History Creator / FOX

[[caption-width-right:320:[[TheCritic Ah yes. Sweet, non-judgmental FOX Network, where coming in 3rd is a triumph!]] [[note]][[HilariousInHindsight And it's now fighting for]] ''[[HilariousInHindsight first]]''.[[/note]]]]

Today, thanks to the success of ''AmericanIdol'', {{FOX}} is running neck-and-neck with a [[IGotBetter now-resurgent]] CBS for first place in the ratings, eliminating any doubt as to its position on American television. The network is often stereotyped (rightfully or wrongly) for being [[TheFireflyEffect overly trigger-happy]] [[ScrewedByTheNetwork in terms of cancelling shows]], which has been mocked by ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', [[http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080226.html among others]].

Fox truly launched in April 1987 in primetime, making its name with edgy, risque TV shows like ''TheSimpsons'', ''MarriedWithChildren'', ''BeverlyHills90210'', and the pioneering RealityShow ''{{COPS}}''. In 1993, they shocked the industry by picking up the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference NFC]] contract for over a billion dollars. The network then signed up with stations owned by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Communications New World Communications]], owner of stations in several NFC markets. While Creator/{{ABC}} and Creator/{{NBC}} were hurt by this loss, it had truly devastating effects on Creator/{{CBS}}, who had to move to lower-tier UHF stations in several cities (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGCL-TV channel 46 in Atlanta]], initially set to affiliate with TheWB, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDJT-TV channel 58 in Milwaukee]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWJ-TV channel 62 in Detroit]]). To add insult to injury, Fox also signed over football commentators from CBS in addition to plundering its affiliates. The combination of the New World deal and the football contract in the early '90s were responsible for cementing Fox's status as being on par to the three major networks, and sent CBS into a DorkAge that it would take a decade to get out of.

On a smaller note, Fox also has their hands in radio via ClearChannel, which distributes two networks from them; Fox News Radio, which provides a traditional radio news service to radio stations with FNC anchors, along with a few full-fledged talk shows. Fox Sports Radio is the SpiritedCompetitor to the larger {{ESPN}} Radio with mainly sports talk, but no play-by-play rights outside of local stations affiliated to them which have their region's teams. (There is a simulcast of the audio portion of ''Fox NFL Sunday''.) A lesser program, ''Fox All Access'', was one of those weekend shows that aired on pop music stations and play current tracks and promotes Fox shows and films; it used to promote FoxKids programming until that block's passing in 2001, and finally faded away in June 2002.

On a smaller note, Fox also has their hands in radio via ClearChannel, which distributes two networks from them; Fox News Radio, which provides a traditional radio news service to radio stations with FNC anchors, along with a few full-fledged talk shows. Fox Sports Radio is the SpiritedCompetitor to the larger {{ESPN}} Radio with mainly sports talk, but no play-by-play rights outside of local stations affiliated to them which have their region's teams. (There is a simulcast of the audio portion of ''Fox NFL Sunday''.) A lesser program, ''Fox All Access'', was one of those weekend shows that aired on pop music stations and play current tracks and promotes Fox shows and films; it used to promote FoxKids programming until that block's passing in 2001, and finally faded away in June 2012.

Fox through their cable division also runs a number of general networks, including {{FX}}, the FX/Fox Movie Channel (which is like Turner Classic Movies, but with solely older films from the Twentieth Century Fox libraries during the day as Fox Movie Channel, and recent films and more commercials during the night as FX Movie Channel), and the National Geographic Channels, both the original network and National Geographic Wild, which replaced the Fox Reality Channel. Spanish viewers are targeted with the upstart Utilisima network, and since August 13, 2012, the broadcast Mundo Fox network, which draws from the network's deep reserve of Latin American and European Spanish programming.

-->--'''Ned Flanders''', ''TheSimpsons''

Australian media mogul RupertMurdoch came to America in the 1980s in order to buy out the TwentiethCenturyFox film studio and give it a sibling TV network. Murdoch purchased the Metromedia group of six independent stations in NewYorkCity, UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, [[TheWindyCity Chicago]], [[UsefulNotes/DFWMetroplex Dallas-Fort Worth]], UsefulNotes/WashingtonDC and [[GreaterHouston Houston]] to serve as the nucleus of the network.

Fox through their cable division also runs a number of general networks, including {{FX}}, the FX/Fox Movie Channel (which is like Turner Classic Movies, but with solely older films from the Twentieth Century Fox libraries during the day as Fox Movie Channel, and recent films and more commercials during the night as FX Movie Channel), and the National Geographic Channels, both the original network and National Geographic Wild, which replaced the Fox Reality Channel. Spanish viewers are targeted with the upstart Utilisima network, and in September 2012, the broadcast Mundo Fox network, which will draw from the network's deep reserve of Latin American and European Spanish programming.

Today, thanks to the success of ''AmericanIdol'', {{FOX}} is running neck-and-neck with CBS for first place in the ratings, eliminating any doubt as to its position on American television. The network is often stereotyped (rightfully or wrongly) for being [[TheFireflyEffect overly trigger-happy]] [[ScrewedByTheNetwork in terms of cancelling shows]], which has been mocked by ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', [[http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080226.html among others]].

Fox truly launched in April 1987 in primetime, making its name with edgy, risque TV shows like ''TheSimpsons'', ''MarriedWithChildren'', ''BeverlyHills90210'', and the pioneering RealityShow ''{{COPS}}''. In 1993, they shocked the industry by picking up the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference NFC]] contract for over a billion dollars. The network then signed up with stations owned by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Communications New World Communications]], owner of stations in several NFC markets. While Creator/{{ABC}} and Creator/{{NBC}} were hurt by this loss, it had truly devastating effects on Creator/{{CBS}}, who had to move to lower-tier UHF stations in several cities (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGCL-TV channel 46 in Atlanta]], initially set to affiliate with TheWB, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDJT-TV channel 58 in Milwaukee]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWJ-TV channel 62 in Detroit]]). Fox also signed over football commentators from CBS in addition to plundering its affiliates. The combination of the New World deal and the football contract in the early '90s were responsible for cementing Fox's status as being on par to the three major networks.

The Fox name is used for several Murdoch-owned channels across the world, including the British/Irish channels FX and FX+, and the Fox Life suite of channels in Europe and South America In Australia, the name is used both for the [=FoxTEL=] cable and satellite television service (quarter-owned by News Corporation) and their general entertainment cable network, which is sandwiched between SevenNetwork and NineNetwork and named Fox 8 in an attempt to establish parity between them and the broadcast networks.

Fox also owns a number of regional sports networks, most of which are now branded "Fox Sports (insert region here)" (sometimes branded as "FS(insert region or name of team being broadcast here)", with some owned by DirecTV's parent under the branding ''Root Sports''). They also own Fox Soccer Channel, which broadcasts portions of the EnglishPremierLeague, Serie A, Barcelona FC and UEFA Champions League, along with both Sky News and Sky Sports News under the hope that the beautiful game will catch on in America eventually, a bet that paid off as Fox will be the US English language broadcaster of the 2018 and 2022 WorldCup. Also owned by Fox is Speed Channel (more known as {{NASCAR}}'s official network), and Fuel TV, which shows mainly extreme sports. Fox also began carrying the {{UFC}} in late 2011, which is considered a major step in legitimizing that sport further, and sees some programming on Fuel TV.

On a smaller note, Fox also has their hands in radio via ClearChannel, which distributes two networks from them; Fox News Radio, which provides a traditional radio news service to radio stations with FNC anchors, along with a few full-fledged talk shows. Fox Sports Radio is the SpiritedCompetitor to the larger {{ESPN}} Radio with mainly sports talk, but no play-by-play rights outside of local stations affiliated to them which have their region's teams. (There is a simulcast of the audio portion of ''Fox NFL Sunday''.) A lesser program, ''Fox All Access'', is one of those weekend shows that airs on pop music stations, play current tracks and promotes Fox shows and films; it used to promote FoxKids programming until that block's passing in 2001.

The Fox name is used for several Murdoch-owned channels across the world, including the British/Irish channels FX and FX+. In Australia, the name is used both for the [=FoxTEL=] cable and satellite television service (quarter-owned by News Corporation) and their general entertainment cable network, which is sandwiched between SevenNetwork and NineNetwork and named Fox 8 in an attempt to establish parity between them and the broadcast networks.

Some of these stations had formerly been a part of the DuMont Network, which came on the air in the late '40s as the nation's third television network. Several problems, like ownership complications, problems keeping talent, and NBC and CBS making sure that they got all the good stations, did it in slowly. [=DuMont=] was finished off by the quick rise of {{ABC}} in 1954 from an also-ran to a money-making also-ran who could hang in there patiently. For the next thirty years, all attempts at creating a fourth television network (not counting {{PBS}}, which nobody does anyway) were met with little success, and most of the former group of DuMont stations ended up part of Metromedia, which eventually began to run strong independent stations from the 60's and into the 70's and 80's.

Fox truly launched in April 1987 in primetime, making its name with edgy, risque TV shows like ''TheSimpsons'', ''MarriedWithChildren'', ''BeverlyHills90210'', and the pioneering RealityShow ''{{COPS}}''. In 1993, they shocked the industry by picking up the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference NFC]] contract for over a billion dollars. The network then signed up with stations owned by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Communications New World Communications]], owner of stations in several NFC markets. While {{ABC}} and {{NBC}} were hurt by this loss, it had truly devastating effects on {{CBS}}, who had to move to lower-tier UHF stations in several cities (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGCL-TV channel 46 in Atlanta]], initially set to affiliate with TheWB, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDJT-TV channel 58 in Milwaukee]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWJ-TV channel 62 in Detroit]]). Fox also signed over football commentators from CBS in addition to plundering its affiliates. The combination of the New World deal and the football contract in the early '90s were responsible for cementing Fox's status as being on par to the three major networks.

----

Australian media mogul RupertMurdoch came to America in the 1980s in order to buy out the TwentiethCenturyFox film studio and give it a sibling TV network. Murdoch purchased the Metromedia group of six independent stations in NewYorkCity, UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, [[TheWindyCity Chicago]], [[DFWMetroplex Dallas-Fort Worth]], WashingtonDC and [[GreaterHouston Houston]] to serve as the nucleus of the network.

-->--'''Ned Flanders''', ''TheSimpsons''

Australian media mogul RupertMurdoch came to America in the 1980s in order to buy out the TwentiethCenturyFox film studio and give it a sibling TV network. Murdoch purchased the Metromedia group of six independent stations in NewYorkCity, LosAngeles, [[TheWindyCity Chicago]], [[DFWMetroplex Dallas-Fort Worth]], WashingtonDC and [[GreaterHouston Houston]] to serve as the nucleus of the network.

Some of these stations had formerly been a part of the {{DuMont}} Network, which came on the air in the late '40s as the nation's third television network. Several problems, like ownership complications, problems keeping talent, and NBC and CBS making sure that they got all the good stations, did it in slowly. [=DuMont=] was finished off by the quick rise of {{ABC}} in 1954 from an also-ran to a money-making also-ran who could hang in there patiently. For the next thirty years, all attempts at creating a fourth television network (not counting {{PBS}}, which nobody does anyway) were met with little success, and most of the former group of DuMont stations ended up part of Metromedia, which eventually began to run strong independent stations from the 60's and into the 70's and 80's.

Fox truly launched in April 1987 in primetime, making its name with edgy, risque TV shows like ''TheSimpsons'', ''MarriedWithChildren'', ''BeverlyHills90210'', and the pioneering {{reality show}} ''{{COPS}}''. In 1993, they shocked the industry by picking up the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference NFC]] contract for over a billion dollars. The network then signed up with stations owned by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Communications New World Communications]], owner of stations in several NFC markets. While {{ABC}} and {{NBC}} were hurt by this loss, it had truly devastating effects on {{CBS}}, who had to move to lower-tier UHF stations in several cities (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGCL-TV channel 46 in Atlanta]], initially set to affiliate with TheWB, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDJT-TV channel 58 in Milwaukee]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWJ-TV channel 62 in Detroit]]). Fox also signed over football commentators from CBS in addition to plundering its affiliates. The combination of the New World deal and the football contract in the early '90s were responsible for cementing Fox's status as being on par to the three major networks.

Today, thanks to the success of ''AmericanIdol'', {{FOX}} is running neck-and-neck with CBS for first place in the ratings, eliminating any doubt as to its position on American television. The network is often stereotyped (rightfully or wrongly) for being [[TheFireflyEffect overly trigger-happy]] [[ScrewedByTheNetwork in terms of cancelling shows]], which has been mocked by ''FamilyGuy'', [[http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/080226.html among others]].

FoxNewsChannel also dominates [[TwentyFourHourNewsNetworks cable news]], coming in as the number-one rated cable news network in 2007, hosting the number-one rated cable news {{talk show}}, ''[[TheOReillyFactor The O'Reilly Factor]]'' (which has held the spot for one hundred months in a row), and grossing more viewers than the other cable news networks combined. However it is always important to note that Fox and Fox News are completely different operations, and even some of the network's affiliates go out of their way to make sure that viewers know that in their local news coverage. ''Fox News Sunday'', however, is a staple of Sunday mornings on the network, and State of the Union Addresses and Presidential election coverage on the network are produced by Fox News. Sister cable network Fox Business Network is a SpiritedCompetitor to CNBC with a much deeper pro-business slant.

<<|{{Networks}}|>>

[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/foxlogo_7967.jpg]]
->''"Welcome to Fox News -- Your Source For Evil.™"''
-->--''TheSimpsons'', "Krusty for Congress"

[[caption-width-right:320:[[TheCritic Ah yes. Sweet, non-judgmental FOX Network, where coming in 3rd is a triumph!]] [[note]][[HilariousInHindsight And it's now fighting for]] ''[[HilariousInHindsight first]]''.[[/note]]]]
->''"Oh, the network slogan is true! Watch Fox and be damned for all eternity!"''
-->--'''Ned Flanders''', ''TheSimpsons''

Fox truly launched in April 1987 in primetime, making its name with edgy, risque TV shows like ''TheSimpsons'', ''MarriedWithChildren'', ''BeverlyHills90210'', and the pioneering {{reality show}} ''{{COPS}}''. In 1993, they shocked the industry by picking up the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference NFC]] contract for over a billion dollars. The network then signed up with stations owned by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Communications New World Communications]], owner of stations in several NFC markets. While {{ABC}} and {{NBC}} were hurt by this loss, it had truly devastating effects on {{CBS}}, who had to move to lower-tier UHF stations in several cities (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGCL-TV channel 46 in Atlanta]], initially set to affiliate with TheWB, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WDJT-TV channel 58]] in Milwaukee and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWJ-TV channel 62 in Detroit]]). Fox also signed over football commentators from CBS in addition to plundering its affiliates. The combination of the New World deal and the football contract in the early '90s were responsible for cementing Fox's status as being on par to the three major networks.

Fox truly launched in April 1987 in primetime, making its name with edgy, risque TV shows like ''TheSimpsons'', ''MarriedWithChildren'', ''BeverlyHills90210'', and the pioneering {{reality show}} ''{{COPS}}''. In 1993, they shocked the industry by picking up the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Conference NFC]] contract for over a billion dollars. The network then signed up with stations owned by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_Communications New World Communications]], owner of stations in several NFC markets. While {{ABC}} and {{NBC}} were hurt by this loss, it had truly devastating effects on {{CBS}}, who had to move to lower-tier UHF stations in several cities (such as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WGCL-TV channel 46 in Atlanta]], initially set to affiliate with TheWB, and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWJ-TV channel 62 in Detroit]]). Fox also signed over football commentators from CBS in addition to plundering its affiliates. The combination of the New World deal and the football contract in the early '90s were responsible for cementing Fox's status as being on par to the three major networks.

[[caption-width-right:320:[[TheCritic Ah yes. Sweet, non-judgmental FOX Network, where coming in 3rd is a triumph!]] [[note]][[HilariousInHindsight And it's now in]] ''[[HilariousInHindsight first]]''.[[/note]]]]

On a smaller note, Fox also has their hands in radio via ClearChannel, which distributes two networks from them; Fox News Radio, which provides a traditional radio news service to radio stations with FNC anchors, along with a few full-fledged talk shows. Fox Sports Radio is the SpiritedCompetitor to the larger {{ESPN}} Radio with mainly sports talk, but no play-by-play rights outside of local stations affiliated to them which have their region's teams. A lesser program, ''Fox All Access'', is one of those weekend shows that airs on pop music stations, play current tracks and promotes Fox shows and films; it used to promote FoxKids programming until that block's passing in 2001.

The {{Fox}} network began broadcasts in 1986 in LateNight with the ''Late Show with Joan Rivers'', but it was more of a whimper than a bang. [[TheTonightShow Johnny Carson]] [[IHaveNoSon disowned]] his former guest host Rivers completely, providing a literal kiss of death (she was never forgiven by Carson) to the show before it ever began. She lasted less than a year before the show would die a slow death with guest hosts. (Among them was Arsenio Hall, who became popular enough to sign a syndication deal with Paramount; this was the final nail in the program's coffin.) Fox has never done well in late night and eventually gave the time back to their affiliates to run mainly ''{{Seinfeld}}'' reruns (after ''The Wilton-North Report'' nearly broke up the network completely), and the less said about Chevy Chase's [[OldShame short run on Fox, the better]].

The {{Fox}} network began broadcasts in 1986 in LateNight with the ''Late Show with Joan Rivers'', but it was more of a whimper than a bang. [[TheTonightShow Johnny Carson]] [[IHaveNoSon disowned]] his former guest host Rivers completely, providing a literal kiss of death (she was never forgiven by Carson) to the show before it ever began. She lasted less than a year before the show would die a slow death with guest hosts. Fox has never done well in late night and eventually gave the time back to their affiliates to run mainly ''{{Seinfeld}}'' reruns (after ''The Wilton-North Report'' nearly broke up the network completely), and the less said about Chevy Chase's [[OldShame short run on Fox, the better]].

FoxNewsChannel also dominates [[TwentyFourHourNewsNetworks cable news]], coming in as the number-one rated cable news network in 2007, hosting the number-one rated cable news {{talk show}}, ''[[TheOReillyFactor The O'Reilly Factor]]'' (which has held the spot for one hundred months in a row), and grossing more viewers than the other cable news networks combined. However it is always important to note that Fox and Fox News are completely different operations, and even some of the network's affiliates go out of their way to make sure that viewers know that in their local news coverage. Sister cable network Fox Business Network is a SpiritedCompetitor to CNBC with a much deeper pro-business slant. ''Fox News Sunday'', however, is a staple of Sunday mornings on the network, and State of the Union Addresses and Presidential election coverage on the network are produced by Fox News.

FoxNewsChannel also dominates [[TwentyFourHourNewsNetworks cable news]], coming in as the number-one rated cable news network in 2007, hosting the number-one rated cable news {{talk show}}, ''[[TheOReillyFactor The O'Reilly Factor]]'' (which has held the spot for one hundred months in a row), and grossing more viewers than the other cable news networks combined. However it is always important to note that Fox and Fox News are completely different operations, and even some of the network's affiliates go out of their way to make sure that viewers know that in their local news coverage. Sister cable network Fox Business Network is a SpiritedCompetitor to CNBC with a much deeper pro-business slant.

[[caption-width-right:320:[[TheCritic Ah yes. Sweet, non-judgmental FOX Network, where coming in 3rd is a triumph!]] [[note]][[HilariousInHindsight And it's now in]] ''[[HilariousInHindsight first]]''.[[/note]]

[[caption-width-right:320:[[TheCritic Ah yes. Sweet, non-judgmental FOX Network, where coming in 3rd is a triumph!]] [[hottip:*:[[HilariousInHindsight And it's now in]] ''[[HilariousInHindsight first]]''.]]

[[caption-width-right:320:[[TheCritic Ah yes. Sweet, non-judgmental FOX Network, where coming in 3rd is a triumph!]] [[hottip:*:[[HilariousInHindsight And it's now in]] ''[[HilariousInHindsight first]]''.]]]]