February 08, 2006
Channel 4 is to relaunch its movie channel FilmFour in July as a free-to-air service.
FilmFour will become the UK?s only major free-to-air film channel, available at no cost to every digital TV home after the broadcaster also confirmed FilmFour will also launch on Freeview for the first time.
The FilmFour free-to-air relaunch will involve the closure of FilmFour Weekly, although it is Channel 4?s intention to keep a one-hour time-shifted version of the relaunched channel, FilmFour+1, running on digital satellite and cable platforms.
Andy Duncan, Channel 4 Chief Executive, said: "Channel 4 has a pedigree in film that is second to none amongst British broadcasters ?we?ve not only showcased the best films on Channel 4 and FilmFour, we?ve actually funded and produced many of them as well. E4 has shown the ratings gains that can be made by going free-to-air and I?m convinced that a highly distinct and desirable brand like FilmFour can also make an impact on a wider audience."
Currently Sky customers pay upto £7 a month to receive the FilmFour service.
Video on demand service
Channel 4 has also announced that it is planning the launch of a FilmFour branded video-on-demand subscription service on various media platforms ? including broadband, mobile and cable ? to follow later in the year.
Duncan added: "This change will significantly extend our presence in multi-channel homes in advance of digital switchover. It will also strengthen our public service contribution by offering regular showcases for British and European movies, including films financed by Channel 4 itself through its £10m annual production fund."
"Our plans to launch FilmFour On Demand, available on broadband platforms, will enhance viewer choice further and complement the free-to-air offering."
"FilmFour has always been about great films you know and great films you don?t ? now all those great films will be absolutely free."
Topic: FilmFour to relaunch free-to-air (Read 1493 times)