Film Four FTA

modrover

Folks,
Came across this on Digital Spy.

Channel 4 has confirmed that premium movie service FilmFour will become a free-to-air service from July.

The move will coincide with the channel's launch on Freeview and will takes its reach from 300,000 homes - subscribers currently pay £7 a month for the service - to a potential 18 million.

Unlike E4, which is largely FTA but remains a pay TV channel on satellite, FilmFour will be available to all Sky and Freesat viewers.

"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," said Andy Duncan, C4 chief exec.

"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.”

The new FilmFour channel will typically screen six films a day between the transmission hours of 3pm and 3am. The station pledges to offer a "broader range of films than any other UK channel", screening classic films in the day, Hollywood fare and US/UK independent cinema in peak and foreign language and cult at night. Advert breaks during films will also be introduced for the first time.

The FilmFour Weekly channel will be closed but FilmFour's timeshift channel will remain on cable and satellite. Plans are also underway to launch a VOD service on broadband, mobile and cable later in the year.

“This change will significantly extend our presence in multi-channel homes in advance of digital switchover," added Duncan. "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.”

watty

Nice if true, but they may mean FTV on Satellite. That is essentially "free" in the UK.

givecredit

watty wrote:

Nice if true, but they may mean FTV on Satellite. That is essentially "free" in the UK.

Should Also mean Free to view in Ireland too for anyone who is currently subscribing to sky in Ireland or any exsubscriber who still has their purple sky card with yellow house on it. This card presently gets sky3 free, i expect that filmfour will also be available free too in July!!

Plus off course will also be available to the 000s of Irish who already have UK ftv cards from the many irish distributors all over Ireland who have made quite a profitable business out of this ftv situation.!!

Capt'n Midnight

Advert breaks during films will also be introduced for the first time.

well that answers the question of where the money would come from.

I heartly endorse this product/service.

Only hope it's true, *me hugs FTV card*

kaizersoze

"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.”

E4 is FTA .

Mossy Monk

FTA on DTT

kaizersoze

Ah right. Was getting my hopes up. Ta.