Disney kills off the Fox name: Conglomerate renames 20th Century Fox Television and replaces iconic title card that dates from the 1940s as it further distances itself from the Murdoch empire
- Disney on Monday finalized the name change for 20th Century Fox Television
- Company acquired most 21st Century Fox assets in 2017 for $71 billion
- Movie studio arm was already rebranded 20th Century Studios in January
- Now the TV arm owned by Disney will simply be known as 20th Television
The Walt Disney Company has purged the remaining Fox branding from assets it acquired in a 2017 deal, renaming 20th Century Fox Television as simply 20th Television.
It comes as part of a larger rebrand for all of Disney’s TV studios, with Fox 21 Television Studios renamed Touchstone Television and ABC Studios and subsidiary ABC Signature merging under the ABC Signature banner.
The new 20th Television logo will debut in new seasons of The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Dad and Bob’s Burgers, among others.
The move appears to be aimed at limiting confusion of Disney’s assets with Fox Corporation, which exists separately and owns television assets such as Fox Broadcasting, Fox Sports and Fox News.
Disney has renamed 20th Century Fox Television as simply 20th Television
‘Our new studio names and logos mark a new day for ABC Signature, 20th Television and Touchstone Television while honoring their rich histories and the creative power of the Walt Disney Co,’ said Disney TV Studios president Craig Hunegs.
The 20th Century Fox Television name dates back 71 years ago to 1949.
In 1989, it spun-off a ’20th Television’ division, mostly for syndication of various shows. Now he two divisions will merge under the ’20th Television’ banner.
Disney acquired most 21st Century Fox assets in 2017 for $71 billion.
In January, Disney renamed the movie studio arm as 20th Century Studios, which served to help avoid brand confusion with the Fox Corporation.
At the time, the move was viewed as a way to distance the Disney-owned assets from the Murdoch family-owned Fox Corporation.
Rupert Murdoch is seen with his sons Lachlan Murdoch (L) and James Murdoch (R) in 2016
The new 20th Television logo is seen above after Disney rebranded the unit on Monday
The original 20th Century Fox Television brand dates back 71 years ago to 1949
‘I think the Fox name means Murdoch, and that is toxic,’ one insider told Variety of the decision in January.
It’s unclear why Disney chose to go with the name 20th Television rather than 20th Century Television to mirror the change to the studio arm.
The well known logo and title card, which has the words 20th Television stacked above spotlights, will stay the same minus the excluded words ‘Century Fox.’
Lachlan Murdoch is now the CEO of Fox Corp. and his father remains the chairman.
James Murdoch last month resigned from the board of News Corporation, citing ‘disagreements over certain editorial content’ published by the media empire’s news outlets.