Fox Broadcasting Company: History, Ownership, Shows & Streaming

Fox Broadcasting Company changed the U.S. television landscape by growing from an ambitious challenger to ABC, CBS and NBC into one of America’s major broadcast networks. Since launching regular programming in 1986, Fox Broadcasting Company has built its identity around entertainment, prime-time animation, reality television, hit scripted shows and major live sports.

Today, the historic Fox Broadcasting Company name generally refers to the FOX Television Network, or simply the FOX Network. The network operates within FOX Entertainment under Fox Corporation, while the wider company also includes FOX Sports, FOX Television Stations, FOX News Media, Tubi and the FOX One streaming service.

Understanding the modern Fox Broadcasting Company structure is important because the FOX broadcast network is not the same company as Disney-owned businesses such as FX, FXX, and 20th Television.

Quick Answer

Fox Broadcasting Company is the historic name associated with the FOX broadcast television network in the United States. The network launched regular programming on October 9, 1986, and entered prime time on April 5, 1987. Today, Fox Broadcasting Company operates as the FOX Television Network within FOX Entertainment under Fox Corporation and reaches virtually every U.S. television market through 209 local-market affiliates.

Key Takeaways

• Fox Broadcasting Company began regular programming in October 1986.
• FOX entered prime time on April 5, 1987.
• The modern Fox Broadcasting Company network is owned by Fox Corporation, not Disney.
• FOX Entertainment operates the national FOX Television Network.
• FOX provides about 15 hours of weekly prime-time programming to 209 affiliates.
• FOX Television Stations owns 29 full-power stations, including 18 FOX affiliates.
• Fox Broadcasting Company remains heavily focused on entertainment, animation and live sports.
• FOX One launched in August 2025 as a direct-to-consumer streaming service.
• Tubi is also part of Fox Corporation but uses an advertising-supported streaming model.
• Fox Corporation’s proposed acquisition of Roku remains pending as of October 3, 2026.

Fox Broadcasting Company at a Glance

The current Fox Broadcasting Company network reaches virtually every U.S. television market through its large affiliate system.

Fox Broadcasting Company History Timeline

This timeline shows how Fox Broadcasting Company evolved from a relatively small fourth-network experiment into part of a much larger broadcast and streaming business.

What Is Fox Broadcasting Company?

Fox Broadcasting Company is the historic name of the U.S. national commercial broadcast network created to challenge ABC, CBS and NBC. Current Fox Corporation materials usually refer to Fox Broadcasting Company as the FOX Television Network or FOX Network.

The network operates within FOX Entertainment. Its current structure includes:

• FOX Television Network
• FOX Entertainment Studios
• FOX Entertainment Global

The FOX Television Network provides national entertainment and sports programming, while local FOX affiliates distribute that programming to individual television markets.

This affiliate-based model has been central to Fox Broadcasting Company since its early years.

Who Founded Fox Broadcasting Company?

The creation of Fox Broadcasting Company was closely associated with Rupert Murdoch and Barry Diller. During the mid-1980s, Murdoch expanded his U.S. media interests through Twentieth Century Fox and the acquisition of television stations previously owned by Metromedia.

Those stations became an important foundation for Fox Broadcasting Company. Rather than building hundreds of stations from the ground up, FOX recruited independent television stations across the country to become affiliates.

Jamie Kellner became the first president and chief operating officer of Fox Broadcasting Company, helping develop the new network’s programming and affiliate strategy. This approach allowed FOX to build national distribution much faster than it could have through direct station ownership alone.

How Fox Broadcasting Company Started

• The early Fox Broadcasting Company strategy was intentionally gradual.
• FOX did not immediately launch a full seven-night prime-time schedule.
• Instead, the company introduced programming step by step.

1986: Fox Broadcasting Company Begins Programming

The first regular network program on Fox Broadcasting Company was The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, which debuted on October 9, 1986.

At the time, FOX already had agreements with dozens of independent stations across the United States. The network used late-night programming as a relatively low-risk way to establish the FOX brand before expanding into prime time.

1987: Fox Broadcasting Company Enters Prime Time

Fox Broadcasting Company officially entered prime-time television on April 5, 1987.

Early shows included:

• Married… with Children
• The Tracey Ullman Show

FOX programming was already available through more than 100 stations by the time the network entered prime time. The company gradually expanded its schedule rather than immediately programming every night of the week. That lighter scheduling approach became one of the defining differences between FOX and the traditional Big Three networks.

How The Simpsons Helped Define Fox Broadcasting Company

One of the most important programs in Fox Broadcasting Company history began as short animated segments on The Tracey Ullman Show. Those segments eventually became The Simpsons. The series helped establish animation as one of the strongest parts of the FOX brand.

Over time, Fox Broadcasting Company expanded its animation portfolio with shows such as:

• Family Guy
• Bob’s Burgers
• American Dad!
• Krapopolis
• Grimsburg
• Universal Basic Guys

Animation remains closely associated with Fox Broadcasting Company decades after The Simpsons first became a standalone series.

How Fox Broadcasting Company Built Its Television Identity

Fox Broadcasting Company could not simply copy ABC, CBS and NBC. To gain viewers, FOX needed programming that felt different. The network became known for shows that often targeted younger audiences, unconventional formats and genres that were less dominant on older broadcast networks.

Important FOX programs have included:

• Married… with Children
• In Living Color
• COPS
• Beverly Hills, 90210
• The Simpsons
• The X-Files
• American Idol
• 24
• House
• The O.C.
• Family Guy
• Glee
• Empire
• The Masked Singer

This wide mix of programming helped Fox Broadcasting Company develop a recognizable identity without relying on only one genre.

The NFL Deal That Changed Fox Broadcasting Company

One of the biggest turning points in Fox Broadcasting Company history came when FOX won the television rights to the NFL’s National Football Conference package.

The deal was announced in 1993, with FOX coverage beginning in the 1994 season. The NFL gave Fox Broadcasting Company something extremely valuable: large live audiences.

The agreement helped FOX gain:

• National visibility
• Premium advertising opportunities
• Stronger affiliate relationships
• More credibility as a major network
• Promotion opportunities for entertainment shows
• A foundation for FOX Sports

FOX Sports officially began U.S. operations in 1994.

The NFL agreement helped transform Fox Broadcasting Company from an entertainment challenger into a major national broadcaster.

Who Owns Fox Broadcasting Company Today?

The modern Fox Broadcasting Company network is owned by Fox Corporation.

Fox Corporation’s major businesses include:

Lachlan Murdoch serves as Executive Chair and CEO of Fox Corporation. Rob Wade serves as CEO of FOX Entertainment and oversees the business containing the modern Fox Broadcasting Company network.

Fox Broadcasting Company vs. Fox Corporation

Fox Broadcasting Company and Fox Corporation are related but are not identical.

A simple way to understand the structure is:

Fox Corporation → FOX Entertainment → FOX Television Network

• Fox Corporation is the parent company.
• FOX Entertainment is the entertainment business.
• The FOX Television Network is the national broadcast network commonly associated with Fox Broadcasting Company.
• FOX Sports, FOX Television Stations, and FOX News Media are separate businesses under Fox Corporation.

Does Disney Own Fox Broadcasting Company?

• No. Disney does not own Fox Broadcasting Company.
• This is one of the most common questions about the FOX brand.
• The confusion comes from Disney’s acquisition of many 21st Century Fox assets in 2019.
• Before Disney completed that acquisition, Fox Corporation was separated into a standalone company.

Fox Corporation retained businesses including:

• FOX broadcast network
• FOX Sports
• FOX News
• FOX Television Stations

Disney acquired many other former Fox entertainment assets.

Therefore, Fox Broadcasting Company remains part of Fox Corporation rather than The Walt Disney Company.

Fox Broadcasting Company vs. FX and FXX

Fox Broadcasting Company is also not the same as FX or FXX.

The similar names reflect their shared corporate history, but their ownership changed after the 2019 restructuring. Today, FX and FXX are Disney businesses, while Fox Broadcasting Company remains within Fox Corporation.

Why Can Disney-Owned Shows Air on Fox Broadcasting Company?

A television network does not need to own every program it broadcasts. Fox Broadcasting Company can license television programs from outside studios.

FOX obtains programming from companies such as:

• 20th Television
• Sony Pictures Television
• Warner Bros. Television
• Independent production companies

FOX also produces programming through its own production businesses. That is why a show produced by Disney-owned 20th Television can still air on Fox Broadcasting Company. The key distinction is between ownership of the television show and the right to broadcast the show.

How Large Is Fox Broadcasting Company Today?

The modern Fox Broadcasting Company network has national reach.

• Fox Corporation reported 209 local-market affiliates in fiscal 2026.
• Those affiliates cover virtually every U.S. television market.
• Only a portion of those stations are directly owned by Fox Corporation.

Many local FOX affiliates are owned by independent broadcasting companies that carry national FOX programming under affiliate agreements. This system allows Fox Broadcasting Company to reach viewers nationwide without owning a television station in every market.

Fox Broadcasting Company vs. FOX Television Stations

The national Fox Broadcasting Company network and FOX Television Stations serve different functions.

FOX Television Stations currently operates 29 full-power television stations in 18 markets.

Eighteen are FOX Network affiliates.

The others are primarily affiliated with MyNetworkTV.

This distinction explains why a viewer may watch Fox Broadcasting Company programming through a station owned by another media company.

Why Does Fox Broadcasting Company Program Fewer Hours?

Fox Broadcasting Company traditionally provides fewer national programming hours than ABC, CBS, and NBC. FOX currently supplies roughly 15 hours of weekly prime-time programming to affiliates.

This gives local stations more scheduling flexibility for:

• Local news
• Syndicated shows
• Sports
• Specials
• Local programming

The lighter national schedule has roots in the early years of Fox Broadcasting Company, when the network gradually expanded one or two nights at a time.

How Popular Is Fox Broadcasting Company in 2026?

Fox Broadcasting Company remains a major participant in U.S. television even as streaming services continue to grow. During the 2025–26 broadcast season, FOX ranked No. 2 among adults ages 18–49 and adults ages 18–34 based on Nielsen Live+7 ratings reported by Fox Corporation.

The company also reported that FOX had ranked among the top two broadcast networks among adults ages 18–34 for 31 consecutive broadcast seasons. These figures show that Fox Broadcasting Company remains commercially important despite major changes in television viewing habits.

Fox Broadcasting Company Shows for 2026–27

The Fox Broadcasting Company 2026–27 schedule continues to combine scripted television, animation, unscripted programming, and sports.

FOX Fall 2026 Schedule

Sunday programming can change around NFL coverage.

The current Fox Broadcasting Company schedule shows how FOX continues to balance traditional entertainment with sports and unscripted programming.

Returning Fox Broadcasting Company Shows

Returning FOX shows for the 2026–27 season include:

• Doc
• Memory of a Killer
• Murder in a Small Town
• Animal Control
• Best Medicine
• The Simpsons
• Family Guy
• Bob’s Burgers
• American Dad!
• The Masked Singer
• Hell’s Kitchen
• The Floor
• Next Level Chef
• LEGO Masters
• Extracted
• Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test

This mix reflects the broad programming strategy that has long defined Fox Broadcasting Company.

New Fox Broadcasting Company Shows

FOX is also introducing new programming for the 2026–27 cycle.

Baywatch

A new version of Baywatch is planned as part of the FOX midseason schedule.

The Interrogator

The Interrogator is a new crime-thriller project starring Stephen Fry and Jenna Elfman.

Marriage Market

Marriage Market is a new unscripted dating format hosted by Whitney Cummings. New shows remain important to Fox Broadcasting Company because the network needs fresh franchises alongside its long-running brands.

Sports on Fox Broadcasting Company

Sports are now one of the strongest parts of Fox Broadcasting Company.

FOX sports programming includes:

• NFL
• Major League Baseball
• College football
• College basketball
• NASCAR
• INDYCAR
• UFL
• International soccer

Live sports help Fox Broadcasting Company attract large real-time audiences that remain valuable to advertisers. Sports also provide strong promotional opportunities for the network’s entertainment programming.

Fox Broadcasting Company and the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup was a major programming event for Fox Broadcasting Company and FOX Sports. FOX distributed the tournament across its television and streaming platforms, including the FOX broadcast network, FS1 and FOX One.

The event demonstrated how modern Fox Broadcasting Company programming increasingly works across both broadcast television and streaming. Major international sports events also help FOX reach occasional viewers who may not regularly watch the network’s entertainment schedule.

How Does Fox Broadcasting Company Make Money?

The business model behind Fox Broadcasting Company includes several revenue streams.

Advertising

FOX sells advertising around entertainment programs, live sports and major events.

Sports and large reality competitions can be especially valuable because viewers often watch them live.

Affiliate and Distribution Revenue

FOX receives revenue connected with television providers and local affiliate distribution.

Content Licensing

FOX Entertainment can generate revenue by licensing television programs and intellectual property across domestic and international markets.

Streaming

• Streaming adds both subscription and advertising revenue opportunities.
• FOX One uses a subscription model, while Tubi primarily relies on advertising.
• These revenue sources allow Fox Broadcasting Company to operate across both traditional television and digital platforms.

Fox Broadcasting Company Streaming Options

• Streaming has become increasingly important to the future of Fox Broadcasting Company.
• Consumers now have several ways to watch FOX.

Over-the-Air Antenna

Many viewers can receive their local FOX affiliate with a compatible antenna.

Cable and Satellite

Traditional television providers continue to carry FOX stations.

Live TV Streaming Services

Some online television packages carry local FOX stations depending on location.

FOX One

FOX One provides direct access to FOX programming through a subscription streaming service. These options help Fox Broadcasting Company reach both traditional television viewers and cord-cutters.

What Is FOX One?

FOX One is Fox Corporation’s direct-to-consumer streaming service.

It launched on August 21, 2025.

The service includes programming from brands such as:

• FOX Network
• FOX Sports
• FS1
• FS2
• FOX News Channel
• FOX Business
• FOX Weather
• FOX Deportes
• Big Ten Network
• Participating local FOX stations

FOX One gives Fox Broadcasting Company a more direct relationship with viewers instead of relying only on cable, satellite or local broadcast distribution.

What Devices Support FOX One?

FOX One is available across a wide range of platforms, including:

• Roku
• Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• Google TV
• Android TV
• Samsung smart TVs
• LG smart TVs
• VIZIO smart TVs
• Xbox
• iPhone
• iPad
• Android devices
• Web browsers

This wide device support makes Fox Broadcasting Company content easier to access outside traditional television packages.

FOX One vs. Tubi

FOX One and Tubi are both important parts of the wider Fox Corporation streaming strategy.

Tubi has become a major streaming platform for Fox Corporation, while FOX One is more directly tied to live FOX brands and Fox Broadcasting Company programming.

Is Fox Broadcasting Company the Same as FOX News?

No.

Fox Broadcasting Company primarily refers to the FOX Television Network, which carries entertainment and sports programming. FOX News Media is a separate Fox Corporation business focused on news. Both businesses share the FOX brand and the same parent company, but they have different programming and management structures.

Where Is Fox Broadcasting Company Located?

Fox Corporation’s principal executive offices are located at:

1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036.

FOX also maintains major entertainment and production operations in Los Angeles. The modern Fox Broadcasting Company network therefore operates as part of a national media business with major corporate and production operations on both U.S. coasts.

Who Leads Fox Broadcasting Company Today?

Lachlan Murdoch serves as Executive Chair and CEO of Fox Corporation. Rob Wade serves as CEO of FOX Entertainment.

Because the FOX Television Network operates within FOX Entertainment, Wade is one of the most important executives connected with the modern Fox Broadcasting Company business.

Other Fox Corporation businesses have separate leadership teams for sports, television stations, news, and digital operations.

Fox Broadcasting Company Is Expanding Beyond Traditional TV

The future of Fox Broadcasting Company is increasingly connected with streaming and digital entertainment.

FOX Entertainment now operates across:

• Broadcast television
• Streaming
• International content licensing
• Digital-first programming
• Creator-led entertainment
• Animation
• Podcasts
• Vertical video
• Experiential entertainment

This strategy means Fox Broadcasting Company is no longer best understood only as a traditional broadcast network. The FOX brand increasingly operates across multiple platforms and viewing formats.

Fox Corporation’s Proposed Roku Acquisition

One of the largest potential changes affecting the future of Fox Broadcasting Company is Fox Corporation’s proposed acquisition of Roku.

Fox Corporation announced the agreement in June 2026.

The proposed transaction values Roku at approximately $22 billion in enterprise value.

If completed, the deal would bring together:

• FOX entertainment
• FOX Sports
• FOX News
• Tubi
• Roku’s connected-TV platform
• The Roku Channel
• Roku’s advertising technology

As of October 3, 2026, the transaction remains pending and should not be described as completed.

If approved, Roku could significantly strengthen the streaming distribution available around Fox Broadcasting Company programming.

Why Fox Broadcasting Company Still Matters

Fox Broadcasting Company remains important because it permanently changed the structure of American commercial television. FOX demonstrated that another national broadcast network could compete successfully with ABC, CBS and NBC.

Several factors contributed to that growth:

• Distinctive television programming
• Prime-time animation
• Major NFL rights
• Reality and competition television
• Strong local affiliate distribution
• Live sports
• Streaming expansion

The modern Fox Broadcasting Company continues adapting its programming and distribution strategy as viewers move between traditional television and streaming platforms.

Why Do People Still Call It Fox Broadcasting Company?

The term Fox Broadcasting Company remains common because it is strongly associated with the network’s history.

Current corporate materials more often use:

• FOX
• FOX Network
• FOX Television Network
• FOX Entertainment

These terms are related, but they are not always identical. For most people searching for Fox Broadcasting Company, the intended subject is the national FOX television network now operating within FOX Entertainment under Fox Corporation.

Final Thoughts 

Fox Broadcasting Company has changed dramatically since its 1986 launch. What began as a challenger to ABC, CBS and NBC grew into a major national television network known for influential entertainment, animation, reality television and live sports.

Today, Fox Broadcasting Company is best understood as the historic name associated with the FOX Television Network, which operates within FOX Entertainment under Fox Corporation. The network reaches virtually every U.S. television market through more than 200 local affiliates while continuing to invest in both broadcast television and streaming.

The ownership structure is also important. Fox Broadcasting Company remains part of Fox Corporation, while Disney owns several former 21st Century Fox entertainment assets such as FX and 20th Television.

Streaming is becoming increasingly important to the future of Fox Broadcasting Company. FOX One provides direct subscription access to FOX programming, while Tubi expands Fox Corporation’s presence in free ad-supported streaming. The proposed Roku acquisition could extend that digital strategy further if the transaction closes.

Nearly four decades after its launch, Fox Broadcasting Company remains a major part of American television because it continues to adapt across entertainment, live sports, local broadcasting, and streaming.

Fox Broadcasting Company FAQs

1. Who owns Fox Broadcasting Company?

Fox Broadcasting Company is part of Fox Corporation. The modern FOX Television Network operates within FOX Entertainment.

2. When did Fox Broadcasting Company start?

Fox Broadcasting Company began regular network programming on October 9, 1986, and entered prime time on April 5, 1987.

3. Does Disney own Fox Broadcasting Company?

No. Fox Broadcasting Company belongs to Fox Corporation. Disney owns several former 21st Century Fox entertainment assets but not the FOX broadcast network.

4. What is Fox Broadcasting Company called today?

Current corporate materials generally call Fox Broadcasting Company the FOX Television Network or FOX Network.

5. How many Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates are there?

The FOX Network reported 209 local-market affiliates in fiscal 2026.

6. Does Fox Broadcasting Company own every FOX station?

No. Fox Corporation owns some local FOX stations, while many Fox Broadcasting Company affiliates are independently owned.

7. Is FX part of Fox Broadcasting Company?

No. FX is owned by The Walt Disney Company. Fox Broadcasting Company belongs to Fox Corporation.

8. Can I watch Fox Broadcasting Company without cable?

Yes. Depending on location, viewers may watch Fox Broadcasting Company through an antenna, supported live-TV streaming service or FOX One.

9. What is FOX One?

FOX One is Fox Corporation’s subscription streaming service offering live and on-demand FOX entertainment, sports and news programming.

10. Is FOX One the same as Tubi?

No. FOX One uses a subscription model, while Tubi primarily provides free, advertising-supported streaming.

11. Does Fox Broadcasting Company own every show it broadcasts?

No. Fox Broadcasting Company airs programs produced by FOX as well as licensed programs from outside television studios.

12. Is FOX News the same as Fox Broadcasting Company?

No. Fox Broadcasting Company primarily carries entertainment and sports, while FOX News Media operates Fox Corporation’s news businesses.

Sofia Francis

Sofia Francis is a writer at Tycoonstory Media, specializing in business, startups, entrepreneurship, and marketing. She writes practical, research-based articles that help entrepreneurs, business owners, startup founders, and professionals understand market trends, growth strategies, digital marketing, and business opportunities. Her content focuses on making business knowledge simple, useful, and accessible for readers.

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