Film 24 (channel)

Film24
Launched	2007
Closed	4 April 2011
Owned by	Film24 Limited
Picture format	576i (4:3, SDTV)
Audience share	0.07% (December 2010, BARB)
Replaced by	Sony Entertainment Television
Website	www.film24.com
Availability (at time of closure)
Satellite
Sky	Channel 157
Eutelsat 28A	11585H 27500 2/3

Film24 was a British television channel, that was available on Sky channel 157. The company had offices at Pinewood Studios and produced content for the TV channel as well as programmes for international TV, the Internet and mobile distribution.

Before its sale in 2010, the channel averaged around 800,000 viewers a week.

Film24 was an independent, multi-platform content business, founded by Nicky J Davis and based at Pinewood Film Studios, that produced programmes and short features about the film industry and films themselves to satisfy the ever-growing consumer demand for film consumption and the audience's fascination with the movie business. Content was available via its own website, on mobile via RokTV, IPTV via Joost and as programming blocks on Sky.

Following a trial run on Sky channel 138, with excellent feedback from both viewers and the film industry alike, Film24 secured a permanent home in the Entertainment section of the Sky Electronic Programming Guide by acquiring Sky Channel 158 (Bonanza) and all its assets from Optimistic Entertainment in May 2007 through major shareholder Caparo Ventures.

Film24, the TV channel, finally launched in July 2007 as a channel about film, not airing films, but with original programming covering large and small films and DVD releases, new talent, regional cinema, films in production and behind-the-scenes programmes reporting and explaining every aspect of the film industry.

In Spring 2008, on line community X-taster were commissioned to provide Film24's online offering. Following five failed attempts, numerous delays, and a serious split in Xtasters founding management team, in October 2009, Film24.com relaunched, making the channel theoretically interactive for web users. The intention had been to launch a video-on-demand service, with a view to showing full-length episodes and films in the UK and Ireland.

In the latter half of 2009, the COO, Andrew Burns, brought in a new programming strategy, focusing on acquiring programmes. This new direction saw an increase in celebrity programming, demonstrating the Hollywood lifestyle and reality television shows. Film24 also showed awards shows, with the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards airing in 2010. The Screen Actors Guild Awards were transmitted live in the UK.

In September 2009, Film24 commissioned Starstruck Media to relaunch flagship programme Film Xtra. Originally, thirteen 15 minute programmes were agreed, but the programme was soon made into a half-hour feature, and continued to look at new cinema releases, home entertainment releases, and news from the world of film. The programme was presented by former CBBC and Top of the Pops presenter, Adrian Dickson. A spin-off series, that was broadcast post the 9 p.m. watershed - FXU, started in January 2010, presented by Tim Fornara.