The channel runs many programs produced by
Fox and in fact was originally called "Fox" before adding the "8" to the title. The channel was found on channel 8 on
Foxtel analogue and
Austar standard and channel 108 on Foxtel Digital and Austar Digital. Fox8 is Foxtel's most popular subscription channel and peak channel. It is also
News Corporation's peak Australian channel (similar to
Sky1 in the
UK and
FX in the
USA). FOX8 is one of the very few channels to have been continuously broadcast since Foxtel's foundation in 1995. During the late 1990s, Fox8 used to show Saturday Night
NRL matches. FOX8+2 was introduced with the Foxtel and Austar Digital Services on Channel 150. This allows the viewing of the same programs on Fox8, but two hours later. One of the known advantages of this TimeShift Channel, is that
Western Australian viewers can see this channel at the correct time in their state as advertised. FOX8 and Foxtel have a deal with
Network Ten to receive their shows bought from the
USA Fox network. Some shows like this include
The Simpsons,
Futurama, and
The Simple Life. During the migration to the digital platform, Foxtel's
Fox Kids (similar to the US version) channel was discontinued in 2004 and a selection of its
programming was moved to FOX8 in the early mornings. The channel was rebranded significantly at the start of 2005, matching the American Fox channel's logo with the addition of the
8 at the end. FOX8's overall graphics also changed in style. Shortly after the rebranding, the station received its first official website. The website was relaunched in October 2005 as a fuller visual experience showing extracts from the top shows. During the
2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the channel screened a 17-day, multiple animated show
marathon named "Battle of the Animations" involving
Family Guy,
American Dad!,
The Simpsons,
Futurama and
King of the Hill. The event concluded on Sunday 24 August with a smaller marathon involving the winning show, as chosen by the viewing audience over the course of the 17 days. The winning show was
Family Guy. On 1 November 2008, as part of the launch of a new channel named
111 HITS (now
Fox Comedy), many shows from Fox8 and other channels moved to 111 Hits. On 15 November 2009, FOX8 HD launched on Austar and Foxtel. In 2009, it had the highest rating non-sporting related program or event on
subscription television in Australia, ''
Australia's Next Top Model''. On 16 March 2010, FOX8 launched a brand new website. On 21 May 2011, FOX8 underwent a major rebrand, incorporating a new look, with a new style of branding programs. In October 2013, FOX8 launched a new on-air look that included the new slogan
TV for the Now Gen (replacing
So Fox8). On 12 December 2022, it was confirmed that Fox8 would be taking
The Simpsons and all other Fox adult animation shows off the network in a move to revamp the channel as well as encourage viewers to sign up to
Disney+, which has all Fox adult animation shows and which is also available as an app on Foxtel. A final Simpsons marathon aired on the network that month which concluded on 31 December. On 28 September 2023, inline with the rebrand of Foxtel's FOX-branded channels (ex.
FOX Arena to
Arena), FOX8 updated their logo. In September 2024, Fox8 shuffled its schedule, and pulled all live WWE broadcasts off the network in a move to give the slots reserved for the live Raw, SmackDown and NXT broadcasts an entertainment-led revamp, as well as encourage viewers to prepare for the move of all WWE programming to Netflix. 1-hour episodes of WWE NXT and classic episodes of the original WWF Superstars continued to air on Fox8 until December 2024. ==Programming==