Editing Fox Broadcasting Company (section)

=== 2018–present: Sale of studios to Disney, focus on non-scripted and sports programming ===
On July 27, 2018, in a deal first announced December 2017, and completed March 20, 2019,<ref name="spinoffdate-variety">{{cite web |last1=Littleton |first1=Cynthia |title=Disney Sets March 20 Closing Date for 21st Century Fox Acquisition |url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/disney-march-20-close-21st-century-fox-acquisition-1203161135/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=March 15, 2019 |language=en |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> 21st Century Fox shareholders agreed to [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|sell most of its key assets]] (including [[20th Century Fox]] and [[FX Networks]]) to [[The Walt Disney Company]] for $71.3&nbsp;billion, following the spin-off of certain businesses. The sale did not include the Fox Broadcasting Company and television stations or the Fox Sports, Fox News, and Fox Business cable channels, which were to be maintained under a company tentatively referred to as "[[Fox Corporation|New Fox]]".<ref name="Disney - Fox deal approved">{{cite web|last1=Hayes|first1=Dade|last2=Chmielewski|first2=Dawn|title=Disney And Fox Shareholders Give Historic Merger Votes Of Approval|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/disney-fox-shareholders-give-historic-merger-vote-of-approval-1202434925/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 27, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/shareholders-approve-disneys-acquisition-of-fox-entertainment-assets-1532701190|title=Shareholders Approve Walt Disney Deal for 21st Century Fox Assets|last1=Schwartzel|first1=Erich|last2=Hagey|first2=Keach|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=July 27, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018}}</ref> Because Disney already owns the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), the acquisition of the Fox network by Disney would have been illegal under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s rules prohibiting a merger between any of the four major broadcast networks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Ted|title=A Disney-Fox Deal Would Land at an Uncertain Moment for DOJ Review of Big Media|url=https://variety.com/2017/politics/news/disney-fox-antitrust-1202631193/|work=Variety|date=December 5, 2017|access-date=December 15, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215111505/http://variety.com/2017/politics/news/disney-fox-antitrust-1202631193/|archive-date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> As a result of the Disney/Fox deal, and with the [[2019 merger of CBS and Viacom|merger of CBS and Viacom]] on December 4, 2019, Fox has become the only major U.S. broadcast network without attachment to any [[film studio]].

It was acknowledged that Fox had placed a larger emphasis on its sports programming in its first upfronts since the deal was announced, including the acquisitions of the NFL's ''[[Thursday Night Football]]'' package and rights to the [[FIFA World Cup]]. It was also noted that Fox had been increasingly pivoting towards programs that could generate large audiences, as opposed to ones that become successful primarily through critical acclaim. On June 27, 2018, [[WWE]] announced that ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]'' would move to Fox on Friday nights beginning October 4, 2019, following its run on [[USA Network]], under a five-year contract valued at $205&nbsp;million per-year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-wwe-close-five-year-deal-bring-smackdown-network-1123487|title=Fox and WWE Close Five-Year Deal to Bring 'SmackDown' to Network|last=Guthrie|first=Marisa|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 27, 2018|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2018/06/27/wwe-fox-smackdown-live-usa-monday-night-raw-five-year-deal|title=Cord cutting, millennials can't stop Vince McMahon and WWE|last=Traina|first=Jimmy|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=June 27, 2018|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/05/15/what-the-fox-television-network-could-look-like-after-the-disney-acquisition/|title=Analysis {{!}} What the Fox television network could look like after the Disney acquisition|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2018-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/tv-video/until-foxs-post-disney-future-becomes-clearer-some-tv-writers-may-keep-their-distance/|title=Until Fox's Post-Disney Future Becomes Clearer, Some TV Writers May Keep Their Distance|work=Adweek|access-date=2018-07-30|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/fox-broadcasting-future-murdoch-shakeup-1202809801/|title=Fox Broadcasting Faces Radical Changes — and No One Knows the End Result|last=Holloway|first=Daniel|date=2018-05-15|work=Variety|access-date=2018-07-30|language=en-US}}</ref> The network also began to increase its non-scripted output, announcing the new celebrity music competition series ''[[The Masked Singer (American TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'' (based on the South Korean format ''[[King of Mask Singer]]''), and the new game shows ''[[Mental Samurai]]'' and ''[[Spin the Wheel (game show)|Spin the Wheel]]'' for the 2018–19 season.<ref name="deadline-newfoxindie"/>

In August 2018, Fox Television Group CEO Dana Walden stated that the network planned to commission and acquire more series from "independent" studios not co-owned with the Big Three networks, explaining that the [[vertical integration]] of the major broadcast networks (including Fox itself) with associated studios had limited opportunities for outside studios, and cited several top programs that were distributed by third-parties, such as ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'' and ''[[This Is Us]]'' (produced by [[Warner Bros. Television]] and 20th Television for CBS and NBC respectively). There were also plans for Fox to acquire new pitches directly from their writers, and offer them to outside producers. As part of the transition, Fox aimed to gradually reduce the amount of scripted programming development coming from 20th Television, although stalwarts such as ''The Simpsons'' would remain with the network.<ref name="deadline-newfoxindie">{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/new-fox-plans-independent-studios-program-ownership-tca-dana-walden-gary-newman-1202438665/|title=Fox Bosses Lay Out "New Fox" Plans To Court Independent Studios, Take Program Ownership – TCA|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2018-08-02|work=Deadline|access-date=2018-08-02|language=en-US}}</ref>

Following the completion of the sale, network head Dana Walden became chairwoman of Disney Television Studios and ABC Entertainment. [[AMC (TV network)|AMC]] president Charlie Collier succeeded Gary Newman as chairman and CEO of Fox on November 1, 2018. Newman was expected to temporarily remain with Fox in a transitional role, to oversee the corporate transition.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/amcs-charlie-collier-run-fox-network-gary-newman-exit-1154001|title=AMC's Charlie Collier to Run Fox Network; Gary Newman to Exit|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/business/media/fox-network-charlie-collier.html|title=Fox Network Is Replacing Chief With Charlie Collier of AMC|work=The New York Times|date=October 20, 2018 |access-date=2018-11-22|language=en|last1=Koblin |first1=John }}</ref><ref name=nov16bombshell>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/channing-dungey-abc-karey-burke-1203031129/|title=Channing Dungey Exits ABC; Karey Burke Named Network President|last=Holloway|first=Daniel|date=2018-11-16|work=Variety|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/channing-dungey-exits-abc-karey-burke-take-as-entertainment-president-1162211|title=Channing Dungey Exits ABC; Karey Burke to Take Over as Entertainment President|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/disney-fox-peter-rice-dana-walden-analysis-1202972856/|title=Analysis: Peter Rice, Dana Walden Tasked With Forging New Path for Production at Enlarged Disney |last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=2018-10-08|work=Variety|access-date=2018-11-22|language=en-US}}</ref> The start of 2019 saw ''The Masked Singer'' premiere to Fox's highest ratings for a non-scripted premiere without an NFL lead-in since 2011, and record the largest-ever Nielsen ratings gain for a non-scripted series after three days of delayed viewership.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/masked-singer-ratings-1203101918/ |title='The Masked Singer' Scores Biggest Live+3 Lift Ever for Unscripted Series|last=Holloway|first=Daniel|date=2019-01-07|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref><ref name= "deadline-maskedsingerpremiere">{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-masked-singer-premiere-hippo-wins-wednesday-ratings-1202528469/|title='The Masked Singer' Hippo Reveal Marks Best Unscripted Series Launch In 7 Years|website=Deadline|access-date= 2019-01-14 |date=January 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/live-plus-7-ratings-week-of-dec-31-masked-singer-1203114367/|title=Live+7 Ratings for Week of Dec. 31: 'Masked Singer' Premiere Grows by 40 Percent|last=Otterson |first= Joe |date= 2019-01-22|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-01-28}}</ref> On January 30, 2019, Fox ordered a second season, while the first-season finale saw an average audience of 11.5&nbsp;million viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/masked-singer-season-finale-ratings-1203151933/|title=TV Ratings: 'Masked Singer' Dominates With Season Finale|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date= 2019-02-28 |website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/the-masked-singer-renewed-season-2-fox-1202545353/|title='The Masked Singer' Renewed For Season 2 By Fox|last=Petski|first=Denise|date= 2019-01-30 |website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref>

With the completion of Disney's purchase the next day, the "New Fox" entity, officially named Fox Corporation, formally began trading on March 19, 2019.<ref name="spinoffdate-variety"/> At its 2019–20 upfronts, Fox announced 10 new scripted series for the upcoming season, with three (''[[Almost Family]]'', ''[[Bless the Harts]]'', and ''[[Prodigal Son (TV series)|Prodigal Son]]'') slated for the fall lineup, as well as the second and third seasons of ''The Masked Singer'' — scheduled for October 2019 and February 2020 respectively (with the latter premiering [[List of Super Bowl lead-out programs|after]] [[Super Bowl LIV]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/fox-2019-20-schedule-masked-singer-1203212653/|title=Fox 2019–20 Schedule Loads Up for Midseason as Network Juggles Scripted and Sports|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=2019-05-13|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/fox-masked-singer-super-bowl-1203212682/|title=Fox Will Place 'Masked Singer' After Super Bowl|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=2019-05-13|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/2019-upfronts-season-fox-volume-greg-berlanti-1203212826/|title=2019 Upfronts Season: New Fox Makes a Statement, Volume Holds Nearly Steady|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=2019-05-13|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-05-14}}</ref> Fox also established a new in-house studio, Fox Alternative Entertainment, for investments in non-scripted formats. It is led by Rob Wade, while its first production was the [[The Masked Singer (American season 2)|second season]] of ''The Masked Singer'' (after season 1 was produced by [[Endemol Shine North America]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/fox-launching-unscripted-studio-masked-singer-1209087|title=Fox Launching Unscripted Studio With 'The Masked Singer' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 9, 2019|language=en|access-date=2019-08-17}}</ref>

''Thursday Night Football'' finished as the second highest-rated series of the 2018–19 television season in the [[key demographic]], behind only ''Sunday Night Football'', while ''The Masked Singer'' finished tied for third with ''The Big Bang Theory'' and ''This Is Us''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=June 10, 2019|title=2018–19 TV Season: Live-Plus-7 Ratings for Every Broadcast Series|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/live-7-ratings-broadcast-tv-series-2018-19-1217293|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527085042/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/live-7-ratings-broadcast-tv-series-2018-19-1217293|archive-date=May 27, 2020|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In the 2019–20, ''Thursday Night Football'' and ''The Masked Singer'' once again finished as the second and third highest-rated programs in the key demographic, and Fox finished the season as the highest-rated network among viewers 18–49 (with CBS leading in overall viewers).<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mitovich |first1=Matt Webb |date=2020-05-15 |title=Fox Wins 2019–20 TV Season in Demo, CBS Tops Viewers for 12th Straight Year |url=https://tvline.com/2020/05/15/ratings-tv-season-2019-2020-rankings-fox-911-masked-singer/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=TVLine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="S2/3AvgRatings">{{cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|date=June 4, 2020|title=TV Ratings: 7-Day Season Averages for Every 2019–20 Broadcast Series|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-7-day-season-averages-2019-20-broadcast-series-1297228|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606003358/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tv-ratings-7-day-season-averages-2019-20-broadcast-series-1297228|archive-date=June 6, 2020|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Fox repeated this victory in the 2020–21 season, but was narrowly beaten by NBC for 2021–22 by a tenth of a ratings share.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-05 |title=2021–22 TV Season Program Rankings: 'Sunday Night Football', 'This Is Us' Final Chapter & 'NCIS' Lead Top 40 |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/2021-22-tv-season-rankings-nbc-football-this-is-us-ncis-win-top-40-1235037095/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2022, Collier stepped down to join [[Roku, Inc.|Roku]], with Rob Wade promoted to president and CEO of Fox Entertainment.<ref name=":0" /> That season, Fox would lose ''Thursday Night Football'' to [[Amazon Prime Video]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |title=Amazon Prime Video to be exclusive 'TNF' home starting in 2022 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/amazon-prime-video-to-be-exclusive-tnf-home-starting-in-2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503170419/https://www.nfl.com/news/amazon-prime-video-to-be-exclusive-tnf-home-starting-in-2022 |archive-date=2021-05-03 |access-date=2021-05-03 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2023, Fox dropped its procedural drama ''[[9-1-1 (TV series)|9-1-1]]'' after six seasons. It had been the network's scripted tentpole since 2018. As a 20th Television production, ABC would subsequently pick up the series for a seventh season. Its spin-off ''[[9-1-1: Lone Star]]'' would remain on Fox for the time being, with a renewal for a fifth season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2023-05-01 |title='9–1–1' Moving From Fox To ABC For Season 7 |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/9-1-1-canceled-fox-move-abc-season-7-1235351504/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2023-05-01 |title='9–1–1: Lone Star' Renewed For Season 5 By Fox |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/9-1-1-lone-star-renewed-season-5-fox-1235351506/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2024, it was announced that ''9-1-1: Lone Star'' would conclude after its fifth season; it was the last 20th Television-produced drama to still air on the network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2024-09-05 |title='9-1-1: Lone Star' To End With Season 5 On Fox |url=https://deadline.com/2024/09/911-lone-star-canceled-final-season-5-1236077828/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> Fox would lose ''SmackDown'' to [[USA Network]] in September 2024; as a replacement, Fox would begin a strategy of regular sports programming on Friday nights, beginning with a package of primetime college football games. The new package would leverage Fox's contract extension with the [[Big Ten Conference]], which included options for the network to carry Friday-night games after the addition of west coast teams to the conference.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crupi |first=Anthony |date=2024-06-14 |title=Friday Night Lights: Fox Primed for New College Football Window |url=https://www.sportico.com/business/media/2024/fox-friday-college-football-window-replaces-wwe-1234784120/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=Sportico.com |language=en-US}}</ref>