Film Four
| Film4 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Launched | 1 November 1998 |
| Owned by | Channel Four Television Corporation |
| Picture format |
576i (SDTV 16:9), 1080i (HDTV) |
| Audience share | 1.23% 0.24% (+1) (September 2015, BARB) |
| Slogan | "Great films for free" |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Formerly called | FilmFour (1998–2006) |
| Sister channel(s) | |
| Website | www.film4.com |
|
Availability
|
|
| Terrestrial | |
| Freeview | Channel 15 Channel 45 (+1) |
| Satellite | |
| Freesat | Channel 300 Channel 301 (+1) |
| Sky | Channel 315 (SD/HD) Channel 316 (+1) Channel 342 (SD) |
| Astra 2E | 10714 H 22000 5/6 10714 H 22000 5/6 (+1) |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media | Channel 428 Channel 429 (HD) Channel 430 (+1) |
| Virgin Media Ireland | Channel 323 Channel 324 (+1) |
| UPC Cablecom (Switzerland) | Channel 166 (CH-D) |
| Naxoo (Switzerland) | Channel 226 |
| WightFibre | Channel 29 Channel 30 (+1) |
| IPTV | |
| BT | Programmes available on-demand |
|
SwisscomTV (Switzerland) |
Channel arbitrary |
| Streaming media | |
| All 4 | Watch live |
| FilmOn | Watch live |
| Sky Go | Watch live (UK and Ireland only) |
Film4 is a British digital television channel available in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by the Channel Four Television Corporation, that screens films. It offers films in standard definition free of charge. To access the high definition version of the channel, viewers must have a paid subscription with Virgin Media or Sky. The channel is also available in the Republic of Ireland on Virgin Media, Sky and Eir Vision and in Switzerland on UPC Cablecom and Swisscom.
Film4 was started in 1982 as Film4 Productions, a film production company owned by Channel Four Television Corporation and has been responsible for backing a large number of films made in the United Kingdom, and around the world. The company's first production was Walter, directed by Stephen Frears, which was released in 1982. In 1998, the outfit was re-branded as FilmFour, to coincide with the launch of a new Digital TV channel of the same name. Film4 was originally known as FilmFour and became Channel 4's second channel (after Channel 4 itself). It was a subscription-only service available on satellite television via the Sky platform, digital terrestrial via ITV Digital (until the platform went into administration in 2002), and most UK cable services. It cost £5.99 a month, eventually rising to £7. The launch night, which was also broadcast on Channel 4, was hosted by Johnny Vaughan and the first film to be shown was What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
Channel 4 cut its budget from £30 to £10 million and 50 staff in 2002, due to mounting losses, and re-integrated FilmFour as a division of its TV operation to continue to invest in new films. The cuts were a consequence of FilmFour's unsuccessful attempts to compete with Hollywood. David Thompson, head of BBC Films, described it as "a very sad day" for the British film industry. The British film industry needs confidence right now and this doesn't inspire confidence,"
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Wikipedia