Disney is updating the names of its three TV studios, streamlining its ABC sector and altogether omitting the 'Fox' name from both 20th Century Fox Television and Fox 21 Television Studios. Disney's been snapping up studios for years, and in early 2019, the company acquired 21st Century Fox. That included 20th Century Fox's film and TV studios, but not any of the Fox TV stations—namely news and sports—which were separated pre-acquisition into the Fox Corporation.
It's a confusing repetition of names, which is likely why Disney decided to remove 'Fox' from every studio under its umbrella. In January 2020, Disney switched up its film studio names, making 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures simply 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures, respectively. Now, according to Variety, Disney is following suit by rebranding its TV studios. 20th Century Fox Television is becoming 20th Television, while Fox 21 Television Studios is changing to Touchstone Television. Disney is also merging ABC Studios with ABC Signature, its subsidiary, to a joint ABC Signature.
The decision to remove 'Fox' was agreed upon in the 2019 acquisition and will be effective immediately. However, the changes—including new logos—are not expected to take full effect until the end of 2020. On a note of constancy, the leadership of the three studios has not changed. Current ABC Studios president Jonnie Davis is heading up ABC Signature, with Carolyn Cassidy continuing to run 20th Television and Bert Salke leading Touchstone. This makes it clear that while the names are changing, the brands will continue putting out the same work.
If the name Touchstone rings a bell, that's because it comes from the Disney-owned television brand that retired in 2007. Resurrecting that title bridges a gap between the old and new, bringing heritage Walt Disney closer to the new era of the media giant. It's just one more step in solidifying Disney as a one-stop-shop for all your film and TV needs.
Source: Variety
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