Why Do Channels Like Film 4 Play Really Old Movies? Can't Afford Licensing for New?

Sounds

I sometimes like a good movie, not often because I'm always side tracked,
I'm sure a lot of people do night shifts, don't get home till the early hours.
Film 4 stops their service at 3am i think, when many people are still awake.
Is it the licensing costs on new releases, they can't or won't pay the fees?

Tardful Slakerly II

It used to be a subscription channel and would have had less wholesale offerings, then it went free to air. I don't watch it often and never have but that's as I understand it, someone may correct me.

Atlantic Dawn

I think there's a lot of exclusive deals signed with various studios to Sky only or ITV only etc type deals so this can limit what the smaller players can show. I normally find Film 4 does show some decent stuff, it's a pity it doesn't contunue through the night and repeat what it ran during the day.

Sounds

It is a pity, don't mean to disrespect more mature folks, but most of us probably wouldn't wana watch the really old classics.
I often sat with my mom and watched a good old classic, but I don't wanna see it on film 4, it's too outdated for this generation.
Maybe more suited to tmg or true stories i dunno, never watch them.

Dozen Wicked Words

Sounds wrote: »

It is a pity, don't mean to disrespect more mature folks, but most of us probably wouldn't wana watch the really old classics.
I often sat with my mom and watched a good old classic, but I don't wanna see it on film 4, it's too outdated for this generation.
Maybe more suited to tmg or true stories i dunno, never watch them.

So how old is a film when you are no longer interested? What do you consider "really old". Age of a film seems an odd choice to decide whether it's worth watching or not.

kneemos

Film4 is a pet hate of mine,
regardless of the age of the film their selection is just dire.I could almost count the number of movies I've watched on it.
The early hours seems to be the best chance getting anything watchable for some reason.

Hande hoche!

While a good bit of what they show is cack, some of their selection if quite good. Would classify them as classics rather than old.

Sounds

I'd classify Ten Little Indians totally outdated, which is on right now..
I just can't understand why they think anyone would wanna watch that in this day and age.. some will i guess.
Come on like.. 1965.. as if you can't afford to put a decent programme together in this day and age.
If someone wants to watch these kind of movies they could search for free, outdated quicktime movie streams.

rockbeast

Sounds wrote: »

I'd classify Ten Little Indians totally outdated, which is on right now..
I just can't understand why they think anyone would wanna watch that in this day and age.. some will i guess.

Thanks, didn't know it was on - will record on +1

Sounds

Well each to their own, I'm sure it was a good flick in its day, when there was nothing else on the box, before my time.
I've watched a few good classics before, with my mom, that's why i still like them, I just can;t imagine the family sitting down to
dinner and watching this... would be kind of dull imo.

rockbeast

Sounds wrote: »

Well each to their own, I'm sure it was a good flick in its day, when there was nothing else on the box, before my time.

Looks like it was earlier than '65 - I think it is the version recorded live in the 50s..

BTW Dìe Hard and Evil Dead 2 are on from 9 tonight - what's not to like?:)

Seems it is the '65 version...Ah, well, will watch anyway

Sounds

Too right I might watch Evil Dead, die hard gettin a bit played out, for like 20 years..
Could nearly write the schedule for their xmass programme.

Harry Palmr

Film Fours main failing is not old films, its the same films time and gain. Ronald Emmerich and Michael Bay must have shares.

The 7 and 9 pm slots are a complete waste of any real film fans time, sure they are the prime time slots but that's no excuse for so many showings of the bland junk about "amusing" romantic confusion or CGI fairy tales.

The afternoons do contain some excellent oldies - Laughter in Paradise 1951 was on the other day, watched it last afternoon. Funny, clever and even a bit insightful.

Sounds

Thought cgi was something created for cheap sky one productions, just kidding..
I also imagine a group of old folks writing the programmes for rte thinking that's what people want to watch.
Some terrible shows, personally I think a lot of it is an embarrassment, but that's just my opinion, I'd never flick down to any Irish channel.
I don't turn off discovery or nat geo much... think is we're paying for these movie channels if they're on a package.
Even discovery can get annoying with constant repeats, and late at night they roll over the same shows back to back.
That's really irresponsible of any production company, to allow repeats like that, taking the p*** out of paying customers.

rockbeast

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Film Fours main failing is not old films, its the same films time and gain. Ronald Emmerich and Michael Bay must have shares.

The 7 and 9 pm slots are a complete waste of any real film fans time, sure they are the prime time slots but that's no excuse for so many showings of the bland junk about "amusing" romantic confusion or CGI fairy tales.

The afternoons do contain some excellent oldies - Laughter in Paradise 1951 was on the other day, watched it last afternoon. Funny, clever and even a bit insightful.

yeah, Die Hard is probably the epitome of their programming style! On every two weeks at least.

But as with Sky 1, who for a long time broadcast Top Gun once a week because it always got viewers I'm sure that Die Hard advertising pays for a lot of the stations overheads:)

Ì've caught a lot of great old movies on Film4 for the first time though, Ealing films and such, The Man In The White Suit being a recent one.

Also they air some 70's classics such as Vanishing Point and Freebie and The Bean which rarely, if ever, show up anywhere else.

Sounds

It's just too old fashioned for me don't know about anyone else can't speak for everyone,
We already got true movies.. I'll never stop at that channel either.

rockbeast

Sounds wrote: »

It's just too old fashioned for me don't know about anyone else can't speak for everyone,
We already got true movies.. I'll never stop at that channel either.

Don't get me started on True Movies - I'd rather watch the god channel.

But it, like almost anything else in life, is down to advertising.

icdg

It's probably the best of the basic-tier movie channels - certainly a lot better than TCM and MGM. It has access to thirty years of the Channel 4 Films/FilmFour Productions back catelogue and that's what it's built on - it was never intended to be a channel for Hollywood blockbusters.

smcgiff

You get what you pay for. It's a free to air service. It's mostly if not all paid from advertising. Not sure if it gets anything from the British TV licence money.

Nobody in Ireland can complain really.

You're never going to get new releases on this. You might get the odd BBC produced movie.

I can enjoy an old movie as much as a new movie. You'll be missing out on some wonderful actors if you dismiss something just because it's old or doesn't have CGI :P

Sounds

I pay 60+ per month for my tv, phone and internet plan.. personally if I only had the net I'd still pay that much.
Maybe not enough people complaining in Ireland, always seems to be the case.. thank god for social media.
I've seen a few things change over online conversations... they need to change or remove some of their crap.
Update their programmes and realize that most of the people who might watch mgm are.. not from this era.
And I don;t mean there shouldn't be anything on Tv for older folks... there's plenty crap on the box.
I could make a better tv channel with the open source darwin streaming server..

rockbeast

smcgiff wrote: »

You get what you pay for. It's a free to air service. It's mostly if not all paid from advertising. Not sure if it gets anything from the British TV licence money.

Nobody in Ireland can complain really.

You're never going to get new releases on this. You might get the odd BBC produced movie.

I can enjoy an old movie as much as a new movie. You'll be missing out on some wonderful actors if you dismiss something just because it's old or doesn't have CGI :P

Some people think yesterday is old fashioned!

I put on Casablanca in one of the lads' houses one night - 50" screen, surround sound setup - and he walked over and started checking the cables thinking there was a bad connection because the picture was lacking "colour".



Some folks:pac:

Sounds

It costs a lot to license a tv programme etc, why put your money into producing something with limits, outdated films.
Simply because they just know if they throw out scraps someone will eat them.. and they'll still get paid, not good television.

rockbeast

Sounds wrote: »

I pay 60+ per month for my tv, phone and internet plan.. personally if I only had the net I'd still pay that much.
Maybe not enough people complaining in Ireland, always seems to be the case.. thank god for social media.
I've seen a few things change over online conversations... they need to change or remove some of their crap.
Update their programmes and realize that most of the people who might watch mgm are.. not from this era.
And I don;t mean there shouldn't be anything on Tv for older folks... there's plenty crap on the box.

You are really missing out on so much.

I guarantee you that I could suggest to you a film from every decade from the 20's on that you would enjoy.

Or I would at least!:)

smcgiff

Sounds wrote: »

I pay 60+ per month for my tv, phone and internet plan.. personally if I only had the net I'd still pay that much.
Maybe not enough people complaining in Ireland, always seems to be the case.. thank god for social media.
I've seen a few things change over online conversations... they need to change or remove some of their crap.
Update their programmes and realize that most of the people who might watch mgm are.. not from this era.
And I don;t mean there shouldn't be anything on Tv for older folks... there's plenty crap on the box.
I could make a better tv channel with the open source darwin streaming server..

I pay €22 for something like 70 or 80 MB unlimited broadband and don't pay for TV - I use free view. I can access most sports channels through the internet and what I don't see at the cinema I can catch online.

I like Film 4 - I think it's excellent value for money

Sounds

I saw a few with the mother, enjoyed them.. that was enough, I got good memories..
I'll still flick over to occ (old/finished) naked n afraid or auction hunters in a shot

rockbeast

Sounds wrote: »

I saw a few with the mother, enjoyed that.. that was enough, if they come on tthe box, i got good memories..
I'll still flick over to occ or auction hunters in a shot.

Maybe it's not films you're looking for?

Sounds

I dunno any more, discovery is more entertaining though.

smcgiff

Sounds wrote: »

I'll still flick over to occ or auction hunters in a shot

That's where we differ. You could put a gun to my head and I'd beg you to shoot me rather than watch Auction Hunters (don't know what OCC is), Prawn Stars, Ice Road truckers and the like.

Maybe I'm missing out as I only really catch the trailers, but I don't think so. Each to their own.

rockbeast

Sounds wrote: »

I dunno any more, discovery is more entertaining though.

So why not discover thousands of classic films?

smcgiff

Sounds wrote: »

I dunno any more, discovery is more entertaining though.

Speaking of old. Discovery back in the day (a few years back) was great. Don't see much that would get my attention now.

Sounds

Well I'm learning how to lite a fire with a stick and string again with ol grills, for the 50th time.
Yea they're not mind blowing shows but i get a buzz off them, can't say the same to ten little indians.

SparkySpitfire

There's nothing to complain about? It's not meant to be the latest cinema releases. I know if I'm in the mood for some classics I'll see what the FilmFour listings are like. There's definitely an audience, I think you're just underestimating it.

rockbeast

Hmm, might be time for a "Really Old Movies" thread.

Give me a few days and I'll start from the 20's and go decade by decade.

Sounds

Just throwin it out there
Maybe one of the film 4 crew will see this some day and think, jesus we're in a time warp, with mgm lol
Do it Rock and we make a classic darwin streaming server channel.. there's probably loads of them online.
I built this thing on a fb page last year, if you like the page you can access it and watch live streaming tv chatroom under the player.

rockbeast

Sounds wrote: »

Just throwin it out there
Maybe one of the film 4 crew will see this some day and think, jesus we're in a time warp, with mgm lol
Do it Rock and we make a classic darwin streaming server channel.. i got the tools online.

Ha, Black & White is the new Black when I'm done!

lertsnim

I'm a big fan of Film 4. It's costs nothing to view it but it's a shame the HD version isn't FTA.

They don't show the latest blockbusters and so what, it is free. I never subscribed to the nonsense notion that once a film goes past a certain age it ceases to become entertaining.

Sounds

I didn't say an older movie is not entertaining though.. just some are so old they're probably best suited to an old folks home..
Which I'm not in yet.. if I ever am I'll be listenin to beats or spinnin tunes like a crazy old fart until the man above gives me a pass to club tropicana!
8pm discovery.. James Woods - futurescape worth a watch

quickbeam

I don't understand the logic in saying old movies are only for old people. Odd.

I must say I like Film4. I find something good to watch on it nearly every week. And, when there's too much crap on the other channels it's good to switch over sometimes to watch an old favourite like Die Hard last night.

Harry Palmr

quickbeam wrote: »

I don't understand the logic in saying old movies are only for old people. Odd.

I must say I like Film4. I find something good to watch on it nearly every week. And, when there's too much crap on the other channels it's good to switch over sometimes to watch an old favourite like Die Hard last night.

Really? Couldn't you recite it in your sleep by now? Wouldn't it be great to see that the 9 PM action film was say The Taking of Pelham 123 (1974), Juggernaut or The Untouchables .

Sounds

Well I take that back, about old folk's homes..
It's just annoying to turn on a movie channel and be presented with really out of date movies.
It's boring, it's old fashioned, outdated and it's really not for this generation, unless.. oh better stop there
What 19/20/30 year old sits down on a saturday evening to ten little indians, seriously.

lertsnim

Are you expecting output similar to Sky Movies?

kneemos

lertsnim wrote: »

Are you expecting output similar to Sky Movies?

Decent quality and a bit of imagination.
There's no end of good movie's of every era,Film4 ignores most of them.Tonight it's She's the Man,Mission Impossible and Final Destination 3 even when they came out they were crap.

kneemos

lertsnim wrote: »

Are you expecting output similar to Sky Movies?

Decent quality and a bit of imagination.
There's no end of good movie's of every era,Film4 ignores most of them.Tonight it's She's the Man,Mission Impossible and Final Destination 3 even when they came out they were crap.

Sounds

lol

tr0llface

i've seen a few good films on film4, and most of them have been fairly new like the inbetweeners movie and submarine. then again, i think film4 produced them.

beauf

rockbeast wrote: »

...
Ì've caught a lot of great old movies on Film4 for the first time though, Ealing films and such, The Man In The White Suit being a recent one.

Also they air some 70's classics such as Vanishing Point and Freebie and The Bean which rarely, if ever, show up anywhere else.

Have to say I a fan of the old movies. Especially old war movies.

But I'd also agree its not the fact that they are old. Its the lack of variety. You get the same movies for ages.

Skid X

Film4 don't have the rights to a lot of films. In the UK most of the non-subscription channel movies are shown on ITV2 or Channel 5.

They show old films because they get an audience. If I was a pensioner I wouldn't be complaining about what MTV show. It's ridiculous to single out a non licence fee channel and complain that they don't show what you like. Use your remote and watch something else.

beauf

Also a lot of the mainstream channels do the same thing. They all show the same movie in the same week.

Theres a lot of popular old movies, and even movies from the last 20yrs that are almost never shown.

Sounds

I've seen a few good movies on film 4 too, I just wanted to stir it up a bit get a few opinions..
But I'm glad I missed die hard again, prob been on 50 times on that channel.. predator is good too, played out though.
If they never intended to be a channel for new movies, then they are doin a good job.

Harry Palmr

beauf wrote: »

Also a lot of the mainstream channels do the same thing. They all show the same movie in the same week.

Theres a lot of popular old movies, and even movies from the last 20yrs that are almost never shown.

I could knock up a long list of films that were hits (be it critically, on a cult level or actual box office) or big productions in their day and which have completely vanished - film from the latter half of the 70s and 80s seem to be particularly hard to see. Take Semi Tough or The End or An Unmarried Woman as three top off the head examples. California Suite, Hopscotch, House Calls, Star 80, Sorcerer (Wages of Fear), All that Jazz, the Last Embrace, Prince of the City, Yanks, loads more like that.

Has just popped up on the More > Movies schedule!

Sounds

Gets your blood pumpin though don't it?
Social media is known for changing things for the better.. it's a great tool when used right.. just watch and see.