Fox: the Fourth Network
The company we know as 20th Century Fox has been involved in television since the early 1950s. It’s responsible for most of the syndicated shows we still watch today, and it remains one of the most widely recognized brands in America.
In 1956, DuMont Television Network was facing its own demise. TV needed a “fourth network” if it was going to catch on. The company purchased a 50% stake in the NTA Film Network, and released that year in response. Fox didn’t see much during that first foray, the network eventually flopped, but it managed to use that experience to produce an early hit called Perry Mason.
Fox itself was launched in 1986, and was meant to be a direct competitor to the established three. Its flagship show was The Late Show with Joan Rivers. The show enjoyerd a fairly strong start, but Rivers’ antics proved uninteresting to television audiences long term.
Fox had some good success during its heyday, producing shows like “The Simpsons” and “Married with Children,” which both enjoyed some of the longest production runs within their genres. The Simpsons is still a popular brand enjoyed by many viewers and a loyal fan base. It was also a spin off of an animation done for the Tracy Ullman show, a sketch comedy series. Fox also pioneered reality TV with the debut of “Cops,” and the widely successful “America’s Most Wanted.”
Since the success of the Fox Broadcasting Company, the network has spun itself off into different venues. It maintains channels for sports, news and prime-time programming.
Phineas Upham is an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phin on his Phineas Upham website or Twitter page.