Fox eyes launch of a Simpsons channel

Fox is considering the launch of a standalone channel or digital platform for its long running animated comedy series The Simpsons.

The News Corp-owned company has held a number of meetings in the last month to weigh strategic opportunities for the Matt Groening-created show as it heads into its 23rd season.

Chase Carey, chief operating officer at News Corp, said at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media Communications & Entertainment Conference in LA that it will be unlikely to sell the show into a second run of syndication when it ends.

“Over the last month and the last six months, we’ve had a number of meetings to look at opportunities from A-Z. Whether it’s channels or digital… the series is unique in television and with a volume that is unprecedented and I think it’s [important] to not just say that we’ll sell the second cycle,” he said.

“It’s important for us to figure about to evolving digital opportunities, not just from a licensing perspective but also as an extension of our distribution businesses,” he added.

Carey reiterated the company’s acquisitions plans following its failure to acquire full control of British pay TV operator BSkyB. He said it would be looking for acquisitions in the “millions not billions”.

“Essentially, we think there’ll be opportunities for us to make targeted acquisitions, and the areas I like are the international marketplace and emerging markets. We like content and channels around the world,” he said.