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Film Four to go free?

DMC · 2005-12-06 18:24:29

From: Media Guardian FilmFour may go free http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1660144,00.html Stephen Brook Tuesday December 6, 2005

06-12-2005 6:24pm

#1

DMC

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From: Media Guardian

FilmFour may go free

http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,1660144,00.html
Stephen Brook
Tuesday December 6, 2005

Channel 4 could scrap the subscription on its premium FilmFour service and put the movie channel onto Freeview next year.

Such a move, which would see the FilmFour go from 400,000 subscription homes to 15m homes with digital TV, is being considered by the Channel 4 chief executive, Andy Duncan, but no decision has been presented to the board.

Mr Duncan is mulling several options about how to use the channel's Freeview capacity but believes there is a gap for a film channel even though ITV2 and ITV3 frequently screen movies.

If Channel 4 decides to make changes it must approach Sky and negotiate to take FilmFour off the premium platform.

The most likely option is to find a slot on Freeview for the channel, which shows a diet of British classics and modern American and European films.

Films on the channel are screened uninterrupted by advertising, but that could change if the subscription, which costs £7 a month for Sky viewers, is removed.

Seven years after its launch, FilmFour has started to make a modest profit but Channel 4 has decided it cannot make a vast amount of money from the service under its subscription model.

If the channel moves to Freeview Channel 4 might introduce advertising to make up for the revenue losses.

Digital channel E4 moved from subscription to Freeview in May and was rewarded with a doubling of its audience share, thanks in part to Big Brother.

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#2 06-12-2005 6:47pm

Mossy Monk

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it would be a nice move. from my own perspective they do show some good movies but not enough to justify a subscription

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#3 06-12-2005 6:57pm

DMC

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Indeed. I was the same at the free weekend they had. Some great stuff, but thanks for the freebie.

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#4 06-12-2005 8:24pm

Tony

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do they mean just freeview or freesat?

Desktop PC Boards discount code on https://www.satellite.ie/ is boards.ie

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#5 06-12-2005 8:34pm

DMC

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Or FTV... this line explains that...

If Channel 4 decides to make changes it must approach Sky and negotiate to take FilmFour off the premium platform.

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#6 06-12-2005 8:40pm

byte

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byte

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Most interesting.

Like others, I would watch it if it were free to view or even part of a standard package, but I can't justify paying for it on its own.

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#7 07-12-2005 6:41pm

mike65

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Some good news for cable subscribers as Channel 4 head honcho is considering making FF free, presumably at the expense of more ad breaks.

http://www.brandrepublic.com/bulletins/media/article/531413/channel-4-abandon-filmfour-paytv-model/

Mike.

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#8 07-12-2005 6:59pm

paulm17781

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That would be great. I'd consider film 4 before sky movies but currently wouldn't pay for it as it doesn't seem to be as good as it was when it launched.

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#9 11-12-2005 11:33pm

byte

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byte

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I wonder if the channel going free would be more detrimental to the films they show?

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#10 11-12-2005 11:38pm

Karoma

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http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054859495

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#11 11-12-2005 11:40pm

Mossy Monk

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byte wrote:

I wonder if the channel going free would be more detrimental to the films they show?

i thought that myself but some of the films they show have already been on Channel 4

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#12 11-12-2005 11:42pm

Mossy Monk

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threads merged and moving to broadcasting

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#13 12-12-2005 3:55pm

Elmo

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It really makes the most sence.

4 is a strong competitor to the BBC Channels and the ITV Channels.

I would love to see their set of TV Channels out do the ITV Channels.

Do FIVE do anyother channels. and would I be mistake to suggest that Sky own part of FIVE?

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#14 12-12-2005 4:28pm

Mossy Monk

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FIVE have a new channel on the way and the RTL group own Five

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#15 12-12-2005 11:00pm

byte

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byte

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Mossy Monk wrote:

FIVE have a new channel on the way and the RTL group own Five

Yeah, five.2 is the work-in-progress name for it. Dunno if that will be the final name for it though. It's pretty unoriginal.

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#16 13-12-2005 12:44am

Rick_

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They also have five.3 dont forget... Whatever will they do with these two channels??

Paddy

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#17 13-12-2005 2:12am

Mossy Monk

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i wouldnt be surprised if the late night sports were repeated on these during civilised hours

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#18 13-12-2005 1:06pm

Elmo

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What ever happend with the idea that C4 would be buying FIVE?

FIVE POINT 2
FIVE POINT 3

kind of interesting names.

Perhaps they should go with E5 and more5

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#19 13-12-2005 10:59pm

watty

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Elmo wrote:

It really makes the most sence.

4 is a strong competitor to the BBC Channels and the ITV Channels.

I would love to see their set of TV Channels out do the ITV Channels.

Do FIVE do anyother channels. and would I be mistake to suggest that Sky own part of FIVE?

Sky were heading have a big chunk of Five, but moved the other way. RTL has most of it now.

I'm not sure why Sky gave up an apparent ambtion to own Five.

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