interactivity with viewers. fX, in 1994, was an early adopter of the internet, embracing e-mail and the World Wide Web as methods of feedback. Most of the shows would feature instant responses to e-mailed questions, and one show, Backchat (hosted by Jeff Probst), was exclusively devoted to responding to viewer mail, whether sent through e-mail or traditional postal mail.
FX Movie Channel
FX Movie Channel (or FXM) launched on October 31, 1994, as FXM: Movies from Fox (prior to its launch, the channel was originally named "Fox Movie Studio")[19] Originally launched as a spinoff of FX, the channel focused on feature films from the 20th Century Fox film library from the 1930s to the 1970s along with a few other film studios.[20] FXM became a separately branded channel on March 1, 2000, when it was renamed Fox Movie Channel.[3]
On January 1, 2012, Fox Movie Channel's programming was divided into two 12-hour blocks: its main programming schedule, from 3:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, was a commercial-free block retaining the older movies from the 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures libraries. Another block, called FX Movie Channel, the other 12 hours consisted of an expanded slate of more recent feature films from Fox, Fox Searchlight and some of the other film studios.[21]
On March 27, 2013, Fox Entertainment Group announced that Fox Movie Channel would be fully rebranded under the FXM name and format.[22]
FXX
Aimed at young men in the 18-34 age range, FXX is a basic cable channel that launched on September 2, 2013, replacing the sports-oriented Fox Soccer;[23][24] FXX is a general entertainment channel that primarily focuses on comedies (whereas FX focuses primarily on drama series and films, while FXX carries a limited selection of dramatic series and films); its programming includes original and acquired comedy series, some feature films and drama series.
With the launch of the channel, first-run episodes of some of FX's original comedy series (such as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell) were shifted over to FXX. At its launch, most providers that have agreements to carry FXX have placed the channel in extra-cost sports packages (despite being a general entertainment service) as an artifact of carriage deals with the previous holder of FXX's channel space, Fox Soccer; this has been resolved over time, with FX and FXX being located next to each other on some channel lineups.
FXNOW
FXNOW is a website for desktop computers, as well as an application for smartphones and tablet computers, along with Windows 10. It allows subscribers of participating pay television providers (through TV Everywhere login) numerous viewing options:
Launched in January 2014, the service is also available through iOS, Android, Samsung and Windows 8 (later Windows 10) devices, Xbox One and Xbox 360, and the Roku streaming player.[28][29] Although the service is available for free to subscribers of participating subscription television providers, shows available for streaming on FXNOW feature commercial interruption.[27]
FX+
In September 2018, Fox officially launched FX+, a streaming service featuring all FX and FXX original series from The Shield to the present day ad-free. Initially, the service was made available in the United States exclusively for Xfinity subscribers in the fall of 2017.[30] Xfinity, Armstrong and Cox subscribers have access to FX+ direct through their set-top boxes via those providers' video on demand platforms, in addition to the streaming options. In July 2019, it was announced on the service's website that it would cease being available on August 21, 2019, as a result of the Walt Disney Company's near-full acquisition of Hulu and move of FX content to that service; its ad-free model would otherwise be effectively duplicative with Hulu's commercial-free plan.[31][32]
FX on Hulu
The FX content hub (previously branded as FX on Hulu) is a brand used as part of the streaming platform Hulu in the United States and the content hub on the same name on the streaming platform Disney+ internationally. It includes programming from FX Networks, a subsidiary of the Disney General Entertainment Content segment of the Walt Disney Company.[33] Launched on March 2, 2020, the hub's programming was offered at no extra cost to subscribers. It features original programming produced by FX specifically for Hulu, in addition to original series broadcast on the linear FX and FXX cable networks.
In November 2019, four shows were moved from Hulu: Devs, Mrs. America, A Teacher, and The Old Man.[14] As part of the "first phase" (March 2–7, 2020), FX on Hulu rolled out with 40 current and library shows, with four original shows premiering on FX before being made available on Hulu the next day.[34] Phase two began on April 15 with Mrs. America premiering along with two other original shows and a documentary series.[35]
Programming
The list includes series produced by FX and released on Hulu through the "FX on Hulu" brand in the United States. Notably, The Weekly / The New York Times Presents, which has been sometimes described as an "FX on Hulu" show, was jointly commissioned by FX and Hulu prior to the launch of the FX on Hulu content hub.[38][39]
