Fox Networks Group

Fox Networks Group (FNG) was the television-network and distribution division associated first with News Corporation and subsequently with 21st Century Fox. It operated from 1993 until the completion of The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox in March 2019. The group managed a broad portfolio of broadcast, cable, sports, news, factual-entertainment, children's and digital-video businesses, combining U.S. network operations with international channel activities. The group's roots lay in Rupert Murdoch's 1993 acquisition of Star TV in Hong Kong. That transaction provided the platform for expanding the American Fox television brand internationally and led to the creation of Fox International Channels. Over time, the international operation launched or distributed Fox-branded services and channels associated with FX, National Geographic, Fox Sports, Fox Crime, Fox Life, BabyTV, Fox Movies and other entertainment, factual and lifestyle properties. It also invested in production companies, regional television businesses and joint ventures, including operations connected with Telecolombia, LAPTV, 24Kitchen and National Geographic Partners. In the United States, FNG brought together several major television businesses. Its domestic structure included Fox Television Group, comprising the Fox Broadcasting Company and 20th Century Fox Television; Fox Cable Networks; Fox Sports Media Group; Fox News Group; National Geographic Partners; and Fox's digital consumer businesses. The division was therefore not simply a single channel brand: it was an operating and commercial framework for producing, programming, distributing and monetizing television content across broadcast, pay television, advertising sales and video-on-demand services. Its international scale expanded substantially during the 2000s and 2010s. FNG and its predecessor international units entered markets through channel launches, acquisitions, local partnerships and distribution agreements. Examples included Fox's Spanish launch in 2001; regional National Geographic, FX, Fox Life, Fox Crime, Fox Movies and BabyTV services; sports operations in Africa and Europe; and Spanish-language initiatives such as MundoFox in the United States. The group also used local production and co-financing arrangements to create programming for regional audiences rather than relying exclusively on imported U.S. content. A significant organizational change occurred in 2016, when 21st Century Fox abolished Fox International Channels as a separately managed company and integrated its regional television operations into Fox Networks Group. The resulting structure used regional divisions such as Fox Networks Group Europe, Fox Networks Group Latin America and Fox Networks Group Asia, while the U.S. group coordinated the broader television portfolio. This reflected a strategy of managing domestic and international television assets more closely under one corporate leadership structure. The group ended as a unified corporate division after Disney completed its acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets on March 20, 2019. Disney assumed many of the entertainment, FX, National Geographic and international television assets, while the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox News, Fox Sports and other retained businesses became part of the newly independent Fox Corporation. Consequently, the Fox Networks Group name ceased to describe a single continuing operating division, even though several of its former brands and businesses continued under successor companies. International Fox-branded channels were subsequently migrated, renamed or absorbed into Disney's regional television structures, with the final Fox channel rebranding referenced in the source material occurring in Spain in 2024.

Fox Networks Group developed from News Corporation's effort to extend the Fox television brand beyond the United States. In 1993, Rupert Murdoch acquired Star TV in Hong Kong, creating an important platform for international expansion. The resulting Fox International Channels operation distributed Fox-related services and progressively added local channels, production investments and regional partnerships. During the 2000s, the international portfolio broadened across Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Fox launched channels in Spain and other European markets, expanded National Geographic and FX offerings, and introduced Fox Life, Fox Crime, Fox Movies and BabyTV services. It acquired or invested in production and channel businesses, including Telecolombia, NHNZ, BabyTV, Real Estate TV, Viajar and interests associated with LAPTV. Joint ventures and distribution agreements supported services such as 24Kitchen, MundoFox and Middle Eastern Fox Movies and Fox Series channels. The organization also pursued local-language and regional programming. MundoFox was launched in the United States in 2012 with RCN Televisión as a Spanish-language network. Sports operations grew through European football branding and the acquisition of African Setanta Sports channels, which were later rebranded as Fox Sports services. FNG also developed production relationships through Fox Toma 1, The Jackal Group and DNA TV Limited, while National Geographic television assets became part of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture established by 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society in 2015. In July 2014, Fox Television Group was formed inside Fox Networks Group, bringing the Fox Broadcasting Company and 20th Century Fox Television into a combined domestic television structure. In 2016, 21st Century Fox reorganized the international business: Fox International Channels was abolished as a distinct unit, and its regional operations were folded into Fox Networks Group divisions covering Europe, Latin America and Asia. The change was intended to align international operations more directly with the U.S. television portfolio. Disney's proposed acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets changed the group's corporate destiny. When the transaction closed on March 20, 2019, Disney took control of many former FNG entertainment, FX, National Geographic and international assets. The Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox News, Fox Sports and other excluded assets were placed in Fox Corporation. The former FNG portfolio was therefore divided between two successor companies, and Fox Networks Group ceased to exist as a unified operating group. Former international Fox channels were subsequently managed, renamed or closed by Disney's regional organizations, while retained Fox businesses continued under Fox Corporation.

1. 2019FNG businesses are divided following the Disney acquisition

   Disney completed its acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets, while retained Fox businesses were transferred to Fox Corporation.

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2. 2016International channels are absorbed into FNG

   Fox International Channels was discontinued as a separately managed organization and its regional operations were integrated into Fox Networks Group.

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3. 2015National Geographic Partners is established

   21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society formed a joint venture for National Geographic's commercial businesses, including its television channels.

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4. 2014Fox Television Group is formed

   The Fox Broadcasting Company and 20th Century Fox Television were combined within the Fox Networks Group structure.

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5. 2012MundoFox launches in the United States

   Fox and RCN Televisión launched a Spanish-language terrestrial network aimed at U.S. Hispanic audiences.

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6. 2007Fox expands production and children's television holdings

   The group acquired a majority interest in Telecolombia and a majority share in BabyTV's international operations.

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7. 2001Fox launches in Spain

   Fox entered the Spanish market, followed by expansion of National Geographic and other thematic services.

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8. 1993Star TV acquisition creates the international expansion platform

   News Corporation's acquisition of Star TV in Hong Kong provided the foundation for Fox's international television expansion and the development of Fox International Channels.

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A vertically integrated, globally oriented television portfolio spanning free-to-air broadcasting, pay television, sports, news, factual entertainment, children's programming, production, distribution and digital video.

• FoxBroadcast and cable television1993

  The core Fox television brand covered the U.S. Fox Broadcasting Company and numerous international Fox-branded channels. Depending on market, programming included acquired and original series, entertainment, factual programming and locally adapted schedules. The brand served as the principal general-entertainment identity within the wider Fox Networks Group portfolio.

• FXCable television

  FX was the group's U.S. premium-oriented scripted and general-entertainment cable business, known for original series and related channels. International FX services were launched in several markets, although some were later rebranded as Fox or transferred into Disney's international channel portfolio.

• National GeographicFactual and documentary television

  National Geographic-branded channels provided documentary, science, history, exploration and factual-entertainment programming. In 2015, the television assets became part of National Geographic Partners, a joint venture between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society, with FNG handling distribution and advertising functions.

• Fox SportsSports television

  Fox Sports encompassed U.S. sports media operations and international sports channels. The portfolio included sports programming and regional services, including African channels derived from Setanta Sports and European football-related channels. Specific assets were divided between Fox Corporation and Disney after 2019.

• BabyTVChildren's television

  BabyTV was an international children's channel aimed at very young audiences. Fox acquired a majority interest in its international operations in 2007, adding a dedicated preschool service to the group's broader entertainment and factual portfolio.

• MundoFox and MundoMaxSpanish-language broadcast television2012

  MundoFox was a Spanish-language U.S. terrestrial network launched with RCN Televisión in 2012. Fox exited the joint venture in 2015, after which the service was renamed MundoMax. The network ceased operations in 2016.

• Fox Now, Fox Play and Fox PlusVideo-on-demand and digital video

  These services extended Fox's television portfolio into authenticated and subscription-oriented digital viewing. Their availability and exact channel lineups varied by territory, providing on-demand access to programming associated with Fox and related networks.

• 2014Fox Sports Africa expansion

  Africa

  Following the acquisition of three Setanta Sports African channels, Fox relaunched services as Fox Sports and Fox Sports 2 in time for the 2014–15 football season.

  Outcome. The channels became part of later Disney and regional successor arrangements.

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• 2012MundoFox U.S. launch

  United States

  Fox and RCN Televisión launched a Spanish-language terrestrial network intended to serve Hispanic television audiences in the United States.

  Outcome. Fox left the venture in 2015; the network became MundoMax and closed in 2016.

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• 2019Transfer of FNG assets following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century FoxM&A

  The Walt Disney Company agreed to acquire most of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets.

  What changed. After completion on March 20, 2019, Disney received many entertainment, FX, National Geographic and international television businesses, while retained Fox operations were placed in Fox Corporation.

  Aftermath. Fox Networks Group ceased to function as a unified corporate division.

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• 2016Integrate Fox International Channels into Fox Networks GroupStrategy

  21st Century Fox had operated its international television businesses separately from its U.S. domestic television assets.

  What changed. The company abolished Fox International Channels as a distinct unit and reorganized its regional businesses under Fox Networks Group divisions for Europe, Latin America and Asia.

  Aftermath. The restructuring created a more unified global television organization before the later division of assets between Disney and Fox Corporation.

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• 2019Disney completes acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets

  The transaction transferred many FNG entertainment and international assets to Disney, while retained Fox businesses became part of Fox Corporation.

  M&A
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• 2016Fox International Channels is integrated into Fox Networks Group

  21st Century Fox ended Fox International Channels as a separately managed unit and placed its regional operations under the U.S.-based Fox Networks Group structure.

  Leadership change
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• 2013Fox becomes sole owner of LAPTV

  Fox acquired the remaining Paramount interest in the Latin American Pay Television operation and later relaunched Moviecity as Fox+.

  M&A
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• 2012Fox and RCN launch MundoFox in the United States

  The companies created a Spanish-language terrestrial television network for the U.S. market.

  Product launch
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• 2001Fox International Channels expands its international television portfolio

  Fox entered Spain with a Fox channel, followed by additional National Geographic and entertainment services.

  Other
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1. Fox Networks Group