Overview

21st Century Fox was an American multinational mass media corporation formed in 2013 as the operational successor to the original News Corporation. The creation of the company followed a decision by its founder, Rupert Murdoch, and his board to divide large publishing and entertainment holdings into separate, more focused businesses. Over the remainder of the 2010s it operated a portfolio of film studios, television networks and international channels.

Formation and corporate structure

The 2013 split separated News Corporation's businesses so that the new 21st Century Fox retained film and broadcast operations while the publishing operations became a distinct public company. Publishing assets were spun off to form News Corp through a formal spin-off, and those publishing divisions are often described as the company’s publishing arm. The remainder continued as the successor on paper, keeping the original company’s corporate identity for broadcasting and motion picture activities such as broadcasting and movie operations.

Major assets and operations

21st Century Fox owned and managed a range of entertainment businesses that reached global audiences. Its principal assets included:

  • Fox Entertainment Group, the umbrella for many film and television properties.
  • The historic 20th Century Fox film studio and related production units.
  • Fox Broadcasting Company and other U.S. television networks that provided prime‑time and syndicated programming.
  • Television outlets and network operations represented by the Fox television network.
  • International pay‑TV and distribution operations such as Star India, which served markets across Asia.
  • Strategic partnerships, including content and channel arrangements like the collaboration with National Geographic.

Sale to The Walt Disney Company

In December 2017 The Walt Disney Company announced an agreement to acquire a large portion of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets. The transaction covered many of the studios and international businesses and was described as an acquisition of certain subsidiaries and units for approximately $52 billion. The deal required regulatory approvals in multiple jurisdictions and ultimately closed in March 2019, transferring a significant part of 21st Century Fox’s film libraries, production capacity and some international channels to Disney.

What remained and the successor companies

Not all businesses were included in the Disney transaction. A number of U.S. broadcast and news outlets remained outside the sale and continued under a reconfigured parent (commonly referred to in public reports as Fox Corporation). High‑profile properties such as the Fox Broadcasting Company and core cable news operations remained under separate ownership, while other divisions moved to their new corporate home. The separation produced two distinct corporate groups with different strategic priorities: one focused on publishing and news, the other on large‑scale global entertainment.

Legacy and significance

21st Century Fox’s brief independent history is notable for how it exemplified modern media consolidation and corporate restructuring. The company shepherded major creative brands and distribution networks through a period of technological change, streaming emergence and cross‑border mergers. Its assets have since been integrated into larger media ecosystems, reshaping film studio ownership, television distribution and international channel strategies. For further corporate filings and contemporaneous reporting, see select resources and corporate summaries: overview, industry context, historical background, leadership, broadcasting details, studio history, publishing notes, spin‑off documentation, News Corp follow‑on, entertainment group, broadcast network, television portfolio, international channels, Disney announcement, acquisition terms, subsidiary list, transaction value, strategic partnerships.