Is Fox the TV show company that made B99 and Orville the same as Fox News and 20th Century Fox?

The Evolution of Fox Media

In 2019, the landscape of media ownership underwent a significant transformation with the acquisition of the majority of Fox’s assets by The Walt Disney Company. This change marked a profound shift in the relationship between various Fox brands, including the television production divisions that created Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Orville, and the news and network entities like Fox News. To understand this complex web of ownership, it is important to delve into the history and current state of these brands.

History of Media Ownership

Before 2019, all these entities were part of a single company called 21st Century Fox. This conglomerate controlled a vast array of media properties including the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox News, and 20th Century Fox. The acquisition by Disney broke up this conglomerate, leading to the creation of distinct but interconnected entities.

The Orville: A Product of 20th Century Fox Television

The television series The Orville was produced by 20th Century Fox Television, a subsidiary of the larger 20th Century Fox, a film and television studio also owned by 21st Century Fox. This series was originally broadcast on Fox Broadcasting Company (often referred to simply as Fox).

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Partners in Broadcasting

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is another notable television show, but its path to broadcasting is a bit different. Although the production company behind this hit series, Universal Television, is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, for its first five seasons, the show was aired on Fox. Since its cancellation by Fox, the show has moved to NBC, another network owned by NBCUniversal.

Disney's Acquisition and the Creation of a New Entity

The acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney in March 2019 led to the creation of the Fox Corporation, a new entity that owns the broadcasting rights and assets that were spun off from 21st Century Fox before the merger with Disney. This includes the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox News, and Fox Business. Additionally, the acquisition of 20th Century Fox allowed Disney to gain control over the 20th Century Fox Television division, which produced several popular shows and series.

Current Ownership and Relationships

It is now clear that The Orville is owned by Disney, while Fox News and Fox Broadcasting Company are under the purview of the newly formed Fox Corporation. On the other hand, Brooklyn Nine-Nine remains with NBCUniversal, and it is not currently associated with any entity that includes "Fox" in its name.

Conclusion

The familiar name "Fox" has seen a complicated evolution through mergers, acquisitions, and the separation of broadcasting entities. While the television shows that were once produced and aired by Fox Broadcasting Company are now either owned by Disney or have shifted ownership to NBCUniversal, the news networks like Fox News continue to operate under the Fox Corporation. Understanding these changes is crucial for anyone interested in the history and current state of Fox-related media properties.

Keywords: Fox Broadcasting Company, 20th Century Fox Television, Fox Corporation