Seth MacFarlane, creator of Family Guy, shown in October 2006, is believed to have signed a nine-figure deal with Fox. (Danny Moloshok/Associated Press)Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane has signed a long-term deal with 20th Century Fox TV that will have him working for the studio to 2012.
It took 2½ years of negotiations to reach the agreement, said to be worth nine figures (more than $100 million US).
MacFarlane is to remain as executive producer of Family Guy, new series American Dad and his next project The Cleveland Show, a live-action spinoff.
It also covers his voicework on the animated shows and future spinoffs he may be planning.
"It effectively locks me into 20th," MacFarlane told Variety. "They have found ways to allow us to do what we need to do to make the show what it is. It's great to be in a permanent, stable relationship … because I like to think that I have a number of other shows in me."
Despite being cancelled, Family Guy was brought back twice by Fox and remains a cultural phenomenon the network has decided it wants to hang onto.
"It's one of those few series an exec gets to work on in their career that rises to a level where it's not just a TV show anymore," 20th Century Fox TV chairman Dana Walden said.
"The audience for this show is so dedicated that it becomes a prime brand for a company like ours."
MacFarlane was able to wrest back creative control of Family Guy after Fox completed episodes without his involvement during the writers' strike. He has since recut those shows.
