TMZ is now an entity of Fox Entertainment. The celebrity news website that includes TMZ.com, TMZ Sports, TMZ bus tours, and the television show TMZ Live, has been acquired from WarnerMedia by the Fox, according to a statement from TMZ. Under the new company, TMZ co-founder and attorney Harvey Levin will maintain his position as managing editor, while Rob Wade, president of alternative entertainment and specials at Fox Entertainment, will oversee the entire company.
“The unique and powerful brand Harvey has created in TMZ has forever changed the entertainment industry and we’re excited to welcome them to Fox,” said Lachlan Murdoch, executive chairman and chief executive of Fox Corporation. “TMZ has been an impactful program for our Fox television stations and broadcast partners for many years and I know Jack Abernethy and Charlie Collier will find creative ways to utilize and expand this content in effective and compelling ways for our audiences.”
As WarnerMedia undergoes rebranding and a merger with Discovery, the deal made sense for TMZ, which airs its shows on several Fox-owned television stations and has featured a number of specials, including Harry & Meghan: The Royals in Crisis.
“We see great potential in building upon this franchise by adding new creative ventures with Harvey and everyone at TMZ,” said Charlie Collier, CEO of Fox Entertainment.
TMZ, also known as “Thirty-Mile Zone,” was founded in 2005 by Levin and Jim Paratore, producer of The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Tyra Banks Show, and former president of Warner Bros. Telepictures Productions. With an exclusive tap in the circle of Hollywood, the celebrity news website made a reputation for being first to obtain information and break major stories using first responders and emergency personnel as sources.
The amount of the acquisition has not been fully disclosed.
