Fox executives are planning to split Fox’s cable network FX in two this fall. If the arrangement goes through, FX will stay where it’s at, but a new channel called FXX will debut, with an emphasis on broadcasting comedies are aimed at young people, Broadcasting & Cable reports. FX’s comedies, like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and The League, are expected to move to FXX, while dramas, like Justified and Sons of Anarchy, will stay on the original channel.
Networks splitting their comedic and dramatic programming between two cable channels is nothing new. Turner does it with TBS (comedy) and TNT (drama), and AMC broadcasts drama with comedic content airing on its sister channel IFC. Plans are for the big shift to take place in September, with FXX launching with 75 million subscribers. FX certainly has enough comedy programming to fill out a separate network’s schedule, after making a big push in that direction these past few years. The network currently has nine original comedies (Always Sunny, The League, Archer, Louie, Wilfred, Anger Management, Brand X with Russell Brand, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, and Legit), more comedies than any other cable channel except Comedy Central. Those comedies plus reairings of theatrical movies and syndicated TV shows would make up FXX’s schedule. Let’s hope this stops here and that Fox doesn’t split FXX into FXX and FXXX in 10 years to target even younger viewers who like even raunchier comedies.
