FX (shorter for Fox Extended Networks) is a name carried by two cable television and satellite channels owned by News Corporation's Fox Entertainment Group.

United States channel

The first FX channel was launched in the United States on June 1, 1994 targeting young men aged 18 to 24. The network is known for original drama series and NASCAR programming. As of 2004, the channel was available in 85 million U.S. homes.

During its early years, FX was known for little else than airing reruns of such Fox shows as The X-Files and Married With Children. In recent years, however, the network has emerged as a major force in original cable programming, gaining both acclaim and notoriety for daring, edgy dramas. This began in 2002 with the release of its breakout hit, The Shield, a police drama that took viewers and critics by surprise with its extreme graphic content. This trend continued the following year with Nip/Tuck, which chronicles the world of plastic surgery. The network has often been compared to HBO in the sense that they, unlike many broadcast networks, are willing to take risks with their programming and push the envelope of what can be done with television. It's important to note that while these shows draw attention due to their graphic content, they are also critically acclaimed for their strong storylines and characters.

UK channel

In 2004, Fox launched an FX channel for the United Kingdom leveraging the News Corp.-controlled BSkyB satellite network. The channel actually carries the ident "FX 289", referring to its Sky Digital EPG number. Like the American channel, FX UK targets men, but the target ages will be those aged 25 to 44. This was the third Fox-branded channel for the UK, after Fox News and Fox Kids (later Jetix).

Original series

• The Shield
• Nip/Tuck
• Rescue Me

External links

• FX Networks (http://www.fxnetworks.com/)