21st Century Fox

21st Century Fox
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Name	21st Century Fox
Type	Public
Industry	Media conglomerate
Fate	Partial acquisition by The Walt Disney Company; remaining assets renamed Fox Corporation
Founded	2013
Founder	Rupert Murdoch
Headquarters	Brooklyn Heights, New York City
Key people	Rupert Murdoch; James Murdoch; Lachlan Murdoch
Products	Film production, Television broadcasting, Cable television, Pay television

21st Century Fox was an American multinational mass media corporation formed in 2013 as the successor to News Corporation (1980–2013). Established by Rupert Murdoch and his family, the company controlled a portfolio of film studios, television networks, and cable assets, operating across United States, United Kingdom, Australia, India, and other markets until a transformative merger with The Walt Disney Company in 2019 and subsequent reorganization that created Fox Corporation. The company’s legacy includes major studios, news outlets, and sports networks that played prominent roles in global entertainment industry and mass media markets.

History

21st Century Fox was created following the 2013 split of News Corporation (1980–2013), which separated publishing assets such as HarperCollins and The Sun from broadcast and film holdings including 20th Century Fox and Fox News Channel. The restructuring followed strategic shifts seen in conglomerates like Time Warner and Viacom and responded to digital disruption exemplified by Netflix and Amazon (company). Early corporate maneuvers included asset rationalizations similar to past media reorganizations like News Corporation’s handling of The Wall Street Journal and international negotiations reminiscent of Rupert Murdoch’s dealings with British Sky Broadcasting. The company pursued growth through acquisitions and investments in markets served by entities such as Star India and Sky plc.

Corporate structure and leadership

Leadership centered on the Murdoch family, primarily Rupert Murdoch as executive chairman and his sons James Murdoch and Lachlan Murdoch in senior roles. The board included executives with ties to firms such as 21st Century Fox’s historical peers like Comcast and The Walt Disney Company executives. Corporate governance practices echoed standards from exchanges such as New York Stock Exchange and regulatory engagement with agencies like the Federal Communications Commission and the Competition and Markets Authority. Financial oversight involved banks and advisers including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and legal counsel with experience before courts like the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Major assets and subsidiaries

The company’s portfolio encompassed legacy studios and broadcasting networks. Key film and television assets included 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox Television Group, and production labels such as Blue Sky Studios and licensees tied to franchises like X-Men (film series) and Avatar (franchise). Cable and broadcast properties featured Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, and regional sports networks such as Fox Sports Net. International holdings included Star India and stakes in distribution networks linked to Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland before the 2018–2019 acquisition of assets by The Walt Disney Company and the carve-out leading to Fox Corporation.

Film and television production

21st Century Fox’s studios produced and distributed major film franchises and television series. 20th Century Fox released titles involving collaborations with filmmakers associated with James Cameron, Ridley Scott, and George Lucas-era properties, while Fox Searchlight Pictures focused on independent and art-house films similar to releases tied to festivals such as Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. Television production units generated series for broadcast and cable, with programming appearing alongside series from competitors like CBS and NBCUniversal. Distribution networks managed theatrical releases, home entertainment partnerships with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment-era distributors, and licensing to streaming platforms including Hulu and Netflix.

News and cable networks

The company’s news operations were anchored by Fox News Channel, a national cable outlet with high-profile personalities and programming that frequently intersected with political events such as 2016 United States presidential election and debates involving figures from Republican Party and Democratic Party. Business news was covered by Fox Business Network, while regional sports coverage was provided through Fox Sports Net and national broadcasts via Fox Sports. International news channels and local affiliates operated under regulatory regimes in jurisdictions including United Kingdom and Australia, engaging with media regulators like the Australian Communications and Media Authority and Britain’s Ofcom.

Mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures

21st Century Fox pursued strategic deals including attempts to acquire assets such as Sky plc and negotiations that drew interest from conglomerates like Comcast and The Walt Disney Company. The landmark transaction was the acquisition by The Walt Disney Company in 2019 of major assets including 20th Century Fox, FX Networks, and National Geographic Partners, while remaining holdings such as Fox Corporation retained broadcast network and news properties. Earlier transactions involved regional sales and the sale of film divisions comparable to historical deals executed by firms like Sony Pictures Entertainment and Paramount Global.

Controversies and legal issues

The company and its predecessors faced controversies including the News International phone hacking scandal ramifications, journalistic ethics debates implicating outlets such as The Sun and legal exposures before courts like the High Court of Justice (England and Wales). Fox News Channel encountered high-profile legal challenges and settlements related to on-air commentary and personnel disputes involving figures who engaged with legal counsel from firms active in media litigation. Regulatory scrutiny over proposed mergers invoked antitrust review by bodies such as the United States Department of Justice and the European Commission, and workplace allegations led to internal investigations akin to probes in other media corporations that prompted executive departures.

Category:Defunct companies of the United States Category:Mass media companies of the United States