Founded by Simon Fuller in London in 1985, the company co-produced Pop Idol in the United Kingdom with Thames Television in 2001.

Founded in London, England in 1985, 19 Entertainment was named after the Paul Hardcastle song which was one of Simon Fuller's first notable successes while working as an A&R man for Chrysalis Records.

An immense success, Maggie Brown in The Guardian states, "the show became a seminal reality/entertainment format once on air that autumn".

[1] In March 2005, 19 Entertainment founder Simon Fuller sold the company to Robert Sillerman's CKX, Inc. in a cash and stock deal worth $210 million.

Following this, CKX announced its intention to shift 19 to becoming a US business focusing solely on American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance brands.