The Simpsons has been on the air for three decades - that's a truly incredible feat - and, despite Disney's impending purchase of 20th Century Fox, it appears that The Simpsons won't be affected - at least if Fox gets what they want that is.
While speaking at the Television Critics Association summer press tour; Dana Walden and Gary Newman, CEOs of Fox, revealed that they plan to keep The Simpsons with the network even after Disney's purchase - Walden explained:
Simpsons is so much a part of the brand. There’s been such an incredible halo effect of that show and the other animated series that are on our Sunday night. There are no plans for them to go anywhere other than FOX.
We have a couple years of episodes already in progress on The Simpsons. So down the line, what kind of decision is made I can’t really speak to. But for the foreseeable future, there’s so much upside and benefit to having a great Emmy Award winning, smart, provocative, quality show, that there’s no consideration of not ordering more Simpsons.
Though moving the animated series to one of Disney's networks seems like a reasonable idea, Fox aren't having it - as Walden went on to add:
As long as we’ve all been in the business, networks have licensed shows they don’t have ownership of. The Simpsons generates lots of revenue and opportunities off network through consumer products and otherwise, and I feel confident that Disney and FOX are going to find a way to both have an interest in that show, and I anticipate it continuing to stay on the FOX network.
It seems as if times are truly changing within the industry as The Simpsons has run on consistently debuted on Fox since its inception. We'll just have to wait and see what the Disney execs think of Fox's intentions.
What do you think about Walden's comments? Would you like The Simpsons to remain at Fox?