Full History Of Fox News In Timeline From 1985

May 1985: Murdoch and Davis announce plan to develop a fourth network

In May 1985, Rupert Murdoch and Marvin Davis announced plans to develop a new network of independent stations to compete with CBS, NBC, and ABC.

July 1985: Murdoch completes purchase of 50% of Fox Filmed Entertainment

In July 1985, Rupert Murdoch completed his purchase of 50% of Fox Filmed Entertainment, the parent company of 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, a major step in building the Fox media empire.

1989: BSkyB launches Sky News

In 1989, News Corporation's BSkyB subsidiary launched Sky News in the United Kingdom, marking Europe's first 24-hour news channel and providing Murdoch with experience in the 24-hour news business.

December 1995: Fox News website introduced

In December 1995, the Fox News website was introduced, featuring news articles and videos about national and international news.

January 30, 1996: News Corp. announces launch of a 24-hour news channel

On January 30, 1996, News Corp. announced it would launch a 24-hour news channel on cable and satellite systems in the United States, forming part of a "worldwide platform" for Fox programming.

February 1996: Roger Ailes hired to start Fox News Channel

In February 1996, Roger Ailes was hired by Rupert Murdoch to start the Fox News Channel after leaving America's Talking.

October 7, 1996: Fox News Channel launches

On October 7, 1996, Fox News Channel (FNC) launched to 17 million cable subscribers, marking its entry into the 24-hour news business.

1996: Fox News Introduction and Republican Gains

A 2007 study, using the introduction of Fox News into local markets (1996–2000) as an instrumental variable, found that in the 2000 presidential election "Republicans gained 0.4 to 0.7 percentage points in the towns that broadcast Fox News".

2000: Study Links Fox News Introduction to Republican Gains

A 2007 study found that in the 2000 presidential election "Republicans gained 0.4 to 0.7 percentage points in the towns that broadcast Fox News".

2000: Fox News Lacks Ideological Tilt

Prior to 2000, Fox News lacked an ideological tilt, and more Democrats than Republicans watched the channel.

September 11, 2001: Fox News introduces news ticker

On September 11, 2001, during the 9/11 attacks, Fox News was the first news organization to run a news ticker at the bottom of the screen to provide ongoing updates, a feature that became popular with viewers.

2001: Fox News Launched on Stream TV in Italy

In 2001, Fox News was launched on Stream TV in Italy.

2001: Sean Hannity describes scientific consensus on climate change as "phony science"

In 2001, Sean Hannity described the scientific consensus on climate change as "phony science from the left".

2001: Morning Show Falls Out of First Place

In 2001, ratings were down for Fox News, and its morning show fell out of first place for the first time since 2001.

January 2002: Fox News surpasses CNN in ratings

In January 2002, Fox News surpassed CNN in ratings for the first time, marking a significant milestone in its growth and popularity.

November 1, 2002: FNC Reached Brazil Through Sky Brasil

On November 1, 2002, Fox News Channel (FNC) expanded its reach to Brazil through Sky Brasil, after its introduction at ABTA 2002.

January 8, 2003: Sky Brasil Adds Interactive Functions for FNC

On January 8, 2003, Sky Brasil added exclusive interactive functions for the Fox News Channel from the provider.

August 2003: Fox News Sues Al Franken

In August 2003, Fox News sued comedian Al Franken over his use of the slogan as a subtitle for his book, Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right. The lawsuit was dropped three days later.

Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right

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December 2003: FNC Wins Legal Battle Concerning Slogan

In December 2003, FNC won a legal battle concerning the slogan, when AlterNet filed a cancellation petition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to have FNC's trademark rescinded as inaccurate.

2003: FNC Broadcast on TV8 in Scandinavia

From 2003, FNC was broadcast 16 hours a day on TV8 in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries.

2003: Fox News ratings jump during Iraq invasion

In 2003, Fox News experienced a large ratings jump during the early stages of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, with viewership increasing by as much as 300%.

2003: Fox News Radio division introduced

In 2003, Fox News introduced Fox News Radio, a radio division that provides short newscasts and talk radio programs syndicated throughout the United States.

2003: Fox News Moved to Sky Italia

In 2003, Fox News moved from Stream TV to Sky Italia in Italy.

2003: CRTC Denied Fox News Channel Application

In 2003, the CRTC denied an application requesting permission for Fox News Channel to be carried in Canada due to Fox's initial plans to launch a joint venture with Canwest's Global Television Network, tentatively named Fox News Canada.

2003: Service to Japan Ceased

In summer 2003, Fox News service to Japan ceased, but it remained available on Americable, Mediatti (Kadena Air Base), and Pan Global TV Japan.

March 2004: Fox News Canada Venture Shelved

In March 2004, a Fox executive announced that the Fox News Canada venture had been shelved.

2004: Pew Research Center Survey on Conservative News Organizations

A 2004 Pew Research Center survey found FNC was cited (unprompted) by 69 percent of national journalists as a conservative news organization.

2004: Fox News Tends to Raise the Profile of Scandals and Controversies Involving Democrats

According to the 2016 book Asymmetric Politics, Fox News tends to raise the profile of scandals and controversies involving Democrats that receive scant attention in other media, such as the 2004 attacks on John Kerry by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats

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2004: Fox News Coverage of 2004 Election and Kerry Smear Campaign

During the 2004 United States presidential election, Fox News was more hostile in its coverage of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and heavily covered the Swift Boat smear campaign against him.

2004: Outfoxed documentary film

In 2004, AlterNet included Robert Greenwald's documentary film Outfoxed as supporting evidence in its case.

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2004: Fox News ratings exceed major networks during Republican National Convention

In 2004, Fox News' ratings for its broadcast of the Republican National Convention exceeded those of NBC, ABC, and CBS. During President George W. Bush's address, Fox News attracted 7.3 million viewers nationally.

2004: Release of Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism

In 2004, Robert Greenwald's documentary film "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism" argued Fox News had a conservative bias and featured clips from Fox News and internal memos.

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2004: Sean Hannity alleges scientists can't agree on global warming

In 2004, Sean Hannity falsely alleged that "scientists still can't agree on whether the global warming is scientific fact or fiction".

August 2005: Highest-ranked network due to Hurricane Katrina Coverage

In August 2005, Fox News became the highest-ranked network on U.S. cable television for the first time since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States.

2005: Study Compares Fox and NBC Coverage of Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

A 2010 study comparing Fox News Channel's Special Report With Brit Hume and NBC's Nightly News coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan during 2005 concluded Fox News was much more sympathetic to the administration than NBC.

2005: Fox News experiences a ratings decline

Between late 2005 and early 2006, Fox News experienced a brief decline in ratings.

September 2006: Fox News Dropped by TV8

In September 2006, Fox News was dropped by TV8 in Scandinavian countries and replaced by German news channel Deutsche Welle.

2006: Fox News ranked No. 8 in viewership among all cable channels

In 2006, FNC ranked No. 8 in viewership among all cable channels.

2006: Fox News Talk introduced

In 2006, Fox News introduced Fox News Talk, a satellite radio station featuring programs syndicated by and featuring Fox News personalities.

2006: Fox News viewership surges after North Korean missile test and Lebanon War

In 2006, following the North Korean missile test and the Lebanon War, Fox News saw a surge in viewership and remained the top-rated cable news channel, with 'The O'Reilly Factor' and 'Hannity & Colmes' as top shows.

2007: Study Links Fox News Introduction to Republican Gains

A 2007 study found that in the 2000 presidential election "Republicans gained 0.4 to 0.7 percentage points in the towns that broadcast Fox News".

2007: Partisan differences in views of Fox News have increased substantially

According to the Pew Research Center in September 2009, partisan differences in views of Fox News increased substantially since 2007.

2007: Fox News ranked No. 7 in viewership among all cable channels

In 2007, FNC ranked No. 7 in viewership among all cable channels.

2007: Private investigator makes outlandish claims on Fox News

In 2007, a private investigator who would later be involved in the Seth Rich conspiracy theory appeared on Fox News and warned that underground networks of pink pistol-toting lesbian gangs were raping young women.

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May 1, 2008: Fox News Channel begins broadcasting in 720p resolution

On May 1, 2008, Fox News Channel began broadcasting in the 720p resolution format, making it available on all major cable and satellite providers.

September 2008: Fox News introduces The Strategy Room

In September 2008, Fox News joined other channels by introducing a live streaming segment called The Strategy Room to its website, designed to appeal to older viewers with informal discussions and running commentary on the news.

2008: Study Finds Disproportionate Attention to Polls Suggesting Low Approval for President Bill Clinton

A 2008 study found Fox News gave disproportionate attention to polls suggesting low approval for President Bill Clinton.

2008: Fox News ranks number one during Obama's election week

During the week of Barack Obama's election in November 2008 (November 3-9), Fox News ranked number one in viewership.

2008: "We Report, You Decide" slogan

In 2008, FNC used the slogan "We Report, You Decide", referring to "You Decide 2008" (FNC's original slogan for its coverage of election issues).

2008: Study finds Fox News emphasized scientific uncertainty of climate change

In 2008, a study found Fox News emphasized the scientific uncertainty of climate change more than CNN, was less likely to say climate change was real, and more likely to interview climate change skeptics.

2008: Viewers age 25-54 average

In 2008, in the 25–54 age group, Fox News had an average of 557,000 viewers.

March 2009: The Fox Nation website launched

In March 2009, The Fox Nation was launched as a website intended to encourage readers to post articles commenting on the news.

June 2009: Chris Wallace on Fox News as a Counter-weight

In June 2009, Fox News host Chris Wallace stated that Fox News is the counter-weight to NBC News, claiming NBC has a liberal agenda.

September 2009: Obama administration in verbal conflict with Fox News Channel

In September 2009, the Obama administration engaged in a verbal conflict with Fox News Channel. On September 20, President Barack Obama appeared on all major news programs except Fox News, which was partially in response to remarks about him by commentators Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity and Fox coverage of Obama's health-care proposal.

September 2009: Pew Research Center publishes report on public view of national news organizations

In September 2009, the Pew Research Center published a report which found that 72% of polled Republican Fox viewers rated the channel as "favorable".

September 2009: Obama administration officials criticize Fox News

In late September 2009, Obama's senior advisor David Axelrod and Roger Ailes met to ease tensions. Subsequently, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel referred to FNC as "not a news network", and communications director Anita Dunn said "Fox News often operates as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party". Obama commented on Fox News's format and Emanuel emphasized preventing other networks from being led by Fox.

October 11, 2009: Fox News defines hard-news programming hours

On October 11, 2009, Fox News stated in a New York Times article that its hard-news programming runs from "9 AM to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM on weekdays".

November 8, 2009: White House warns Democratic consultant about appearing on Fox News

On November 8, 2009, the Los Angeles Times reported an unnamed Democratic consultant was warned by the White House not to appear on Fox News again. Anita Dunn denied telling anyone to avoid Fox, while Patrick Caddell claimed other Democratic consultants had received similar warnings.

2009: Pew Survey on Ideology

A 2009 Pew survey found Fox News is viewed as the most ideological channel in America, with 47 percent of those surveyed saying Fox News is "mostly conservative".

2009: Study Finds Fox News Less Likely to Pick Up Positive Stories on Democrats

A 2009 study found Fox News was less likely to pick up stories that reflected well on Democrats and more likely to pick up stories that reflected well on Republicans.

2009: Bill Sammon instructs Fox News journalists to dispute climate change consensus

In 2009, leaked emails showed that Bill Sammon, the Fox News Washington managing editor, instructed Fox News journalists to dispute the scientific consensus on climate change.

January 2010: Fox News reaches top spot again during special Senate election in Massachusetts

In January 2010, Fox News reached the top spot in viewership again during the week of the special Senate election in Massachusetts.

January 2010: Fox News Discontinued on Prime in New Zealand

In January 2010, Fox News was discontinued on New Zealand free-to-air UHF channel Prime, reportedly due to an expiring broadcasting license.

May 2010: Fox News prime-time audience averages 1.8 million viewers

In May 2010, Fox News drew an average daily prime-time audience of 1.8 million viewers, surpassing MSNBC and CNN.

2010: Study Comparing Fox News Channel's Special Report and NBC's Nightly News

A 2010 study comparing Fox News Channel's Special Report With Brit Hume and NBC's Nightly News coverage of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan during 2005 concluded Fox News was much more sympathetic to the administration than NBC.

2010: Overall Audience

In 2010, Fox News had an overall audience of 1.89 million.

2010: Fox News Mobilizes Voters in Midterm Elections

In 2010, Fox News was cited as helping Republicans communicate with their base and spread their ideas, effectively mobilizing voters to participate in the midterm elections.

2010: Sean Hannity calls "Climategate" a scandal

In 2010, Sean Hannity said the so-called "Climategate" – the leaking of e-mails by climate scientist that climate change skeptics claimed demonstrated scientific misconduct but which all subsequent enquiries have found no evidence of misconduct or wrongdoing – a "scandal" that "exposed global warming as a myth cooked up by alarmists".

2010: Positive perceptions of FNC

In 2010, according to a Public Policy Polling poll, 49% of polled voters trust Fox News, with 37% saying they distrust it.

2010: Glenn Beck promotes conspiracy theories about George Soros

In 2010, during Glenn Beck's tenure at Fox News, he depicted George Soros as a cartoonish villain trying to "form a shadow government, using humanitarian aid as a cover", and that Soros wanted a one-world government. Beck promoted the false and anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Soros was a Nazi collaborator as a 14-year-old in Nazi-occupied Hungary.

2010: Wikipedia Community Discussion on Reliability

In 2010, the Wikipedia community had its first major discussion on Fox News' reliability. The community decided that Fox News was politically biased, but generally reliable.

2011: James Lawrence Powell's study of the climate science denial movement

In 2011, James Lawrence Powell's study of the climate science denial movement, Fox News provides "the deniers with a platform to say whatever they like without fear of contradiction."

2011: Study finds Fox News dismissive towards climate change

In 2011, a study by Lauren Feldman and Anthony Leiserowitz found Fox News "takes a more dismissive tone toward climate change than CNN and MSNBC".

2011: Fox & Friends describes climate change as "unproven science"

In 2011, the hosts of Fox & Friends described climate change as "unproven science", a "disputed fact", and criticized the Department of Education for working together with Nickelodeon to teach children about climate change.

October 22, 2012: Fox sets record for highest-rated telecast

On the night of October 22, 2012, Fox set a record for its highest-rated telecast, with 11.5 million viewers for the third U.S. presidential debate.

December 2012: Sean Hannity described Benghazi attack

In December 2012, Fox News provided extensive coverage of the 2012 Benghazi attack, which host Sean Hannity described as "the story that the mainstream media ignores" and "obviously, a cover-up. And we will get to the bottom of it."

2012: Fox News Tends to Raise the Profile of Scandals and Controversies Involving Democrats

According to the 2016 book Asymmetric Politics, Fox News tends to raise the profile of scandals and controversies involving Democrats that receive scant attention in other media, such as Hillary Clinton's role in the fatal 2012 attacks on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats

Check it on Amazon

2012: Fox News' 2012 Election Coverage

In 2012, David Carr praised Fox News for its coverage of the United States presidential election results, particularly the network's response to Karl Rove challenging its call that Barack Obama would win Ohio and the election.

October 2, 2013: Fox News host cites fake story about Obama

On October 2, 2013, Fox News host Anna Kooiman cited on the air a fake story from the National Report parody site, which claimed Obama had offered to keep the International Museum of Muslim Cultures open with cash from his own pocket.

2013: Fox Viewers are Republican

According to a 2013 Gallup poll, 94% of Fox viewers "either identify as or lean Republican".

2013: Aged Demographic

As indicated by a 2013 New York Times article, based on Nielsen statistics, Fox appears to have a mostly aged demographic.

2013: Fox News propelled by coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing

In 2013, Fox News was the highest-ranked network on U.S. cable television for the week of April 15 to 21, propelled by its coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing.

2013: Decline in Viewers age 25-54

In 2013, Fox News' average viewers in the 25–54 age group dropped to 379,000.

2013: Public Policy Polling poll concludes positive perceptions of FNC have declined

In 2013, a Public Policy Polling poll concluded that positive perceptions of Fox News had declined from 2010, with 41% of polled voters trusting it, down from 49%.

2013: Defense of 'Fair and Balanced' Slogan

In a 2013 interview with Peter Robinson of the Hoover Institution, Rupert Murdoch defended the company's "Fair and Balanced" slogan, saying, "In fact, you'll find just as many Democrats as Republicans on and so on".

January 2014: Fox News beats CNN and MSNBC combined

In January 2014, Fox News marked its 145th consecutive month as the highest-rated cable news channel, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in overall viewers in both prime time hours and the total day.

2014: Study Links Fox News to Reduced Support for President Clinton

A 2014 study found congressional "representatives become less supportive of President Clinton in districts where Fox News begins broadcasting than similar representatives in similar districts where Fox News was not broadcast."

2014: Fox News Mobilizes Voters in Midterm Elections

In 2014, Fox News was cited as helping Republicans communicate with their base and spread their ideas, effectively mobilizing voters to participate in the midterm elections.

2014: News Corporation Stake in SKY and Prime

In 2014, News Corporation ended its stake in both SKY and Prime in New Zealand. These two media were formerly parent companies of Fox News.

2015: Median Age of Prime-Time Viewer

As of 2015, the median age of a Fox News prime-time viewer was 68.

2015: Fox News Prime-Time Lineup Changes

From 2015 to 2017, the Fox News prime-time lineup changed to being a "Trump safe space".

2015: Extensive coverage of Uranium One Scandal

From 2015, Fox News broadcast extensive coverage of an alleged scandal surrounding the sale of Uranium One to Russian interests, which host Sean Hannity characterized as "one of the biggest scandals in American history".

2015: Study Confirms Fox News Results

In 2015, a study confirmed the results of a 2007 study, linking the introduction of Fox News to Republican gains.

August 2016: Phasing Out "Fair and Balanced" Slogan

In August 2016, Fox News Channel began to quietly phase out the "Fair and Balanced" slogan in favor of "Most Watched, Most Trusted".

2016: Fox News Tends to Raise the Profile of Scandals and Controversies Involving Democrats

According to the 2016 book Asymmetric Politics, Fox News tends to raise the profile of scandals and controversies involving Democrats that receive scant attention in other media.

Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats

Check it on Amazon

2016: Fox News Kills Stormy Daniels Story Before 2016 Election

Before the 2016 election, Fox News executive Ken LaCorte killed Diana Falzone's story of the Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal, allegedly because Rupert Murdoch wanted Donald Trump to win.

2016: 2016 Presidential Election Twitter Sharing

During the 2016 presidential election, a 2017 study found that Fox News was the third most-shared source among supporters of Donald Trump on Twitter, behind The Hill and Breitbart News.

2016: Fox News Coverage of Hillary Clinton Stories

In 2016, Fox News dedicated more coverage to Hillary Clinton-related stories, which critics argued was intended to deflect attention from the investigation into Russian interference in the United States elections.

2016: Hosted first prime-time GOP candidates' forum

In 2016, Fox News hosted the first prime-time GOP candidates' forum of the campaign on August 6, which reached a record-breaking 24 million viewers.

2016: Brexit Referendum Analysis Broadcast

In 2016, Fox News violated election silence rules by broadcasting analysis of the Brexit referendum while polls were still open.

2016: Rupert Murdoch becomes executive chairman

In 2016, Rupert Murdoch became the executive chairman of Fox News, marking a shift in leadership.

2016: Fox News develops cutting-edge system for election calls

In 2016, after the election, Fox News developed a cutting-edge system for calling elections, which proved very successful during the 2018 midterm elections.

2016: Andrew Napolitano Claims GCHQ Wiretapped Trump

On March 14, 2017, Andrew Napolitano, a Fox News commentator, claimed on Fox & Friends that British intelligence agency GCHQ had wiretapped Trump on behalf of Barack Obama during the 2016 United States presidential election.

January 2017: Fox News renews Bill O'Reilly's contract after sexual harassment lawsuit

In January 2017, shortly after Bill O'Reilly settled a sexual harassment lawsuit for $32 million, Fox News renewed his contract. 21st Century Fox stated that it was aware of the lawsuit. The contract stipulated that O'Reilly could not be fired unless sexual harassment allegations were proven in court.

March 14, 2017: Andrew Napolitano Claims GCHQ Wiretapped Trump

On March 14, 2017, Andrew Napolitano, a Fox News commentator, claimed on Fox & Friends that British intelligence agency GCHQ had wiretapped Trump on behalf of Barack Obama during the 2016 United States presidential election.

March 16, 2017: White House Spreads Wiretapping Claim

On March 16, 2017, White House spokesman Sean Spicer repeated Andrew Napolitano's claim that British intelligence agency GCHQ had wiretapped Trump on behalf of Barack Obama during the 2016 United States presidential election.

March 17, 2017: Fox News Admits Lack of Evidence for Trump Surveillance Claim

On March 17, 2017, Fox News anchor Shepard Smith admitted the network had no evidence that Trump was under surveillance, and Andrew Napolitano was later suspended for making the claim.

April 2017: Susan Rice sought the unmasking of Trump associates

In April 2017, news surfaced that former Obama administration national security advisor Susan Rice sought the unmasking of Trump associates in intelligence reports during the presidential transition.

May 2017: Harvard Study on Media Coverage of Trump

A May 2017 Harvard study examined coverage of Trump's first 100 days in office and found Trump received the least negative coverage on Fox News – 52% negative and 48% positive.

May 2017: Hannity calls Ailes 'a second father'

In May 2017, Sean Hannity called Roger Ailes "a second father" and threatened Ailes's "enemies" after Ailes had been fired from Fox News due to sexual harassment allegations.

May 16, 2017: Fox News runs lead story on Seth Rich murder conspiracy

On May 16, 2017, Fox News ran a lead story about a private investigator's uncorroborated claims about the murder of Seth Rich, a DNC staffer, reigniting right-wing conspiracy theories.

June 2017: Reports on Changes to Slogan

In June 2017, changes were reported by Gabriel Sherman (a writer who had written a biography on Ailes), a network executive said the change "has nothing to do with programming or editorial decisions".

July 2017: Fox & Friends Falsely Accuses The New York Times of Aiding Al-Baghdadi

In July 2017, a report by Fox & Friends falsely said The New York Times had disclosed intelligence in one of its stories and that this intelligence disclosure helped Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi evade capture. President Trump tweeted about the Fox & Friends report shortly after it first aired.

August 29, 2017: Sky Drops Fox News in the UK

On August 29, 2017, Sky dropped Fox News in the United Kingdom, citing low viewership and lack of commercial viability.

September 2017: Hannity hosts Bill O'Reilly on his show

In September 2017, Sean Hannity hosted Bill O'Reilly on his show after O'Reilly was fired from Fox News due to sexual harassment allegations. Some Fox News employees criticized the decision, with Hannity appearing "to feel that he and O'Reilly have both become victims of liberals looking to silence them."

October 2017: Fox News's coverage of Harvey Weinstein scandal

In October 2017, Fox News's extensive coverage of the Harvey Weinstein scandal was seen by some as hypocritical, dedicating at least 12 hours of coverage to Weinstein, while dedicating only 20 minutes to Bill O'Reilly, who had also been accused of sexual harassment.

October 2017: Fox News Coverage Turns to Clinton Scandals Amidst Mueller Investigation

In October 2017, as the Mueller investigation intensified, Fox News coverage focused on alleged scandals of Trump's political opponents, particularly Bill and Hillary Clinton, in an attempt to distract from the investigation.

October 30, 2017: Fox News Focuses on Clinton Allegations Instead of Mueller Indictments

On October 30, 2017, while most media covered the indictments of Paul Manafort and Rick Gates by special counsel Robert Mueller, Fox News hosts and guests called for Mueller to be fired and focused on unsubstantiated allegations against Hillary Clinton.

November 1, 2017: Vox Analyzes Fox News' Russia-Related Coverage

On November 1, 2017, Vox analyzed the transcripts of Fox News, CNN and MSNBC, and found Fox News "was unable to talk about the Mueller investigation without bringing up Hillary Clinton", talked significantly less about George Papadopoulos.

November 2017: Trump's Access to Fox News

By November 2017, during his presidency, Donald Trump had given 19 interviews to Fox News, compared to only 6 to other news channels. The New York Times described these interviews as "softball interviews".

November 2017: Shepard Smith Debunks Uranium One Alleged Scandal

In November 2017, Fox News host Shepard Smith concisely debunked the alleged scandal surrounding the sale of Uranium One to Russian interests, infuriating viewers who suggested he should work for CNN or MSNBC.

November 2017: Fox News Distorts Jake Tapper's Statement After NYC Terror Attack

In November 2017, following the 2017 New York City truck attack, Fox News distorted a statement by Jake Tapper to make it appear as if he had said "Allahu Akbar" can be used under the most "beautiful circumstances". Tapper chastised Fox News for choosing to "deliberately lie".

December 2017: Fox News Attacks Mueller Investigation, Suggests Coup

In December 2017, Fox News escalated its attacks on the Mueller investigation, with hosts and guest commentators suggesting the investigation amounted to a coup. Some Fox News figures referred to the investigation as "corrupt", "crooked", and "illegitimate".

December 2017: Fox News runs inaccurate headline about Roy Moore accuser

In December 2017, a few days before the Alabama Senate election, Fox News, along with Breitbart News and The Gateway Pundit, ran an inaccurate headline claiming that one of Roy Moore's accusers admitted to forging an inscription by Roy Moore in her yearbook. Fox News later added a correction to the story.

2017: Study Links Fox News to Increased Republican Vote Shares

A 2017 study found "Fox News increases Republican vote shares by 0.3 points among viewers induced into watching 2.5 additional minutes per week by variation in position."

2017: Availability of Fox News on French Internet Providers

In 2017, Fox News was available on French Internet provider Free on channel 352. However, by Spring 2017, the channel was no longer found on the provider Orange's lineup.

2017: Fox News Third Most-Shared Source Among Trump Supporters

In 2017, a study found that Fox News was the third most-shared source among supporters of Donald Trump on Twitter during the 2016 presidential election, behind The Hill and Breitbart News.

2017: Broadcast Codes Violation Concerns

In 2017, concerns were raised that Sky News could undergo a shift to an opinionated format, potentially violating Ofcom broadcast codes requiring impartiality.

March 2018: Introduced "Real News. Real Honest Opinion" Ad Campaign

In March 2018, the network introduced a new ad campaign, Real News. Real Honest Opinion. The ad campaign is intended to promote the network's opinion-based programming and counter perceptions surrounding "fake news".

April 9, 2018: Federal agents serve search warrant on Michael Cohen's office and residence

On April 9, 2018, federal agents from the U.S. Attorney's office served a search warrant on Michael Cohen's office and residence. On air, Fox News host Sean Hannity defended Cohen and criticized the federal action, calling it "highly questionable" and "an unprecedented abuse of power".

April 2018: Controversy over Hannity's defense of Cohen

In April 2018, Fox News faced controversy when it was revealed that primetime host Sean Hannity had defended Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen on air without disclosing that Cohen was his lawyer.

April 16, 2018: Cohen's lawyers reveal Hannity as a client

On April 16, 2018, in a court hearing, Michael Cohen's lawyers told the judge that Cohen had ten clients in 2017–2018 but did "traditional legal tasks" for only three: Trump, Elliott Broidy, and a "prominent person" who did not wish to be named. The federal judge ordered the revelation of the third client, whom Cohen's lawyers named as Sean Hannity.

June 2018: Fox News Executives Instruct Producers to Head Off Inappropriate Remarks

In June 2018, Fox News executives instructed producers to head off inappropriate remarks made on the shows aired by the network, following incendiary comments about the Trump administration's policy of separating migrant children from their parents.

July 2018: Economist Describes Fox News' Coverage of Trump

In July 2018, The Economist described Fox News' coverage of President Trump's presidency as "reliably fawning".

August 2018: Fox News Criticized for Downplaying Manafort and Cohen Convictions

In August 2018, Fox News was criticized for giving more prominent coverage to a murder committed by an undocumented immigrant than to the convictions of Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen.

September 2018: Fox News reaches 87 million U.S. households

By September 2018, Fox News was available to 87 million U.S. households, representing 91 percent of television subscribers, expanding its reach significantly.

October 2018: Fox News Covers Kanye West Meeting with Trump

In October 2018, Fox News ran laudatory coverage of a meeting between Trump-supporting rapper Kanye West and President Trump in the Oval Office.

October 2018: Trust in News Organizations Survey

In October 2018, a Simmons Research survey ranked Fox News roughly in the center regarding trust in news organizations, with 44.7% of surveyed Americans saying they trusted it.

November 4, 2018: Sean Hannity to Make Special Guest Appearance at Trump Rally

On November 4, 2018, Donald Trump's website announced that Fox News host Sean Hannity would make a "special guest appearance" with Trump at a midterm campaign rally in Missouri, stirring controversy and raising questions about the impartiality of Fox News. The press release was later removed from Trump's website.

December 30, 2018: Most Watched Cable Network

In 2018, specifically between January 1 and December 30, Fox News was rated by Nielsen as America's most watched cable network, averaging a record 2.4 million viewers in prime time and total day.

2018: Fox Nation subscription service announced

In 2018, Fox News Channel announced it would launch Fox Nation, a subscription video on demand service carrying original talk, documentary, and reality programming.

2018: Successful midterm election calls with new system

In 2018, Fox News's cutting-edge system for calling elections, developed after the 2016 election, proved very successful during the midterm elections.

2018: Extensive coverage of Uranium One Scandal

Into 2018, Fox News broadcast extensive coverage of an alleged scandal surrounding the sale of Uranium One to Russian interests, which host Sean Hannity characterized as "one of the biggest scandals in American history".

2018: Fox NFL Thursday pregame show originates from Studio F

Starting in 2018, Thursday Night Football's pregame show, Fox NFL Thursday, originated from Studio F at Fox News headquarters in New York City.

March 2019: The New Yorker Reports on Fox News Killing Stormy Daniels Story

In March 2019, Jane Mayer reported in The New Yorker that Fox News killed Diana Falzone's story of the Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal before the 2016 election, allegedly because Rupert Murdoch wanted Donald Trump to win.

June 16, 2019: Fox News Poll Shows Unfavorable Results for Trump

On June 16, 2019, Fox News released a poll showing unfavorable results for President Trump, including a record high of 50% of registered voters believing his campaign had coordinated with the Russian government. The poll also showed that 50% thought he should be impeached.

October 2019: Shepard Smith leaves Fox News

In October 2019, Shepard Smith left Fox News, after drawing attention for being one of few voices formerly on Fox News to forcefully state that climate change is real.

2019: Older Viewers

A 2019 Pew Research Center survey showed that among those who named Fox News as their main source for political news, 69% are aged 50 or older.

2019: Pew Research Center reports high Republican trust in Fox News

According to a 2019 Pew Research Center study, 65 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning individuals trusted Fox News, highlighting its significant influence among this demographic.

2019: Fox News is top-rated cable network

In 2019, Fox News became the top-rated cable network, averaging 2.5 million viewers in prime time, solidifying its position in the market.

2019: Fox News falsely claims new climate science research shows Earth heading to new Ice Age

In 2019, a widely shared Fox News news report falsely claimed that new climate science research showed that the Earth might be heading to a new Ice Age; Fox News later corrected the story.

2019: Trump criticizes Fox News personalities

In 2019, certain Fox News personalities, including Shepard Smith and Chris Wallace, were criticized by Trump for allegedly being adversarial. Trump also criticized the network for hiring former DNC chair Donna Brazile.

2019: Main source for Political News are Republicans

The 2019 Pew survey showed that among people who named Fox News as their main source for political and election news, 93% identify as Republicans.

May 2020: Release of Obama officials list who requested unmasking of Trump associates

In May 2020, acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell declassified a list of Obama administration officials who had requested the unmasking of Trump associates, and Republican senators publicly released it.

July 2020: Wikipedia Downgrades Fox News' Reliability on Science and Politics

In July 2020, the Wikipedia community announced that Fox News would no longer be considered "generally reliable" in its reporting of science and politics, and that it "should be used with caution to verify contentious claims" for those topics. The decision was made due to Fox News downplaying the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as allegations of Fox News spreading misinformation about climate change and reporting on the false concept of "no-go zones" for non-Muslims in British cities. The decision did not affect Fox News' reliability on other topics.

August 19, 2020: Fox News Leads in Network Ratings Race

On August 19, 2020, according to the Los Angeles Times, Fox News Channel had six of last week's 11 highest-rated prime-time programs and finished first in the network ratings race for the third time since June 2020.

November 2020: Hannity hosts Sidney Powell

In November 2020, Sean Hannity hosted Sidney Powell on his show, where she made claims that Dominion machines had been rigged. However, Hannity admitted in his deposition that he did not believe Powell's claims "for one second."

November 2020: Suzanne Scott criticizes fact-checking

In November 2020, a communication revealed Fox CEO Suzanne Scott criticizing fact-checking, stating that she cannot "keep defending these reporters who don't understand our viewers and how to handle stories."

November 2020: Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham disparage Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani

In November 2020, internal communications showed Tucker Carlson accusing Sidney Powell of lying and Laura Ingraham calling Powell a "complete nut". In another exchange that month, Carlson requested that Fox journalist Jacqui Heinrich be "fired" for fact-checking Trump's claims of voter fraud from Dominion, leading to Heinrich deleting her fact-check the next morning.

November 2020: "Standing Up For What's Right" Slogan

In mid-November 2020, following the election, Fox News began to use the slogan "Standing Up For What's Right" to promote its primetime lineup.

December 2020: Dominion sends letter demanding retractions to Trump attorney Sidney Powell

In December 2020, Dominion Voting Systems sent a similar letter demanding retractions to Trump attorney Sidney Powell, who had promoted the allegations on Fox programs.

December 2020: Suzanne Scott demands end to fact-checking

In December 2020, Fox CEO Suzanne Scott responded to Fox presenter Eric Shawn's fact-checking of Donald Trump's false 2020 election claims by demanding that the fact-checking "has to stop now ... This is bad business ... The audience is furious."

December 2020: Smartmatic sends letter to Fox News demanding retractions

In December 2020, Smartmatic sent a letter to Fox News demanding retractions and threatening legal action, specifying that retractions "must be published on multiple occasions" so as to "match the attention and audience targeted with the original defamatory publications."

2020: Fox News broadcasts false claims about the 2020 election

After the 2020 presidential election, Fox News broadcast false claims of a stolen election, despite internal doubts among presenters and executives, contributing to election-related controversies.

2020: Decline in Ratings Post-Presidential Election

Following the 2020 U.S. presidential election, Fox News experienced a decline in ratings.

2020: Trump's relationship with Fox News sours after the 2020 election

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, the relationship between Trump and Fox News soured as Trump refused to concede that Joe Biden had been elected President-elect. This led to increased viewership of Newsmax and One America News, and Fox released promotional videos disputing the election results.

2020: Fox News settles with Rich family in emotional distress suit

In 2020, Fox News settled with Rich family, making a payment that was not officially disclosed but which was reported to be in the seven figures.

2020: Fox News calls Arizona for Biden

In 2020, Fox News was the first network to call the Arizona race for Joe Biden, which angered many viewers. The network's Decision Desk, supervised by Washington managing editor Bill Sammon, made the call based on data.

2020: Fox News studios used for election coverage

In 2020, Studio F at Fox News headquarters was used for "Fox Democracy 2020" coverage.

2020: Republican Opinion of Fox News Declines After Election

In 2020, a Morning Consult survey the week after Election Day showed 30 percent of Republicans in the United States had an unfavorable opinion of Fox News, compared to 67 percent before the election. This decline was attributed to criticism from Donald Trump and the network's early calling of Arizona for Joe Biden.

2020: Highest-Rated Quarter in Network History

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased viewership for all cable news networks, and for the first calendar quarter, Fox News had their highest-rated quarter in the network's history, with Nielsen showing a prime time average total audience of 3.387 million viewers. Sean Hannity's program, Hannity, was the top-rated show in cable news for the quarter averaging 4.2 million viewers.

January 1, 2021: Fox News temporarily unavailable on Cignal

On January 1, 2021, Fox News Channel was unavailable on Cignal Channel 131 in the Philippines due to contract expiration.

January 2021: Bill Sammon fired after Georgia runoff

After the January 2021 Georgia runoff election, Bill Sammon, the Washington managing editor who oversaw the Decision Desk, was fired by Fox News. Sammon stood by the network's 2020 election call for Biden.

January 2021: Murdoch urges focus on Georgia runoff election

As the January 2021 Georgia runoff election approached, which would determine party control of the U.S. Senate, Rupert Murdoch advised Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott to concentrate on Georgia and offer assistance, anticipating that Trump would eventually concede.

February 2021: Smartmatic files defamation suit against Fox News and hosts

In February 2021, Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation suit against Fox News, the three hosts, Powell and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani.

February 2021: Poynter Institute Argues Fox News Not Based in Truth

In February 2021, Tom Jones of the Poynter Institute argued that Fox News content, especially during primetime, is "not based in truth."

March 26, 2021: Dominion files defamation lawsuit against Fox News

On March 26, 2021, Dominion filed a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, alleging that Fox and some of its pundits spread conspiracy theories about Dominion.

April 2021: Fox attorney argues network was reporting allegations

In April 2021, a Fox attorney argued that the network was simply "reporting allegations made by a sitting President and his lawyers."

April 2021: Fox News falsely links Biden's climate agenda to meat consumption

In April 2021, several Fox News and Fox Business personalities amplified a Daily Mail story that falsely linked a university study to President Joe Biden's climate change agenda. They incorrectly asserted that Americans would be compelled to reduce their meat consumption to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, with John Roberts even stating to "say goodbye to your burgers." He later acknowledged the story was false.

May 12, 2021: Fox News reports Biden resumes border wall construction

On May 12, 2021, Fox News reported on its website that "Biden resumes border wall construction after promising to halt it". Bill Melugin reported that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would restart border wall construction, but after clarification from the Corps of Engineers, Melugin updated the story, and the headline was changed to "Biden administration to resume border wall levee construction as crisis worsens." Despite this, Brian Kilmeade and Sean Hannity continued to broadcast the original story without mentioning the levee.

May 18, 2021: Fox News files motion to dismiss Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit

On May 18, 2021, Fox News filed a motion to dismiss the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit, asserting a First Amendment right "to inform the public about newsworthy allegations of paramount public concern."

August 2021: Fox News coordinated with Ron DeSantis aides to promote him

In August 2021, the Tampa Bay Times reported that Fox News producers coordinated with aides of Florida governor Ron DeSantis to promote his political prospects through frequent network appearances and exchanging talking points.

September 2021: Fox Corporation's employees fully vaccinated

In September 2021, over 90% of Fox Corporation's full-time employees had been fully vaccinated even as Fox News questioned the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.

December 2021: Majed Khalil sues Fox, Dobbs and Powell for $250 million

In December 2021, Venezuelan businessman Majed Khalil sued Fox, Dobbs and Powell for $250 million, alleging they had falsely implicated him in rigging Dominion and Smartmatic machines.

December 16, 2021: Motion to dismiss Dominion lawsuit denied

On December 16, 2021, the motion to dismiss was denied by a Delaware Superior Court judge.

2021: NewsGuard reports on accuracy of FoxNews.com content

According to NewsGuard in 2021, while much of FoxNews.com's content from beat reporters and network correspondents is accurate, the website has regularly advanced false and misleading claims on various topics.

2021: Fox News adjusts programming towards opinions-about-the-news

In 2021, Fox News adjusted its programming to feature "less news on the air and more opinions-about-the-news" to retain viewers who were shifting to more conservative competitors.

2021: Settlement for Human Rights Violations

In 2021, Fox News agreed to a $1 million settlement with New York City after the Commission on Human Rights cited a pattern of violating the NYC Human Rights Law. Fox News claimed full compliance but settled to continue preventive measures against discrimination and harassment.

2021: Regained lead in cable news ratings

In 2021, Fox News regained its lead in cable news ratings ahead of CNN and MSNBC, following a decline in ratings post-2020 U.S. presidential election.

2021: Shepard Smith says his presence on Fox was "untenable"

In 2021, Shepard Smith stated that his presence on Fox had become "untenable" due to the "falsehoods" and "lies" intentionally spread on the network's opinion shows.

March 2022: Judge rules Smartmatic suit can proceed

In March 2022, a New York State Supreme Court judge ruled that the Smartmatic suit could proceed, though he dismissed allegations against Sidney Powell and Pirro, and some claims against Giuliani. The judge allowed allegations against Bartiromo and Dobbs to stand.

June 2022: Judge declines to dismiss Dominion suit against Fox News

In June 2022, a Delaware Superior Court judge again declined to dismiss the Dominion suit against Fox News, and also allowed Dominion to sue the network's corporate parent, Fox Corporation.

June 16, 2022: Fox News Returns to Cignal

On June 16, 2022, Fox News Channel returned to Cignal Channel 131 in the Philippines.

December 2022: Dominion acquired Fox News communications

In December 2022, The New York Times reported that Dominion Voting Systems had acquired communications between Fox News executives and hosts, revealing that they were aware of the falsity of the network's reporting. The communications also included interactions between a Fox Corporation employee and the Trump White House. Dominion's attorneys stated that Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson, and Fox executives confirmed this under oath.

2022: Wikipedia Community Downgrades Fox News to Marginally Reliable

In 2022, the Wikipedia community announced that Fox News would now be considered "marginally reliable" in its reporting of science and politics, that Fox News cannot be used as a source for "exceptional claims", and that its reliability would be decided on an individual case-by-case basis for other scientific and political claims. The decision only applies to news articles on Fox News' website and does not apply to Fox News articles about topics that are not scientific or political.

February 2023: Release of Fox's internal communications

In February 2023, Fox's internal communications were released, showing that its presenters and senior executives privately doubted Donald Trump's claims of a stolen election.

February 2023: Court rejects Fox News bid to dismiss Smartmatic suit

In February 2023, The New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division unanimously rejected a Fox News bid to dismiss the Smartmatic suit. The court reinstated defamation allegations against Giuliani and Pirro.

February 2023: Dominion court filing reveals Fox News hosts' messages

In February 2023, a Dominion court filing revealed that Fox News primetime hosts had exchanged messages insulting and mocking Trump advisers, indicating that they were aware the allegations made by Powell and Giuliani were false. This revelation further highlighted the hosts' knowledge of the falsity of the election fraud claims.

March 2023: Removal of Fox News from Movistar Plus+ Satellite Offer

In March 2023, Fox News was removed from Movistar Plus+'s satellite offer in Spain.

March 2023: Controversial Tucker Carlson Tonight Episode

In March 2023, an episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight contained content described as "malicious misinformation" regarding trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, and two-spirit communities.

March 2023: More Fox internal communications released

In March 2023, further internal communications from Fox were released. One November 2020 communication revealed Fox CEO Suzanne Scott criticizing fact-checking, and another December 2020 communication showed Scott demanding that fact-checking of Donald Trump's false election claims "has to stop now".

March 31, 2023: Judge rules statements about Dominion were false

On March 31, 2023, Delaware Superior Court judge Eric Davis ruled in a summary judgment that it "is CRYSTAL clear that none of the statements relating to Dominion about the 2020 election are true" and ordered for the case to go to trial.

April 2023: Dobbs and Fox News reach settlement with Khalil

In April 2023, Dobbs and Fox News reached a confidential settlement with Khalil.

April 18, 2023: Fox News settles with Dominion

On April 18, 2023, Fox News reached a settlement with Dominion just before the trial started, concluding the lawsuit. Fox agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million and acknowledged the Court's rulings that certain claims about Dominion were false.

May 2023: CRTC Consultation Regarding Fox News Carriage

In May 2023, the CRTC announced a public consultation regarding Fox News Channel's carriage in Canada, prompted by complaints about a March 2023 episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight.

May 22, 2023: Fox News Tonight Downplays Climate Change

On May 22, 2023, during an episode of Fox News Tonight, correspondent Trace Gallagher downplayed the role of climate change in Italy's drought and floods, attributing the situation to Italian history.

2023: Fox News generates 70% of parent company's profit

In 2023, Fox News generated approximately 70% of its parent company's pre-tax profit, highlighting its significant financial contribution.

2023: Fox settles Dominion defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million

In 2023, Fox settled a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million, acknowledging the court ruling that Fox had broadcast false statements about Dominion and the 2020 election.

2023: Murdoch ditched plan to remerge News Corporation with Fox

In 2023, Rupert Murdoch abandoned a plan to remerge News Corporation with Fox due to resistance from News Corp investors who viewed Fox News as a toxic brand.

2023: Murdoch to step down and hand over responsibilities to Lachlan

In 2023, Rupert Murdoch announced that he would step down from his position and hand responsibilities to his son, Lachlan Murdoch.

2023: Murdoch steps down, Lachlan takes over

In 2023, Rupert Murdoch stepped down from his position at Fox, with his son Lachlan Murdoch taking over both Fox Corporation and News Corp.

2023: Rupert Murdoch Deposed

In 2023, Rupert Murdoch was deposed and testified that some Fox News commentators were endorsing election fraud claims they knew were false.

February 2024: Johns Hopkins University says that Fox News is not a news company

In February 2024, Alan Rosenblatt of Johns Hopkins University stated that Fox News "is an entertainment company that has a news division, not a news company", indicating a blurred distinction between news and opinion.

March 2024: Most Watched News Network

In March 2024, Fox News was the most watched news network in total day and prime time viewers in primetime, with 2.135 million/1.306 million viewers respectively, compared to MSNBC with A25-54 demo, 1.307 million in primetime and 830,000 in day viewers, and CNN with 601,000 in primetime and 462,000 in day viewers.

July 9, 2024: Fox News Ceased Transmission to Remaining Offers in Spain

On July 9, 2024, Fox News ceased transmission to the remaining offers on Movistar Plus+ in Spain.

September 2024: Fox News promotes false "crime crisis" narrative

In September 2024, Media Matters reported that during the Biden presidency, Fox News had promoted a false "crime crisis" narrative, particularly concerning undocumented migrants. Ainsley Earhardt said that even if FBI data were correct, "we're all a little bit more scared than we used to be." Later that month, after the FBI released data showing a 3% decline in violent crime from 2022 to 2023, Fox News's coverage was limited to a 28-second segment that echoed false assertions made by Elon Musk and other Trump supporters.

2024: Jesse Watters promotes conspiracy theory involving Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and the Democratic party

In 2024, Fox News host Jesse Watters promoted a conspiracy theory involving Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and the American Democratic party in hopes of influencing voters ahead of the U.S. presidential primary season.