Fox Look being disbanded following News’ Shine deal

Fox is closing Fox Look less than a year after creating the formats distribution unit. Managed by ex-Fox Reality boss David Lyle, the closure of Fox Look follows the acquisition of Shine, which itself distributes numerous formats, by Fox’s parent company News Corporation.

 “While we did a great job securing some wonderful Fox-owned and third party unscripted product for distribution, after thorough evaluation and much discussion within Fox Networks Group, we’ve decided there will be better ways for the group to realize the value of our unscripted programming internationally,” Lyle said in a memo to staff.

Lyle added that Fox Look will complete deals in progress before the catalogue is moved to an “as-yet unnamed distribution structure”.

When it was created, Fox Look took on distribution of formats in the Twentieth Century library including Temptation Island and Beauty and the Geek. It also picked up rights to several third-party formats including panel show The Gruen Transfer, which has been a big hit for Australian public broadcaster the ABC.

It had also struck distribution deals with US producers including Pilgrim Films and Television and Glassman Media.