House M.D. first premiered on the Fox network in the United States on November 16, 2004. Fox broadcast the medical drama throughout its entire eight-season run.
The series was created by David Shore and produced by Heel & Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions, with Universal Television involved in distribution. Its premise followed Gregory House and his diagnostic team as they investigated rare or puzzling illnesses at a teaching hospital.
Fox scheduled House in prime time and promoted it as a character-driven medical mystery rather than a conventional hospital soap opera. The show's blend of procedural clues, ethical conflicts and House's unusual personality helped it become one of the network's signature dramas.
Other major US broadcast networks, including NBC, CBS and ABC, did not premiere House. International broadcasters later carried the program under titles such as House and Dr. House.