Tag: Fox Entertainment

Rob Wade becomes Fox Entertainment’s CEO

MUMBAI: US media company Fox’s executive chair & CEO Lachlan Murdoch has announced that Rob Wade has been appointed as CEO of Fox Entertainment effective immediately. Wade served as president, of alternative entertainment and specials.

In this role, Wade and his team will guide the media brand and content producer with Fox broadcast network as its centerpiece. Fox Entertainment includes an expanding portfolio of owned content studios, including animation house Bento Box Entertainment, TMZ, MarVista Entertainment and Studio Ramsay Global. Fox Entertainment also includes the in-house unscripted studio Fox Alternative Entertainment, scripted content creator Fox Entertainment Studios, Blockchain Creative Labs, and the worldwide content sales unit Fox Entertainment Global.

“Since the formation of Fox Entertainment, Rob has been an integral part of the leadership team responsible for delivering on its long-term strategy of creating an independent media company built on broadcast, developing an owned content portfolio and maintaining a disciplined in-house infrastructure,” said Murdoch. “Given Rob’s sharp creative instincts and proven operational acumen, he is well-suited to lead Fox Entertainment in what promises to be an exciting next chapter in its rich history.”

“I am honoured to be entrusted with leading Fox Entertainment into the future with an exceptionally talented team, whom I know very well, as we build and expand on FOX’s legacy of storytelling excellence, entrepreneurial energy and innovation. It’s a transformative time across the global entertainment landscape, presenting limitless opportunity and, above all, creativity, making the outlook ahead bright and exhilarating,” said Wade.

In his previous role, Wade had oversight of the network’s unscripted programming, specials and alternative development slate, as well as the company’s in-house production unit, Fox Alternative Entertainment (FAE).

During his tenure at Fox, the network has launched several hit unscripted series, including the singing competition The Masked Singer. This was followed by the guessing game-meets-baking competition Crime Scene Kitchen, Lego Masters and Next Level Chef.

Prior to joining Fox, Wade served as the showrunner on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and was the head of Entertainment Development at BBC Worldwide. He was also an executive producer on Fox’s The X Factor and NBC’s America’s Got Talent and was Syco Entertainment North America’s head of TV.

October 10, 2022
Fox Entertainment launches Unscripted Format Fund to identify IP for global market

Mumbai: Fox Entertainment and in-house studio Fox Alternative Entertainment launched an international unscripted format fund to look for Intellectual Property (IP) for the global marketplace.

The decision is part of Fox Entertainment’s strategy to build and diversify its portfolio of content and revenue streams, said CEO Charlie Collier as he made the announcement on Friday. It will invest in and develop internationally originated unscripted program concepts ranging from reality-competition and variety series to other genres for platforms.

“Fox has long been a global leader in alternative programming. This enviable track record of more than three decades of success brings with it great expectations to remain as the world’s preeminent platform in the genre,” said Colier. “This fund presents us with the opportunity to continue identifying and curating formats that fulfil several key objectives: diversify our slate of owned content, expand Fox’s interests globally, and better serve our platform partners.”

Alternative Entertainment president Rob Wade who leads the Specials for Fox Entertainment will be responsible for overseeing the fund. FAE will co-produce series selected by the fund with each series’ partner, in order to provide cost-effective programming to local broadcasters.

FAE was formed in 2019 to oversee the production of Fox’s hit singing competition series and TV’s prime time programme – ‘The Masked Singer’. In addition to the ‘Masker Singer’, it produced ‘I Can See Your Voice’, last season’s top unscripted program, ‘The Masked Dancer’, ‘Name That Tune’, and Fox’s New Year’s Eve Toast and Roast 2021, as well as co-produces ‘Ultimate Tag’.

September 25, 2021
Now blockchain & NFTs come to TV

MUMBAI: For all those naysayers and fence-sitters, it is here and it is now. Blockchain and cryptocurrency are coming to the broadcast television business. US TV network Fox has announced the formation of a new non-fungible token (NFT) company called Blockchain Creative Labs. The new firm will create NFTs based on the intellectual properties it owns. Fox Entertainment CEO Charlie Collier announced this at the advertiser targeted Upfronts on Monday.

NFTs, which exist on blockchain – a digital ledger similar to the networks that underpin bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies – notched up $1.5 billion in sales in just the first quarter of 2021. Each NFT is unique, cannot be duplicated, and is equivalent to an ownership deed to digital or physical artwork, music, or digital collectibles such as IPL 2021’s best video moments. Of course, someone else may have an image or copy of the piece, but that’s not the original which of course has a big-ticket price.

They have become all the rage nowadays following the success of digital artist Mike Winkelmann aka Beeple, who sold an NFT for $69 million. They are not restricted to just art; they have extended to sports collectibles, highlight show reels, augmented reality sneakers, music, and even digital cats.

Fox is getting into the NFT game in the hope of monetizing its properties beyond television (in the crypto world) where the major revenue sources are advertising, or pay-TV, or syndication.

Blockchain Creative Labs’ first attempt at exploring the potential of TV show characters and properties is going to be with Krapopolis, an animated comedy series set in mythical ancient Greece, which is being directed by Ricky and Morty and Community creator Dan Harmon.

Fox says that its marketplace “will curate and sell digital goods, ranging from NFTs of one-of-a-kind character and background art, and gifs, as well as tokens that provide exclusive social experiences to engage and reward super fans.”

Addressing the advertiser-dominated audience during the upfronts, Collier said that as “an advertiser-focused, artist-first and animation-obsessed company, Fox is going to take advertisers into the world of blockchain-powered tokens, including NFTs…we will also help your brands connect directly with fans and enthusiasts through NFTs.”

Will other broadcasters and networks also take the plunge? Will it inspire Indian media players to explore this space? These are cryptic questions.

May 18, 2021
21st Century Fox brings popular shows to connected devices with FXNOW app

MUMBAI: It’s been some time that industry pundits predicted the rise and rise of the online viewing and now gradually it seems to be becoming a reality. Considering the growth potential of the sector, the Twenty-First Century Fox (FOXA_) has started the rollout of its “TV Everywhere” app – FXNOW that will bring ad-supported shows to multiple devices for subscribers to supported cable providers.

The app will have programs from FX, FXX and FXM, and will be available to about half of the pay-TV subscribers who receive the channels at home on devices including the iPhone, Android phones, and Xbox One. The app includes shows such as Archer, Chozen, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Wilfred and The Americans. It will also include episodes of upcoming shows such as The Strain and Fargo.

The Los Angeles-based network made the announcement today. Viewers will also have an access to 45 to 60 movies a month besides the original programming.

Since the app is ad-supported, the company has an advantage as it would also generate revenues. The customers of AT&T’s U-verse, Comcast, Cablevision, and Suddenlink are among those that can access the service, while negotiations are still under way to add more Pay-TV operators.

As more and more international companies are realising the business potential of the online-viewing platform, hope the Indian companies come up with more streaming options soon.

January 15, 2014
RIP pilot season, says Fox entertainment chairman

MUMBAI: American commercial broadcasting television network, FOX, owned by News. Corp. will be abandoning the traditional pilot season and will focus on developing new TV shows all year round.

At the 2014 Television Critics Association Press Tour, 21st Century Fox Inc.’s Fox Broadcasting chairman of entertainment Keith Reilly explained that the outdated “pilot season” process just doesn’t work for TV anymore. Reilly opened his executive session with a R.I.P. sign “FOX Pilot Season 1986-2013? and stated that the network will not adhere to the traditional pilot season starting this year.

“We are going to be bypassing pilot season,” he said, later referring to the old system as “a welfare state.” “The broadcast development system was built in different era with three networks and is highly inefficient. It is nothing short of a miracle talent can still produce anything of quality in that environment,” which he said includes ordering a ton of pilots, then screening them and making a decision over a two-week period, with the producers of the newly picked up series tasked with delivering a series on the air in six weeks.

Pilot season came into existence not long after Philo Farnsworth in 1927 invented television, and is the beat that the television industry marches to. Networks fight it out for the best talent in front of and behind the cameras and then parade the end result to advertisers in glitzy presentations over the course of one week in New York City.

“We’ve been trying to do away with pilot season for a long time at FOX,” said Reilly. “The broadcast scheduling process was built for a different era when there were three networks that had a near monopoly. We don’t live in that age anymore.”

FOX will still participate in television’s so-called upfront presentations to advertisers in May, where networks present new shows to marketers.

January 15, 2014
American Idol judge Paula Abdul signs new multi year deal

MUMBAI: Pop star Paula Abdul has agreed to continue her role as a fan-favourite judge on US broadcaster Fox’s show American Idol for at least three more years

Fox Entertainment president Peter Ligouri says, “Paula is an integral member of the Amerian Idol family, and we are excited to have her continue as the show’s beloved judge. As someone who rose to the top of the charts as a solo artist, she has unique insights into the contestants’ hopes, dreams and fears.”

In India, the show airs on Star World. Fox executive VP special programming Mike Darnell says, “Paula’s warm and nurturing nature is vital to the balance of the show. We are thrilled to have her alongside – or actually in between – Randy and Simon”.

Abdul said, “It is truly an honour to be a part of the American Idol phenomenon. As an artist myself, it is a pleasure to have a connection with each of the contestants and be able to fully support their dreams and aspirations. They truly inspire and amaze me each week. Of course, I also look forward to putting Simon in his place for years to come.”

April 1, 2006