FX Networks, LLC, commonly known as FX Networks, is an American media company built around FX, FXX, and FX Movie Channel, plus their associated production company, FX Productions, and is a subsidiary of Disney General Entertainment Content, the television division of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company. Originally a part of News Corporation and later 21st Century Fox after spinning off News Corp, the company was included in the acquisition of the latter by Disney on March 20, 2019. Consequently, FX Networks was integrated with the other television production and broadcasting assets that form the Disney General Entertainment Content unit in 2021.
In mid-July 1994, a movie sister channel was announced under the working name of The Fox Movie Studio, also under Sweeney under the title of president of fX and Fox Movie Studio, to start airing in the fall. FX Networks launched the Fox Movie Studio on October 31, 1994, as . fXM: Movies from Fox on March 1, 2000, was renamed Fox Movie Channel. Sweeney left for Disney in February 1996. She was replaced by Sonnenberg, who remained until 1998. Peter Liguori was appointed to replace him.
The FX289 channel for the United Kingdom and Ireland launched in January 2004 then rebranded as FX as it moved in the Sky EPG in April 2005. The channel was rebranded as Fox on 11 January 2013.
John Landgraf joined as president of entertainment in 2004 then promoted in 2005 to president and general manager of FX Networks. In that span, FX's original series increased to two to 11, which was a factor in starting an in-house production company.
In August 2007, FX Productions was formed to take stakes in FX programming. FX acquired a number of non-Fox films for the channels. Landgraf was elevated to CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions in June 2013 while taking charge of FXNow digital video-on-demand platform. On March 28, 2013, FX president John Landgraf announced their upcoming launch of a new channel, FXX. Landgraf described the channel as "slightly more comedy focused" and aimed at younger audiences 18-34 compared with FX's programming and viewers aged 25–54, respectively. The channel was launched alongside the new tagline, "Fearless", that was implemented during 2013 across the channels of FX Networks. These announcements were part of FX Networks' plans to further distinguish itself from the "sameness" of free-to-air television and its "endless imitators" on subscription TV. Also that month, Fox Movie Channel changed its name back to FXM.
In June 2017, the 101-year-old actress Olivia de Havilland filed a lawsuit against FX Networks and producer Ryan Murphy for inaccurately portraying her and using her likeness without permission. On March 26, 2018, a California appeals court threw out the lawsuit on First Amendment grounds.
Expanding from the FX-BBC co-production of Taboo, in October 2018 FX agreed to give the BBC UK rights to all future and select current FX original scripted shows.
On December 14, 2017, the Walt Disney Company announced that it would acquire 21st Century Fox, including FX Networks, LLC. The acquisition was completed on March 20, 2019. In a September 2018 interview with Variety of the Disney-Fox deal, Landgraf said, "I think this is a necessary step. I have curiosity and a bit of anxiety about how it will work, but I'm really excited about it.
In 2017, Comcast launched FX+; the service was shut down on August 20, 2019, with four shows shifting premieres to Hulu. FX programming was moved to Hulu as "FX on Hulu" on March 2, 2020, with a limited number of shows.
In April 2025, Disney announced that it would not renew its lease with Fox Corporation and that it would vacate the Fox Studio Lot in Century City at the end of 2025. As a result, FX Networks will relocate to the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.
The channel prided itself on its interactivity with viewers. fX, in 1994, was an early adopter of the internet, embracing e-mail and the World Wide Web as methods of feedback. Most of the shows would feature instant responses to e-mailed questions, and one show, Backchat (hosted by Jeff Probst), was exclusively devoted to responding to viewer mail, whether sent through e-mail or traditional postal mail.
On January 1, 2012, Fox Movie Channel's programming was divided into two 12-hour blocks: its main programming schedule, from 3:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, was a commercial-free block retaining the older movies from the 20th Century Fox library. Another block, called FX Movie Channel, the other 12 hours consisted of an expanded slate of more recent feature films from Fox and some of the other film studios.
On March 27, 2013, Fox Entertainment Group announced that Fox Movie Channel would be fully rebranded under the FXM name and format. FX Movie Channel became the primary brand for the channel in September 2013; the classic film block retained the Fox Movie Channel name until June 9, 2014, when the block (which retains a commercial-free format) was renamed FXM Retro.
With the launch of the channel, first-run episodes of some of FX's original comedy series (such as It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell) were shifted over to FXX. At its launch, most providers that have agreements to carry FXX have placed the channel in extra-cost sports packages (despite being a general entertainment service) as an artifact of carriage deals with the previous holder of FXX's channel space, Fox Soccer; this has been resolved over time, with FX and FXX being located next to each other on some channel lineups.
Launched in January 2014, the service is also available through iOS, Android, Samsung and Windows 8 (later Windows 10) devices, Xbox One and Xbox 360, and the Roku streaming player. Although the service is available for free to subscribers of participating subscription television providers, shows available for streaming on FXNOW feature commercial interruption.
In November 2019, four shows were moved from Hulu: Devs, Mrs. America, A Teacher, and The Old Man. As part of the "first phase" (March 2–7, 2020), FX on Hulu rolled out with 40 current and library shows, with four original shows premiering on FX before being made available on Hulu the next day. Phase two began on April 15 with Mrs. America premiering along with two other original shows and a documentary series. The initial "FX on Hulu"-branded shows premiered on the FX cable network before being made available on Hulu the next day.
In December 2021, Disney began to phase out the "FX on Hulu" brand, resulting in the Hulu hub for FX and FXX programming being rebranded as simply "FX". Concurrently Disney began to use the FX label to promote its programs, especially in international markets on Disney+.
In parts of Europe, FX on Hulu programming is distributed through Star on Disney+; in Latin America, programming is available on its sister service Star+; and in India and parts of Southeast Asia, these programs are distributed by Disney+ Hotstar.
In Canada, almost all FX original programming premiere exclusively on the domestic versions of FX and FXX, as part of a previously established relationship between FX Networks and Rogers Sports and Media. Since the Star on Disney+ launch, all FX on Hulu original series also air on Disney+.
There was some of FX content not available on Disney+ Star in Australia due to an output deal with Binge and its parent Foxtel. It has started ending in April 2022 with its FX shows pulled and migrating to Disney+.
Networks and services
FX
FX Movie Channel
FXX
FXNOW
FX+
FX on Hulu
Programming
Devs Science fiction drama March 5, 2020 Miniseries Mrs. America Historical drama April 15, 2020 A Teacher Drama November 10, 2020 American Horror Stories Horror film Anthology series July 15, 2021 Pending Reservation Dogs Teen drama comedy drama August 9, 2021 Ended Science fiction drama September 13, 2021 Ended The Premise Anthology series September 16, 2021 Ended Under the Banner of Heaven True crime drama April 28, 2022 Miniseries Pistol Biographical drama May 31, 2022 The Bear Comedy drama June 23, 2022 Renewed The Patient Psychological thriller August 30, 2022 Miniseries Fleishman Is in Trouble Drama November 17, 2022 Kindred Science fiction drama December 13, 2022 Ended Great Expectations Period drama March 26, 2023 Miniseries Class of '09 Crime thriller May 10, 2023 Miniseries The Full Monty Comedy drama June 14, 2023 Miniseries A Murder at the End of the World Crime fiction November 14, 2023 Miniseries Shōgun Historical drama February 27, 2024 Renewed The Veil Spy fiction April 30, 2024 Miniseries Clipped Sports drama June 4, 2024 Say Nothing Historical drama political drama November 14, 2024 Dying for Sex Comedy drama April 4, 2025 Science fiction Horror film August 12, 2025 TBA Pending
FX Entertainment
FX Productions
International distribution
Unavailable programming
See also
Notes
External links
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