20th Television facts for kids
Logo used since 2020
|
|
|
Formerly
|
|
|---|---|
| Division | |
| Industry | Television production |
| Predecessors |
|
| Founded | March 15, 1949 |
| Headquarters |
,
United States
|
|
Key people
|
Karey Burke (president) |
| Products | Television programs |
| Parent | Disney Television Studios |
| Subsidiaries | New Regency Television International (50%) |
20th Television is an American company that makes TV shows. It's part of Disney Television Studios, which belongs to The Walt Disney Company. You might know it by its old names like TCF Television Productions or 20th Century-Fox Television.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment helps distribute the TV shows made by 20th Television. They put them on home media like DVDs and Blu-rays.
20th Television became part of The Walt Disney Company in 2019. This happened when Disney bought most of 21st Century Fox's businesses. In 2020, Disney changed the company's name to 20th Television. They removed "Fox" from the names of many companies they bought.
Contents
What 20th Television Does
20th Television creates many different types of TV shows. It has been doing this for a very long time!
Past TV Production Groups
Over the years, 20th Television has had different groups working under it. Here are a few:
- Fox Television Animation (1999–2020): This was an animation company that made cartoons. In 2020, Disney made it a separate company from 20th Television.
- Fox Circle Productions (1994–2005): This group made TV movies and original shows. It even had a smaller part called National Studios (1995–1998) that focused on TV movies.
The History of 20th Television
Let's look at how this famous TV company started and grew.
Early Years: TCF Television Productions (1949–1958)
The company started in 1949. Back then, it was called TCF Television Productions, Inc. It was created by 20th Century-Fox, a big movie studio. Many movie studios were starting to make TV shows at that time.
Its very first TV series was Crusade in Europe, which aired on ABC. For a few years, Fox didn't make another TV show.
In 1955, they launched The 20th Century-Fox Hour on CBS. This was after the success of ABC's show Disneyland. In 1956, Fox sold another show to CBS, My Friend Flicka. This show was based on the popular Flicka movies.
Later in 1956, Irving Asher, a successful film producer, became the general manager of TCF Television Productions. They also sold the TV show Broken Arrow to ABC.
In 1957, Fox worked with National Telefilm Associates (NTA). They made shows like How to Marry a Millionaire and Man Without a Gun. NTA helped distribute these shows.
Becoming 20th Century-Fox Television (1958–1989)
In 1958, the company changed its name to 20th Century-Fox Television. Martin Manulis joined as the head of television. Under his leadership, they created shows like Adventures in Paradise for ABC and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis for CBS.
In 1960, Roy Huggins joined the company. He helped develop shows like Margie and Follow the Sun. In 1961, William Self took over from Huggins.
By 1963, the company stopped producing new shows for a short time. But later that year, Irwin Allen, a successful movie producer, started working on TV shows for the studio.
The company started making prime-time shows again in 1964. Some of these included Peyton Place, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Daniel Boone. In 1965, they produced more new shows like Lost in Space and Batman, which was based on the popular comic book.
The late 1960s were a bit tough for Fox's TV unit. Many new shows didn't last long. However, The Felony Squad was a success. They also started making Saturday morning cartoons like Journey to the Center of the Earth with Filmation.
In 1969, Fox started distributing the game show Beat the Clock. The decade ended with new shows like Room 222 and Bracken's World.
The 1970s were also challenging, but the studio had some big hits. Nanny and the Professor and Arnie were modest successes. In 1972, they produced M*A*S*H for CBS. This show became incredibly popular and lasted for eleven seasons! Later, in 1979, they made Trapper John, M.D., which was also very popular.
In the 1980s, producer Glen A. Larson joined Fox. His first show, The Fall Guy, was a success. Other shows like 9 to 5 also did well, especially when shown again in syndication. In 1984, James L. Brooks and his company, Gracie Films, started working with 20th Century-Fox. This led to a long partnership.
The Murdoch Era and New Success (1985–1989)
In 1985, Steven Bochco joined 20th Century Fox Television. He created successful shows like the NBC crime drama L.A. Law. That same year, the sitcom Mr. Belvedere became a popular hit.
In 1986, Fox bought Metromedia, which included its TV stations. This helped Fox's TV business. They also introduced The Tracey Ullman Show, which was produced by Gracie Films for the new Fox network. This show later introduced The Simpsons, which became a huge success in 1989 and helped save Fox's TV unit.
20th Television as a Production Company (1989–1994)
In 1989, the TV production part of 20th Century Fox Television became a separate company called Twentieth Television Corporation. This was done to help the movie studio focus more on films.
For the 1989–90 season, 20th Television distributed shows from Steven Bochco Productions, like Doogie Howser, M.D.. They also introduced Alien Nation to the Fox network and continued with The Simpsons. In 1990, they launched the variety show In Living Color on Fox, which featured many talented stars.
In 1991, David E. Kelley, a producer, signed a deal with CBS and Twentieth Television. Their first show was Picket Fences, which started in 1992. Peter Roth joined 20th Television in 1992 and helped develop many shows.
In the 1993–94 season, Twentieth Television sold The X-Files to Fox. This show became very popular and successful, leading to many seasons and movies. That same season, they distributed NYPD Blue for ABC, which also lasted for many seasons.
Back to 20th Century Fox Television (1994–2019)
In 1994, Fox changed its TV production companies again. 20th Television focused on distributing shows, while making new TV shows went back under the 20th Century Fox Television name.
In 1995, David E. Kelley signed a new deal to produce TV series. This led to successful shows like ABC's The Practice and Fox's Ally McBeal. Chris Carter, who created The X-Files, also extended his contract and created Millennium.
In 1996, New World Communications was bought by Fox. This included its TV stations. In 1997, MTM Enterprises became part of 20th Century Fox Television. MTM was producing shows like The Pretender at the time.
In 2003, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox Television worked together to produce the first three Star Wars: Clone Wars series for Cartoon Network.
In 2006, TCFTV produced the first two shows for Fox's sister network, MyNetworkTV: Desire and Fashion House.
In 2012, 20th Century Fox Television was reorganized as a separate part of News Corporation. In 2014, the operations of Fox Broadcasting Company and 20th Century Fox Television merged into a new group called Fox Television Group.
Under Disney Television Studios
In March 2019, The Walt Disney Company bought 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Television, and Fox Television Animation. They became part of Disney Television Studios.
On January 17, 2020, Disney announced that the "Fox" name would be removed from many of the companies they bought.
On August 10, 2020, 20th Century Fox Television and 20th Television merged into one company. This was part of Disney's plan to reorganize its TV production units. Also in 2020, Disney announced that the Touchstone Television label would be combined with 20th Television.
Companies That Came Before
Several other companies became part of 20th Television over time.
20th Television (First Version)
 |
|
| Division | |
| Industry |
|
| Fate | Merged into Disney–ABC Domestic Television |
| Successors |
|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Defunct | August 10, 2020 |
| Headquarters |
,
United States
|
| Parent |
|
The first version of 20th Television was created in 1989. It handled the distribution and syndication of TV shows and movies from 20th Century Fox. Its job was to sell shows to different TV stations.
In 1994, this company focused more on syndication. The part that made new TV shows moved back under the 20th Century Fox name.
This company distributed almost all the shows and documentaries from the TV production unit. It also owned shows from other companies it had bought, like MTM Enterprises and Metromedia Producers Corporation.
On August 10, 2020, Disney announced that 20th Century Fox Television would be renamed 20th Television. The syndication part of the original 20th Television merged with Disney–ABC Domestic Television.
Touchstone Television
Touchstone Television was another American TV production company. It was part of Disney Television Studios. It started in 2014 when two other Fox companies merged. In mid-2020, it got its second name after Disney bought 21st Century Fox. On December 1, 2020, it merged with 20th Television.
MTM Enterprises
MTM Enterprises was an American company that made TV shows. It was started in 1969 by actress Mary Tyler Moore and her husband Grant Tinker. They created it to produce The Mary Tyler Moore Show for CBS. MTM made many successful TV shows in the 1970s and 1980s.
Four Star Television
Four Star Television was an American TV production company. It was founded in 1952 by famous Hollywood actors like Dick Powell and David Niven. They were inspired by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz who started their own company a year earlier.
Four Star made several popular shows in the early days of television. These included Four Star Playhouse, Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, and The Big Valley.
Shows Made by 20th Television
20th Television has produced a huge number of TV shows over the years. Some of its most famous productions include:
- M*A*S*H
- The Simpsons
- The X-Files
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Family Guy
- American Dad!
- Modern Family
- This Is Us
See Also
In Spanish: 20th Television para niños
- Disney General Entertainment Content
- 20th Television Animation
- ABC Signature
- Searchlight Television
- Touchstone Television
- FX Productions
- Disney Platform Distribution
- Disney–ABC Domestic Television
- Fox Entertainment
- Bento Box Entertainment
- MarVista Entertainment
