Building begins on Fox facility in Woodlands

Fox Networks Group recently broke ground on a new transmission facility on 30 acres of land in The Woodlands' commercial Research Forest area.

The 28-network company will coordinate signals for its national and local stations from the site to deliver shows across the country.

Called Fox Network Center-Houston, the facility will alleviate overcrowding at its Houston location and should be completed by the end of 2007. The new facility will double the original building's capacity and employ as many as 250 more people.

Local resources

"Having a facility there in Houston is very efficient," he said. "It's centrally located and there is a lot of talent down there. There are engineering professionals, the kind of people we're looking for in order to run this facility."

Fox Network Center-Houston will employ around 500 people, more than 100 culled from The Woodlands area.

J.R. Moore, Montgomery County tax assessor/collector, said that while the county seasoned the pot with a 10-year tax abatement, The Woodlands will prosper with new jobs and more media industry relocating because of the network.

"I think it will be a very positive impact. No doubt about it," he said.

The facility will bring in more than $1 million in taxes for the county each year and host a payroll of $14.6 million annually.

"It's a win-win situation," Moore said. "It's definitely going to be an asset to the county."

Boost to business

"It impacts our ability to attract other businesses and make them notice us," he said. "Fox represents by its name. When we give lists of major employers and Fox is listed, people take a second look. It helps enhance the attractiveness of our area."

Tyrer said while the company brings economic benefits to the area, Fox Network Center-Houston will hopefully become part of The Woodlands community.

"What we bring to the community is similar to the way we operate our other businesses. We're very grass roots," Tyrer said. "What I mean is (we're) very interested in localism. Working and not only serving, but also becoming an important component of those communities."

With construction under way, the 206,000-square-foot facility will be situated in the heart of The Woodlands.

Joel Deretchin, The Woodlands Commercial Owners Association president, said the company has provided ample room for the trademark piney woods.

"I think the Fox facility is a great addition to The Woodlands," he said. "I have seen the plans, and they have taken great pains to provide large forest preserves around the property. I don't think there will be any negative impact to the community."

Media market

Fox Network Group owns and operates Fox Television stations, one of the largest local television providers in America, Tyrer said. The combination of local channels and national stations has ingrained the company as a grass-roots business.

"We like to think we have the best of both worlds," Tyrer said.

Over the past five years, Fox Network Group has added a new station each year. In 2001, National Geographic Channel was brought into the company, then Speed, Fuel TV in 2004, Fox College Sports and Fox Reality in early 2006. The network is planning to bring a high-definition National Geographic channel to viewers soon.

No plans have been made concerning the present Fox Network-Houston headquarters.

Tyrer said the company hopes to make its home in The Woodlands but hasn't ruled out using the existing facility.

kimberly.stauffer@chron.com