TLDR;
This video explores the history of the Fox Family Channel, from its origins as Pat Robertson's CBN to its rebranding and eventual sale to Disney. It covers the channel's programming strategies, financial struggles, and the controversies surrounding Pat Robertson.
- Pat Robertson's CBN evolved into The Family Channel, focusing on family-friendly content.
- The Family Channel was sold to News Corp and Saban, becoming Fox Family Channel, with a focus on younger, more contemporary families.
- Despite significant investment in original programming, Fox Family Channel struggled with ratings and financial issues.
- The channel was eventually sold to Disney and rebranded as ABC Family, later Freeform.
- Pat Robertson's 700 Club remained a part of the network due to a contractual obligation, leading to controversies.
Intro [0:00]
The video introduces the concept of reinvention in the television industry, where networks often rebrand themselves to stay relevant. It sets the stage for discussing the Fox Family Channel, a network that took significant risks in the late 90s but ultimately failed to stand out.
Pat Robertson's Family Channel [0:39]
In 1960, Pat Robertson purchased a UHF TV station in Portsmouth, Virginia, and began preaching on air, establishing the 700 Club by 1963. By 1977, CBN was earning $5 million annually, enabling the launch of the CBN Satellite Service, the first nationwide cable network dedicated to religious programming. Robertson's son, Tim, expanded the channel's programming to include secular, family-friendly content, emulating the traditional big three networks. By the late 1980s, the network became too profitable to remain non-profit, leading to the creation of International Family Entertainment (IFE) as a parent company, and CBN was rebranded as The Family Channel. Robertson's increasing focus on conservative culture culminated in a presidential run in 1988. By the early 90s, The Family Channel had 48 million subscribers, surpassing the Disney Channel's 5 million.
Saban/NewsCorp Partnership [4:46]
The Fox Kids Network, originally titled Fox Children's Network, launched in 1990 as a joint venture between News Corp and its local affiliates. Saban Entertainment, known for hits like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Goosebumps, became a key content provider. In 1996, the two entities merged to form Fox Kids Network Worldwide, jointly owned by News Corp and Saban, with ambitious expansion plans.
Launch of Fox Family Channel [5:41]
In June 1997, Tim and Pat Robertson sold International Family Entertainment to News Corp and Saban for $1.9 billion, renaming it Fox Family Worldwide. Former Nickelodeon executive Rich Cronin was appointed to head the network in 1998. Fox Family Channel launched on August 15th with a $500 million investment in programming, targeting younger, more contemporary families with a cutting-edge approach. The schedule included blocks like "Morning's Scramble," "The Captain's Treasure House," "Tic-Tac-Toons," and "The Basement," with original movies and animated series like Donkey Kong Country. The channel also continued the "25 Days of Christmas" and, contractually, "The 700 Club."
Ratings Struggles [9:44]
Less than a year after its launch, Fox Family Channel faced challenges. The network aimed to retain adult viewers while attracting new young viewers, but it experienced the worst of both worlds. Adult viewers left, and ratings among viewers aged 2 to 11 remained flat. Concerns arose when Rich Cronin cited The Simpsons as a template, leading to complaints from cable operators. Despite a significant investment in programming, the network lacked established shows to attract adult viewers. Prime-time ratings dipped by 36% compared to The Family Channel, and the network failed to meet promised ratings for advertisers.
Shakeups and Rebranding [15:04]
In May 2000, Rich Cronin stepped down as president, reportedly due to disagreements with Haim Saban over programming direction. Maureen Smith, former general manager for Fox Kids Network, took over and focused on attracting young viewers through adults. A new logo was introduced, and the network acquired Freaks and Geeks. The network vowed to take a "less is more" approach to original programming, including a Les Misérables miniseries and new series for the "13 Days of Halloween."
Dissolution of Fox Family Channel [17:22]
In December, Haim Saban announced he would sell his share of Fox Family Worldwide. News Corp had to either buy his share, find another buyer, or sell the network entirely. Despite adding Major League Baseball games and commissioning more TV movies, overall prime-time ratings had fallen by an average of 35% since its launch. In July 2001, The Walt Disney Company agreed to purchase Fox Family for $3 billion plus its debt load. The sale was finalized in October, and in November 2001, Fox Family Channel transitioned into ABC Family.
Pat Robertson Controversies [19:43]
Due to a contractual obligation, The 700 Club remained on the air. Pat Robertson continued to make controversial statements, such as calling for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in 2005 and attributing the 2010 Haitian earthquake to a pact with Satan. Despite ABC Family denouncing these comments, they could not cancel The 700 Club without Robertson's consent.
Conclusion [21:08]
The Fox Family Channel is recognized for its bold creation of innovative original series. Despite its short existence of three years, the network left its mark by attempting to build a schedule from the ground up rather than relying on second-run programming.