At Television Critics Association Meeting in Pasadena, Disney’s Deal with Fox is All the Buzz

Executives at Fox, the TV content producer, said Thursday during the Television Critics Association Meeting at the Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena it would be “business as usual” for many of their assets in the next year and a half as Disney finalizes its acquisition of some of these assets.

Dana Walden and Gary Newman, Fox Chairmen and CEOs, were quick to address potentially nagging questions about Fox’s future during the opening event of the 2018 Press Tour at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say there wasn’t anxiety that week the deal was announced,” Newman said, in a report by NewBay Media’s Broadcasting and Cable. “All of us talked with many of our producers about it, and I think that we assured them that this is going to be business as usual.”

In December, Disney said it was acquiring 20th Century Fox’s movie and television studios along with channels FX, FXX, and National Geographic, and Fox’s 22 regional sports networks.

Fox News Channel, Fox Business Channel, Fox Sports and Fox O&Os will all be spun off into what will be call the “New Fox,” the report said.

After the initial 12 to 18 months, however, the Fox executives said they wouldn’t know what could happen.

“The truth is we really don’t know,” said Newman. “But I will tell you that we remain super committed to the network and studio.”

Walden added she thinks there’s still so much to be done and they remain “incredibly committed” to their team. Earlier in the session, Walden also said Fox shows wouldn’t be moving to ABC.

Fox will still be fielding questions in Friday’s session of the Winter Press Tour.