– co-founder of the
Fox Broadcasting Company|alt=An old man with a bald head and a black suit, as well as glasses, is standing, smiling. While Fox began operating in 1986, it began its official primetime lineup the following year with the series
Married... with Children and
The Tracey Ullman Show. As of October 2012, Fox maintains 19.5 hours of network programming per week. The
animated comedy series The Simpsons is one of Fox's most popular shows, and is the longest running sitcom, as well as animated series, of all time, contributing to the network's success. Fox began airing in high-definition on September 12, 2004, with a series of
National Football League (NFL) American football games. Fox had a programming block for children titled
Fox Kids, which ran from September 8, 1990, to September 7, 2002. Unlike the "
three larger networks", which aired primetime programming from 8 to 11 p.m. (
EST) Mondays to Saturdays and 7 to 11 p.m. (EST) Sundays, Fox has traditionally avoided programming in the 10 p.m. (EST) time interval, leaving that hour to affiliates to program locally (primarily with local newscasts). On April 21, 2012, Fox celebrated its 25th-anniversary, with a two-hour television special featuring people related to Fox and its shows. It presented Fox's programs
24,
American Idol,
Cops,
Family Guy,
Married... with Children,
The Simpsons, and
The X-Files, among other programs. Fox is a full member of the
North American Broadcasters Association (NABA) and the
National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). ==Current programming==