John Landgraf, Chairman of FX, on the Network’s Big Emmy Night and What…

Last week, The Walt Disney Company shattered records at the 76th Emmy® Awards, garnering 60 wins across its content brands, studios, and platforms.

A major part of that record-breaking success was FX, which received 36 awards. That was the most for any of the company's brands or studios, and the most in the history of the brand.

To find out more about how FX achieved such an amazing feat, we spoke with John Landgraf, Chairman of FX Content & FX Productions.

Under Landgraf - who also oversees National Geographic and Onyx Collective - FX has brought in big ratings and big acclaim with hits such as Shōgun (which won 18 awards at this year's Emmys, setting a new Television Academy record for any series in a single year) and The Bear (which nabbed the most wins for a comedy series in a single year, taking home 11 wins).

Here's what Landgraf had to say about FX's biggest night and what's next.

You've been with FX for over 20 years, and you have spearheaded iconic programming that audiences and critics love. This year FX received 36 awards, the most in the history of the network. Is there anything about now being fully integrated into The Walt Disney Company ecosystem that has enhanced or changed how FX is able to deliver such exceptional storytelling?

FX is now a global TV brand capable of delivering series on the magnitude of Shōgun only because we're part of The Walt Disney Company. We have international reach at scale thanks to exceptional streaming services like Hulu and Disney+. That's only possible in the streaming era - and we're extremely fortunate to be at the forefront of it because of Disney.

On a day-to-day basis, the support of so many teams across Disney enables us to focus even more intently on creating the best possible content. The FX brand of programming relies on a curation process that really hasn't changed in my years at FX. Being able to spend more time with our creative partners has only enhanced our ability to craft stories like Shōgun, The Bear and so many more.

We're so grateful for this year's Emmy Award wins and the opportunity to help Disney set the all-time record for Emmy wins in a single year. I think this year's success proves the value of how Disney and Bob Iger structured for streaming after acquiring FX and the other FOX assets. Quality brands that can maintain their individual identities have a better ability to pursue excellence, and together we can compete with anyone and be best in class.

One strategic advantage for Disney is the way it can bring content to consumers across multiple platforms. We see this firsthand with many FX series being available on linear platforms as well as streaming via Hulu and Disney+. Why is that important from a creative standpoint as well as a business one?

We want to reach as many people as possible so it's just smart business to meet them where they are. Our loyal cable audience has been there from the start and is still an important part of the mix. To pull in younger and more global audiences we are available globally on Hulu and Disney+ - which are additive to a remarkable degree.

Our partnership with Hulu had an immediate positive impact on our viewership numbers and was a lifeline enabling FX to evolve into a streaming brand. They largely introduced a new audience to our catalog and current series, making it possible now, with Disney+, to bring a show like Shōgun, and our entire slate, to a global audience. That's why we took the risk and why we spent the money.

The fact that we have so many avenues of distribution, from linear to streaming to home video and beyond, is such a relief. However TV evolves, I feel we'll be able to take advantage of all of the existing and emerging outlets to deliver the FX brand of programming in a way that simply wasn't possible even a few years ago.

John Landgraf and Fargo star Jon Hamm at The Walt Disney Company Post-Emmys® Celebration.

Creating premier storytelling starts with having a strong relationship with talent. What makes Disney Entertainment the best home for the world's best creators?

There isn't an entertainment company as big as Disney and for its size and breadth Disney Entertainment takes incredible care to support and empower its creative partners. That's always been very important to FX and I see it reflected in the cultures of our sister brands and studios.

We're trying to give creative people a home to take their ideas from inception to premiere. That collaboration infuses every step of development, production, marketing and publicity. How we help artists make their shows has been key to attracting the very best talent and yielding one of our industry's highest batting averages. It's what makes FX, ABC, Freeform, Hulu, National Geographic, the Onyx Collective and so many other brands special.

Disney is a creative company started by an artist over 100 years ago, and where the core value has always been to foster and share great, innovative stories with consumers. We are proud to do our part by investing in our relationships with talent at every level to tell the best stories possible.

Following this year's record-setting Emmys, what's next? What excites you in the coming year and beyond?

I'm excited that we're already back at it. Even as we celebrate the Emmys, we are launching five shows in September with four of them - English Teacher, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, Grotesquerie and Social Studies - being new, joining the anticipated return of The Old Man. We close out the year with the limited series Say Nothing and American Horror Stories and the final season of What We Do in the Shadows. FX heads into next year with a bunch of new shows, including our next global event series Alien: Earth, and the next chapter of The Bear.

We love the opportunity to bring great TV to fans and couldn't do it without the dedication of everyone on the FX team. To amplify that with the resources of The Walt Disney Company is amazing. Under the leadership of Dana Walden and Alan Bergman, and with the support of Joe Earley, Eric Schrier, Lauren Tempest, Alisa Bowen, Shannon Ryan, Karey Burke and so many others, Disney Entertainment has never been more poised for success. I'm proud to be part of that creative powerhouse.

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