FOX Television Stations
U.S. right-leaning (local broadcast group)
Background
Fox Television Stations was built starting in the mid-1980s when Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation acquired stations from Metromedia in 1985–86, forming the backbone of the Fox Broadcasting Company launched in 1986. The group grew through further acquisitions (including Chris-Craft/United Television stations in 2001) and today owns and operates around 29 stations in major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas, many affiliated with the Fox network. It was carved out, along with Fox News and Fox Sports, into the new Fox Corporation in 2019 when 21st Century Fox sold its entertainment assets to Disney; Fox Corporation remains under Murdoch family control through a dual-class share structure. Unlike Fox News, the local stations largely produce independent local news and are not a cable opinion outlet, but they have faced scrutiny for airing Fox-produced national content, including Sinclair-style centralized packages and, at times, politically charged segments. Some Fox-owned stations have drawn criticism for editorial decisions seen as favorable to Republican figures, including past controversies over debate moderation and local political coverage. Overall, the stations' local news operations are generally seen as more neutral than Fox News, while the corporate parent's broader politics tilt conservative.
Sources
Profile compiled 2026-09-27; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.