20th Television is an American live-action television production and distribution/syndication studio which serves as a division of Disney Television Studios, a unit of Walt Disney Television (both ultimately owned by The Walt Disney Company).
History[]
20th Television was formed in 1989 by Fox, Inc. (the News Corporation unit that oversaw 20th Century Fox at that time) in order to separate 20th Century Fox's television productions (which were previously handled by its 20th Century Fox Television division) from the movie studio in order to increase the latter's output.[1] During this time, 20th Television and 20th Century Fox served as two of Fox's four main units, along with the Fox Broadcasting Company and Fox Television Stations.[2] Following a 1994 restructuring of Fox's television production companies, 20th Television was refocused on syndication and "non-traditional programs"; its network television division was moved back to 20th Century Fox and retook the 20th Century Fox Television name.[3] 20th Television distributes almost all programming from the television production unit and its subsidiaries and the motion picture studio's output (and their own subdivisions).
In 1992, Greg Meidel became president of 20th Television, serving until 1995. Meidel was president of MyNetworkTV when he added 20th Television's same position to his responsibility in 2009.[4]
As part of the restructuring that stemmed from News Corporation spinning off its entertainment assets into 21st Century Fox, it was announced on July 8, 2013, that 20th Television will operate under the management of 20th Century Fox Television; it was previously under Fox Television Stations. As a result, the former company's president will now report to the latter's chairmen.[5]
Under Disney Television Studios[]
After the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by The Walt Disney Company on March 20, 2019, president Greg Meidel was laid off.[6]
On January 17, 2020, it was announced that the "Fox" name would be dropped from several of the Fox assets acquired by Disney. However, the renaming of 20th Century Fox Television, 20th Television, and Fox 21 Television Studios, as well as 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (became 20th Century Studios Home Entertainment) and Fox Networks Group International, was not made clear.[7]
On August 10, 2020, 20th Television and 20th Century Fox Television were merged into one entity as part of a restructuring plan by Disney regarding their television production units, the merged entity took the former's name to avoid branding confusion of then-current formed, Fox Corporation. Meanwhile, Fox 21 Television Studios was renamed Touchstone Television, restoring that division name after a sixteen-year dormancy. ABC Studios, which was previously known as the original Touchstone Television, will take the name ABC Signature, the name of that entity's cable and streaming production subsidiary.[8] Their old syndication and distribution arm was later absorbed into Disney Media Distribution and Disney-ABC Domestic Television which led to just a production company only.
On December 1, 2020, Disney announced that the Touchstone Television label would be sunset, with remaining operations merged into 20th Television.[9]
On March 30, 2021, 20th Television Animation has been spun-off from 20th Television as an animation division and founded its own television animation production company which make 20th Television became the live-action television productions company only.
On October 1, 2024, due to Disney’s several layoffs and effort-cuts into shifting television shows, ABC Signature was folded to 20th Television. There is not going to be a reincarnation for this defunct studio and no announcement was far to be made.[10]
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, 20th Television relocated to the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.[11][12]
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Horn, John (July 12, 1989). "20th Century Fox Restructures Film, Television Units", Associated Press. Retrieved on December 27, 2012.
- ↑ Harmetz, Aljean (1989-07-13). "A Revamping of Fox Film Puts Emphasis on Movies", The New York Times.
- ↑ "2 Named to Executive Posts in Fox TV Restructuring", Los Angeles Times (December 5, 1994). Retrieved on December 27, 2012.
- ↑ "Greg Meidel Joins Judge Judy Sheindlin's Company Queen Bee Productions", Deadline (May 30, 2019). Retrieved on June 7, 2019.
- ↑ "21st Century Fox Realigns TV Syndication, Distribution Biz Under 20th Century Fox TV" (July 8, 2013). Retrieved on January 21, 2018.
- ↑ "Fox Television President Greg Meidel Out As Disney-Fox Layoffs Continue", Deadline (March 21, 2019). Retrieved on June 7, 2019.
- ↑ Vary, Adam (January 17, 2020). "Disney Drops Fox Name, Will Rebrand as 20th Century Studios, Searchlight Pictures". Retrieved on January 23, 2020.
- ↑ https://deadline.com/2020/08/disney-television-studios-rebrand-three-studios-20th-television-abc-signature-touchstone-television-1203008722/
- ↑ https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/dana-walden-disney-tv-karey-burke-craig-erwich-1234843308/
- ↑ https://deadline.com/2024/10/abc-signature-shutdown-20th-television-1236104498/
- ↑ Disney to Vacate Fox Studio Lot By Year's End, Relocating to Burbank LaughingPlace.com
- ↑ Disney Moving Out Of The FOX Lot By The End Of The Year What's On Disney Plus (whatsondisneyplus.com).
External links[]
20th Television on Wikipedia- 20th Television on IMDb
- 20th Television on 𝕏
- 20th Television on Facebook
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