Touchstone Television

The current incarnation of Touchstone Television (formerly Fox 21 Television Studios) is an American television production company that is a subsidiary of Disney Media Networks' Walt Disney Television owned by The Walt Disney Company.[2] It was founded in 2014 from the merger of Fox Television Studios and Fox 21. In 2020, It became the successor to the original Touchstone Television, currently known as ABC Signature (formerly ABC Studios).

This article is about the current television production studio. For the television studio formerly known as Touchstone Television, see ABC Signature. For the defunct feature film label, see Touchstone Pictures.

Touchstone Television
Formerly
Fox 21 Television Studios (2014–2020)
Subsidiary
IndustryTelevision Production
Predecessors
Founded2014 (2014)
FounderDavid Madden
Headquarters
California 
,
United States of America 
Key people
Bert Salke (president)
ParentDisney Television Studios
(Walt Disney Television)
Footnotes / references
[1]

Predecessors

Fox Television Studios

Fox Television Studios (FTVS) was formed in 1997 alongside 20th Century Fox Television and 20th Television[3] under executive David Grant.[4] The studio was created to house smaller production units, starting with the Greenblatt-Janollari Studio (G-JS). Greenblatt-Janollari started producing shows in the 1998-1999 season with 3 comedy series for ABC and CBS. While funded by Fox, G-JS was presented as an "independent mini-studio".[3] With Fox Entertainment Group holding a 20% stake in New Regency Production's parent corporation, Fox Studios formed a joint venture, Regency Television, by 2000, managed by Gail Berman.[3][4] Another production unit formed was Fox Television Studios Productions (FTSP) under Lisa Berger. Early output by the individual units, or "pods" were FTSP's Son of the Beach for FX, The Hughleys by G-JS and Regency had Malcolm in the Middle.[4]

The pod model evolved into five divisions: alternative, scripted, international, Fox World and Regency Television. The alternative division was responsible for Talkshow with Spike Feresten and The Wanda Sykes Show, along with E!'s The Girls Next Door franchise. The scripted division produced The Shield, along with a number of television films and miniseries.[4]

Fox World division had acquired rights to "The Coach" in early 2002 from France’s TF1 and its Quai Sud production entity. In mid-2002, Fox Alternative Productions was formed by Fox TV Studios and headed by David Martin with its first show to be "The Coach".[5]

Eventually the only division operating was the scripted unit. Next FTVS attempted international co-productions of direct-to-series broadcast series. The company had a hit with Burn Notice on USA Network. In August 2010, Dave Madden was appointed to head the unit, where he evenly increased its production slates until he was appointed as president of entertainment for Fox Broadcasting in August 2014.[4]

Fox 21

Fox 21 was formed in 2004 by 20th Century Fox Television executives Dana Walden and Gary Newman to develop and back smaller-budgeted but unique and daring shows. Fox 21's first executive was Jane Leisner. The unit's early hits were the FX series Sons of Anarchy and The CW reality series Beauty and the Geek.[4]

After originally being passed over for programming the new network, MyNetworkTV, Fox 21 was in consideration along with Twentieth Television and independent producers as of December 2006 in a potential reprogramming from telenovela to low-cost reality and game shows.[6]

Bert Salke, who moved from his Brancato/Salke production company based at ABC Studios, took charge of the unit in 2010 and led an increase in show productions starting with the Showtime series Homeland.[4] In early 2015, Mythology Entertainment signed a first look deal with the company and its sister studio 20th Century Fox Television while announcing the head of its TV division.[7]

The company produces or had produced the USA Network series Rush, the FX series Terriers, Tyrant and The Bastard Executioner, the A&E action series Breakout Kings, the Comedy Central series Brickleberry, the WGN America series Salem, the TNT series Legends and the Lifetime series Witches of East End.[8]

History
Fox 21 Television Studios logo

It was announced in December 2014 that Fox 21 and Fox Television Studios would merge into Fox 21 Television Studios. This situation came as a result of FTVS' president David Madden being promoted to Fox Broadcasting Company and the fact that both units were focusing on the same market, cable TV. The combined operation is headed by Fox 21 president Bert Salke.[4]

Fox 21 signed Okay Goodnight production company to multi-year first-look agreement in January 2020 starting with The Dreamers novel adaptation together with The Littlefield Company.[9] In early February 2020, the company agreed to a first deal with the Gotham Group.[10]

On August 10, 2020, as part of the ongoing removal of the Fox branding from studios acquired from 21st Century Fox by Disney, the studio was renamed Touchstone Television — reviving a brand dormant since the previous Touchstone Television was renamed ABC Studios in 2007. On the same day that Fox 21 was rebranded as Touchstone Television, ABC Studios merged with the original ABC Signature Studios to form the current iteration of ABC Signature. The renamed Touchstone Television studio retains the typewriter-styled logo that was used under Fox 21.[11][12]

Programming produced by Touchstone Television
Title Years Network Notes
Fox Television Studios
The Hughleys1998–2002ABC/UPNwith The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and Willowick Entertainment
Maggie Winters1998–1999CBSwith The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and CBS Productions
To Have & to Hold1998CBSwith The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and CBS Productions
Oh, Grow Up1999ABCwith The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio
Malcolm in the Middle2000–2006FOXwith Satin City and Regency Television
Son of the Beach2000–2002FXwith The Howard Stern Production Company and Loch Lomond Entertainment
Soul Food: The Series2000–2004Showtimewith Water Walk Productions, Edmonds Entertainment, State Street Pictures, 20th Century Fox Television, and Paramount Network Television (Seasons 1 & 2)
Murder in Small Town X2001FOXwith Hoosick Falls Productions
The Shield2002–2008FXwith MiddKid Productions, Columbia TriStar Domestic Television, and Sony Pictures Television
John Doe2002–2003FOXwith Camp-Thompson Productions and Regency Television
The Grid2004TNTwith Groveland Pictures and Carnival Films
Living with Fran2005–2006The WBwith Fringe Producers, On Time and Sober, Jizzy Entertainment, Uh-Oh Productions, and Regency Television
The Girls Next Door2005–2010E!with Prometheus Entertainment and Alta Loma Entertainment
Killer Instinct2005FOXwith Regency Television
Thief2006FXwith Pariah Television, Sarabrande Productions, and Regency Television
WindfallNBCwith Joyful Girl Productions and Regency Television
Celebrity DuetsFOXwith SYCOtv and A. Smith & Co. Productions
The Riches2007–2008FXwith Maverick Television and FX Productions
Burn Notice2007–2013USA Networkwith Flying Glass of Milk Productions and Fuse/Fabrik Entertainment
Saving Grace2007–2010TNTwith Grand Productions and Paid My Dues Productions
Crowned: The Mother of All Pageants2007–2008The CW
The Return of Jezebel James2008FOXwith Dorothy Parker Drank Here Productions and Regency Television
Mental2009FOXwith Kedzie Productions and Infinity Pictures
Kendra2009–2011E!with Prometheus Entertainment and Alta Loma Entertainment
Defying Gravity2009ABCwith Parriott/Edelstein Productions and Omni Film Productions
White Collar2009–2014USA Networkwith Jeff Eastin & Warrior George Productions
The Wanda Sykes Show2009–2010FOXwith Sykes Entertainment, Inc.
Holly's World2009–2011E!
The Good Guys2010FOXwith Flying Glass of Milk Productions and Fuse Entertainment
Persons Unknown2010NBCwith Invisible Ink and Televisa S.A. de C.V.
The Gates2010ABCwith Little Engine Productions and Summerland Entertainment
The Glades2010–2013A&Ewith Innuendo Productions and Grand Productions
Lights Out2011FXwith A Warren Leight Production, Fineman Entertainment, and FX Productions
The Killing2011–2014AMC/Netflixwith KMF Films, Fuse Entertainment, and Fabrik Entertainment
In the Flow with Affion Crockett2011FOXwith Foxx/King Entertainment and Tantamount Studios
The Great Escape2012TNTwith Profiles Television Productions, The Hochberg Ebersol Company, and Imagine Television
The Americans2013–2018FXwith Nemo Films, Amblin Television, and FX Productions
Maron2013–2016IFCwith Boomer Lives! Productions and Apostle
Graceland2013–2015USA Networkwith Jeff Eastin & Warrior George Productions
Sirens2014–2015USA Networkwith Middletown News and Apostle
Fox 21
Beauty and the Geek2005–2008The WB/The CWwith Katalyst Films and 3 Ball Productions
Free Ride2006FOXwith Rob Roy Thomas Productions and Wild Jams Productions
Saved2006TNT
Anchorwoman2007FOX
Sons of Anarchy2008–2014FXwith Linson The Company, Sutter Ink, and FX Productions
Game Show in My Head2009CBS
Terriers2010FXwith MiddKid Productions and Rickshaw Productions
Breakout Kings2011–2012A&Ewith Matt Olmstead Productions, Blackjack Films, and Chernin Entertainment
Homeland2011–2020Showtimewith Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet Media Group, and Showtime Networks
Brickleberry2012–2015Comedy Centralwith Damn! Show Productions and Black Heart Productions
Witches of East End2013–2014Lifetimewith 3 Arts Entertainment and Curly Girly Productions
Those Who Kill2014A&Ewith One Two One Three Pictures, Miso Film, and Imagine Television
Salem2014–2017WGN Americawith Beetlecod Productions and Prospect Park
Tyrant2014–2016FXwith Teakwood Lane Productions, Keshet Media Group, and FX Productions
Rush2014USA Networkwith Little Engine Productions, Fancy Films, and Pine City Entertainment
Legends2014–2015TNTwith Paperboy Productions and Teakwood Lane Productions
Fox 21 Television Studios
The Comedians2015FXwith Jennilind Productions, Larry Charles Projects, Tamaroa Productions, Flying Glass of Milk Productions, Fabrik Entertainment, and FX Productions
Complications2015USA Networkwith Flying Glass of Milk Productions
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll2015–2016FXwith Apostle and FX Productions
The Bastard Executioner2015FXwith Sutter Ink, Imagine Television, and FX Productions
American Crime Story2016–presentFXwith Scott & Larry Productions, Color Force, Ryan Murphy Productions, and FX Productions
Damien2016A&Ewith 44 Strong Productions and Fineman Entertainment
Dice2016–2017Showtimewith Olé Productions, American Work Inc., and Showtime Networks
Queen of the South2016–presentUSA Networkwith Frequency Films, Friendly Films, Skeeter Rosenbaum Productions, and Universal Cable Productions
Chance2016–2017Huluwith Nutmegger, Kem Nunn Stories, Inc., and Groundswell Productions
Feud2017FXwith Plan B Entertainment and Ryan Murphy Productions
Genius2017–presentNational Geographicwith Imagine Television, Paperboy Productions, OddLot Entertainment, and EUE / Sokolow
The Chi2018–presentShowtimewith Elwood Reid Inc., Hillman Grad Productions, Freedom Road Productions, Verse Productions, Kapital Entertainment, and Showtime Networks
Seven Seconds2018Netflixwith KMF Films, Bender Brown Productions, and Filmtribe
Pose2018–presentFXwith Color Force, Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision, Ryan Murphy Television, and FX Productions
Mayans M.C.2018–presentFXwith Sutter Ink and FX Productions
Fosse/Verdon2019FXwith 5000 Broadway Productions and FX Productions
The Politician2019–presentNetflix
Soundtrack2019Netflixwith Annapurna Television and 20th Century Fox Television
The Stranger2020–presentQuibiwith KMF Films
Barkskins2020–presentNational Geographicwith Elwood Reid Inc.
Tales from the Loop2020–presentPrime Videowith Amazon Studios, 6th & Idaho and Indio
Ratched2020–presentNetflixwith The Saul Zaentz Company and Ryan Murphy Productions
Books of Blood[13]2020Hulutelevision film; with Fuzzy Door Productions

References
  1. "Disney and 21st Century Fox Announce per Share Value in Connection with $71 Billion Acquisition". The Walt Disney Company. March 20, 2019.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie (October 8, 2018). "Disney Unveils Top TV Executive Structure Post Fox Acquisition: Peter Rice, Dana Walden, John Landgraf, Gary Knell Joining". Deadline. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  3. Kunz, William M. (2007). "2". Culture Conglomerates: Consolidation in the Motion Picture and Television Industries. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 49, 50. ISBN 9780742540668. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  4. Andreeva, Nellie (December 4, 2014). "Fox 21 & Fox TV Studios Merging Into One Entity Headed By Bert Salk". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  5. Schneider, Michael; Schneider, Michael (July 29, 2002). "Fox to stage real 'Coach'". Variety. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  6. "Fox 21 May Get Into the MyNetworkTV Mix". Broadcasting and Cable. NewBay Media, LLC. December 31, 2006. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  7. Reilly, Travis (March 12, 2015). "Mythology Entertainment Signs First Look Deal With Fox TV". The Wrap. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  8. Rose, Lacey (7 August 2013). "Fox 21's Bert Salke Reveals What's Next for 'Homeland' (Q&A)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  9. Low, Elaine (January 23, 2020). "Marta Kauffman's Okay Goodnight, Fox 21 TV Studios Ink First-Look Deal". Variety. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  10. Otterson, Joe (February 6, 2020). "Gotham Group Sets First-Look Deal With Fox 21 Television Studios". Variety. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie; Andreeva, Nellie (2020-08-10). "Disney Television Studios Rebrands Its Three Units As 20th Television, ABC Signature & Touchstone Television". Deadline. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  12. Low, Elaine (August 10, 2020). "Disney Rebrands TV Studios, 20th Century Fox TV to Become 20th Television". Variety. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  13. https://deadline.com/2019/10/books-of-blood-hulu-horror-movie-anna-friel-britt-robertson-rafi-gavron-yul-vazquez-star-hulu-film-horror-anthology-brannon-braga-seth-macfarlane-produce-1202773852/

See also
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