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indiantelevision.com Team
MUMBAI: News Corp is launching FXX, a network for young adults, on 2 September in the US market.
The channel will replace Fox Soccer, which lost the EPL rights. With the addition of FXX, FX Networks will become a suite of three networks consisting of FX, FXX and FXM.
Fox Soccer?s matches, including the Uefa Champions League fixtures, will be transferred to Fox Sports 1, a new channel that will also likely launch later this year.
FXX will be available in 74 million homes in the first year, making it one of the most widely distributed entertainment networks ever for an ad-supported cable network in its inaugural year.
FXX initially will be built on a foundation of original comedy series, movies and acquired series, and expand to include original drama series, all primarily designed to attract young adults 18-34.
FX, the flagship of FX Networks, will continue to offer original comedy and drama series, movies and acquired series targeted to Adults 18-49. FX will increase the number of drama series and begin offering limited series and miniseries.
FXM will continue to be home to prestige movies, and related short-form original programming. As its universe grows, it will begin to televise its own limited series and miniseries.
FX Networks president, GM John Landgraf said, "This is a landmark day in the almost 20-year history of FX Networks. As we add FXX to become a suite of three channels, FX will remain the foundation of the brand, which is why we chose to include it in the names of each of our three networks. We will maintain the exceptional quality associated with the FX brand, a reputation we have established with consumers through our numerous, award-winning hit comedy and drama series for more than a decade.
"With this expansion, FX, FXX and FXM will specifically target one of the three major adult demos, enabling us to focus on creating passionate engagement across the entire range of adult viewers ages 18 to 54. This will enable the FX Networks to deliver more impressions and gain greater reach across all key adult demos without falling into the ?all things to all people? pitfall that plagues broadcast television.
"We are embarking on an incredibly ambitious ramp-up of programme development and production required to sustain these networks. I?m very confident that the pilots, projects and talent we have deals with will allow us to double our already best-in-class roster of scripted original series over the next several years. Our three-network platform will enable us to achieve even greater goals and solidify our position as a leader in quality scripted original programming."
FX Networks will invest in original programming and ramp up its development and pilot production slate, more than doubling its current offerings to feature 25 scripted original series across the three networks over the next three years.
Also, additional season orders have been placed for returning series including ?Justified?, ?It?s Always Sunny In Philadelphia?, ?The League? and ?Legit?. The late night series ?Totally Biased? with W. Kamau Bell will become a five-nights-per-week strip.
