What Fox affiliates are and how they operate

A Fox affiliate is a local television station that broadcasts Fox network programming but is not owned by Fox Corporation itself. The affiliate has a contract with Fox to air the network's shows — things like NFL games, news programs, and entertainment series — during set time slots. In return, Fox provides the programming at no cost to the station, and both the network and the affiliate sell advertising time during those hours to split the revenue.

Fox affiliates are independently owned, usually by media companies that operate multiple stations across different markets. The owner of a Fox affiliate in Denver is not the same entity that owns the Fox affiliate in Phoenix, though both carry the same network content. This structure lets Fox reach viewers nationwide without owning every station outright, and it lets local owners generate revenue by selling ads and producing their own local news and programming in the hours when they are not required to air Fox content.

The relationship between Fox and its affiliates is governed by a contract that specifies which programs the affiliate must carry, when they must carry them, and how advertising time is divided. If Fox airs a prime-time show at 8 p.m. Eastern time, the affiliate in your market will broadcast it at the same time (adjusted for your time zone). The affiliate cannot choose to skip it or move it to a different hour without Fox's permission.

Key Takeaways

  • Fox affiliates are locally owned stations that broadcast Fox network programming under contract, not stations owned by Fox Corporation.
  • Affiliates carry Fox's national shows during required time slots and produce their own local news, weather, and programming during other hours.
  • Both Fox and the affiliate sell advertising time during network programming, with revenue split according to their contract.
  • You can find your local Fox affiliate by searching "Fox [your city]" or checking the Fox website's station finder tool.
  • Fox affiliates may carry different syndicated shows, local sports, or secondary programming depending on what their owner has licensed.

How to find your local Fox affiliate

To locate your local Fox affiliate, start by visiting the Fox website and using their station finder tool. You enter your zip code or city name, and the tool returns the call letters and channel number of the Fox affiliate that serves your area. The call letters are the station's official identifier — for example, WNYW in New York or KTTV in Los Angeles.

You can also search online for "Fox [your city name]" to find the station's website, which will list its channel number on your cable or satellite provider, its broadcast schedule, and how to contact the newsroom. Local news websites and TV listings also display which channel carries Fox programming in your market.

If you receive over-the-air television through an antenna, your Fox affiliate broadcasts on a specific channel that varies by market. The station's website or a TV listings service will tell you which channel to tune to. Cable and satellite subscribers will find the Fox affiliate on a channel number assigned by their provider — this number can differ between providers in the same city.

What Fox affiliates broadcast

Fox affiliates carry the Fox network schedule during prime time (8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays, with different hours on weekends) and during daytime slots. This includes drama series, comedies, reality shows, sports events like NFL games and World Series broadcasts, and Fox News programming. The specific shows change by season, but the affiliate must carry whatever Fox designates as network programming during those time blocks.

Outside of network hours, Fox affiliates produce and air their own content. Most run local news broadcasts in the morning, at midday, and in the evening — typically a 30-minute or one-hour newscast. They may also air syndicated programs (shows produced by other companies and licensed to air on multiple stations), local sports coverage, or reruns of older series. The mix depends on what the station's owner has purchased the rights to broadcast and what generates advertising revenue in that market.

Some Fox affiliates also operate a secondary digital channel or streaming service where they air additional programming, weather forecasts, or continuous news coverage. These digital offerings vary widely by station and market.

The difference between Fox and Fox affiliates

Fox Corporation owns and operates a small number of stations directly — these are called Fox-owned stations or O&O stations (owned and operated). Fox owns WNYW in New York, KTTV in Los Angeles, WFLD in Chicago, and a handful of others in major markets. These stations are part of Fox's corporate structure and answer directly to Fox management.

Fox affiliates, by contrast, are owned by separate companies that have signed contracts to carry Fox programming. The affiliate owner makes decisions about local news coverage, hiring, and what non-network programming to air. Fox does not control the affiliate's day-to-day operations, though it does enforce the terms of the affiliation contract — for example, requiring the station to air certain programs or maintain broadcast standards.

From a viewer's perspective, the difference is usually invisible. Both Fox-owned stations and Fox affiliates broadcast the same network shows at the same times. The distinction matters mainly to the station's owner and to Fox's corporate structure.

How Fox affiliates make money

Fox affiliates generate revenue primarily through advertising. During network programming, Fox and the affiliate split the available ad time — Fox sells some minutes nationally (ads that run on all Fox stations), and the affiliate sells the remaining minutes to local and regional advertisers. The split is defined in the affiliation contract and varies by market and negotiation.

During the affiliate's own programming — local news, syndicated shows, and other content — the station keeps all advertising revenue. This is why local news is so important to affiliates: it is programming they control entirely, and it attracts local advertisers who want to reach viewers in that specific market.

Affiliates also may receive retransmission fees from cable and satellite providers. When a cable company carries a Fox affiliate's signal, it pays the station a fee per subscriber. This revenue has grown significantly over the past 15 years and now represents a substantial portion of many affiliates' income.

Why some markets have multiple Fox stations

Most markets have one primary Fox affiliate, but some larger cities have more than one station carrying Fox programming. This can happen when a media company owns multiple stations in the same market and has Fox affiliation contracts for more than one of them. It can also occur when a station changes ownership or when Fox grants an additional affiliation to serve a specific part of a large metropolitan area.

When multiple Fox affiliates exist in one market, they typically carry the same network programming but may differ in their local news operations, secondary programming, or digital offerings. Cable and satellite providers usually carry the primary affiliate (the one with the strongest signal or longest history in the market) as the default Fox channel, though subscribers can often access the secondary affiliate as well.

Changes in Fox affiliate ownership and structure

Fox affiliate ownership has consolidated significantly over the past two decades. Large media companies like Sinclair Broadcast Group, Gray Television, and Nexstar Media Group now own dozens of Fox affiliates across the country. When a large company owns multiple affiliates, it can share resources like news gathering, weather forecasting, and back-office operations, which can reduce costs but may also lead to less local decision-making at individual stations.

The number of Fox affiliates and their locations can change when stations change ownership, when Fox moves its affiliation from one station to another in a market, or when stations merge or go off the air. These changes are less common than they were 10 or 15 years ago, but they still occur, particularly in smaller markets where advertising revenue has declined.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Fox programming without a cable subscription?

Yes. If you have an antenna, you can receive your local Fox affiliate's over-the-air broadcast for free. The specific channel varies by market. You can also watch some Fox programming through the Fox website or the Fox Now app, though access to full episodes and live broadcasts often requires a cable login or a paid streaming subscription.

Why does my Fox affiliate show different programs than another city's Fox station?

During network hours, all Fox affiliates carry the same programming. Outside those hours, each affiliate produces its own local news and chooses its own syndicated shows and secondary programming. The owner of your local station decides what to air in those time slots based on what will attract local advertisers and viewers in your market.

What if my local Fox affiliate goes off the air?

If your Fox affiliate stops broadcasting, Fox will typically move its affiliation to another station in your market or arrange for a nearby station to carry Fox programming. You may need to retune your antenna or contact your cable provider to find the new channel. The station's website or a local news source will announce the change.

Is my local Fox station the same as Fox News?

No. Your local Fox affiliate is a separate entity from Fox News. The affiliate may air Fox News programming during certain hours (like morning or evening news blocks), but the station itself produces local news with its own reporters and anchors. Fox News is a national cable news network owned by Fox Corporation and available through cable and satellite providers.

How do I contact my local Fox affiliate?

Visit your local Fox affiliate's website (search for "Fox [your city]") to find phone numbers, email addresses, and contact forms for the newsroom, programming department, or general inquiries. Most stations also have social media accounts where you can send messages or complaints about programming or technical issues.