Fox Crime

Fox Crime, stylized as FOXCRIME, was an international pay-television network developed by Fox Networks Group around a crime-focused programming concept. The channel combined crime dramas, police and investigation series, horror-related programs, sitcoms and films, giving it a recognizable genre position within the Fox-branded international television portfolio. Unlike a conventional single-country broadcaster, Fox Crime operated through regional feeds and distribution agreements, with schedules and availability adapted to local pay-TV markets. The network began in Italy on 31 October 2004, establishing the model that was later exported to other territories. It expanded into the Balkans and Bulgaria in October 2006 and reached Portugal in September 2007. Further launches followed across Asia, including Singapore in 2006, Vietnam in 2007, Hong Kong in 2008, the Philippines in 2008, Indonesia in 2010 and Thailand in 2010. The brand also appeared in India and Sri Lanka through an Asian feed, while a high-definition Asian version was introduced in 2016. In Europe, the channel was distributed alongside other Fox Networks Group properties, including Fox Life and National Geographic Channel, and it was added to the Latvian market in 2011. Fox Crime’s programming proposition centered on narratives involving criminal cases, detectives, law enforcement, forensic investigation, suspense and darker entertainment themes. Its principal offering was therefore the branded television service itself rather than a separately marketed consumer product. Programming could include imported and locally distributed television series, movies and other genre material. The channel’s international footprint was supported by satellite, cable and pay-TV operators, including StarSat in Africa and regional operators in Asia and the Middle East. The brand’s later history was shaped by corporate changes in the Fox media businesses. Following The Walt Disney Company’s acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox in 2019, a number of Fox-branded international channels were closed, renamed or repositioned. Fox Crime services were progressively discontinued in several markets, with some successor services adopting the Star Crime name and drawing on the broader Star entertainment identity associated with Disney’s international television and streaming strategy. The African service officially ended on 30 September 2016, while other regional versions closed at different times. As a result, Fox Crime is best understood as a discontinued multinational television-channel brand rather than an active global network.

Fox Crime was created by Fox Networks Group as a dedicated television destination for crime-oriented entertainment. Its first service launched in Italy on 31 October 2004. The channel’s concept emphasized a broad genre mix rather than a single format: crime and police series, investigative stories, horror and suspense productions, sitcoms and films could all appear within the schedule. This gave Fox Crime a distinct position among general entertainment and factual television channels while allowing local distributors to carry a recognizable international brand. The Italian launch became the foundation for a wider rollout. Fox Crime entered the Balkans and Bulgaria on 13 October 2006 and Portugal on 28 September 2007. The brand also expanded into Asia, launching in Singapore in 2006, Vietnam in 2007, Hong Kong in 2008 and the Philippines in 2008. In the Philippines, the service was carried by Sky Cable. Indonesia received the channel through Indovision around 2010, and Thailand followed on 29 July of the same year. Fox Crime was also made available through Asian feeds in India and Sri Lanka. In Europe, the channel reached Latvia in 2011 alongside Fox Life and National Geographic Channel. Further distribution extended the network’s reach beyond Europe and Asia. Fox Crime became part of the StarSat offering in Africa in 2013, while later regional availability included Middle Eastern and North African markets through local television platforms. The network’s international structure meant that individual feeds did not necessarily share identical launch dates, schedules or closure dates. Rather, Fox Crime functioned as a family of localized or regionally distributed services built around a common crime-entertainment brand. The channel’s programming identity remained its main commercial asset. It served viewers seeking serialized detective stories, police procedurals, forensic investigations, thrillers, horror and crime films. The service was primarily distributed through cable, satellite and other pay-TV systems, with the Fox brand helping operators position it as a specialized complement to broader entertainment channels. Fox Crime’s decline followed changes in the ownership and strategy of its corporate parent. The Walt Disney Company completed its acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox in 2019. In the years surrounding and following that transaction, several Fox-branded international channels were closed, renamed or reorganized. Fox Crime services were progressively withdrawn in a number of territories, and some were replaced by channels using the Star Crime name. The African service had already closed on 30 September 2016. With regional versions subsequently discontinued or rebranded, Fox Crime no longer operates as an active international television network.

• 2019

  Corporate ownership transition

  [1]Fox Crimeen.wikipedia.org

  Disney’s acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox preceded the progressive closure or rebranding of regional Fox Crime services.

• 2016

  African service closure and Asian HD expansion

  [1]Fox Crimeen.wikipedia.org

  The African service closed on 30 September, while an Asian HD feed was introduced through AsiaSat 5.

• 2013

  African distribution

  [1]Fox Crimeen.wikipedia.org

  Fox Crime became available in Africa as part of the StarSat platform.

• 2011

  Latvian launch

  [1]Fox Crimeen.wikipedia.org

  The channel launched in Latvia alongside Fox Life and National Geographic Channel.

• 2007

  Portuguese launch

  [1]Fox Crimeen.wikipedia.org

  Fox Crime launched in Portugal on 28 September.

• 2006

  Expansion to the Balkans and Bulgaria

  [1]Fox Crimeen.wikipedia.org

  The network entered the Balkans and Bulgaria on 13 October.

• 2004

  First launch in Italy

  [1]Fox Crimeen.wikipedia.org

  Fox Crime began broadcasting in Italy on 31 October, establishing its crime-focused pay-TV format.

A genre-specific pay-TV channel positioned around crime, investigation, police, forensic, horror and suspense entertainment.

• Pay television network · 2004

  Fox Crime television channel

  The core Fox Crime service was a branded pay-television channel devoted to crime, investigation, police, forensic, horror and suspense entertainment. Regional versions carried combinations of television series, sitcoms, films and other programming tailored to local distribution environments.

• High-definition television feed · 2016

  Fox Crime HD

  Fox Crime HD was a high-definition regional feed for Asian viewers. It was introduced through AsiaSat 5 in 2016 and represented a technical upgrade of the established crime-entertainment channel proposition.

• 2019

  Progressive regional closure and Star Crime repositioningStrategy

  Background

  After Disney acquired most of 21st Century Fox, the international Fox channel portfolio was reviewed and several regional services were closed or moved under Disney’s Star-oriented entertainment strategy.

  Action taken

  Fox Crime feeds were progressively discontinued or rebranded in various markets, with some successor services using the Star Crime name.

  Aftermath

  The Fox Crime brand ceased to function as an active international network, although related crime-channel programming continued under successor brands in selected markets.

  Source

1. 1Fox Crimeen.wikipedia.org