Media UK

FilmFour

This article is about the channel FilmFour. There was also a film production company called FilmFour Productions.

FilmFour is a British digital television channel, owned and operated by Channel 4, which screens Channel 4-like films (mainly non-blockbuster fare, generally popular independent and arthouse fare).

The channel is currently subscription only, costing up to £7 a month.

In addition to its main channel and its timeshifted variant (FilmFour +1), a third channel, FilmFour Weekly, screens four films across the week — at the same time each day, to make it easier to catch a film at least once.

FilmFour becoming free-to-air

Shortly after Channel 4 won a vacant slot on Digital Terrestrial Television in November 2005 (currently used by More4 +1), it was reported that the broadcaster was considering making FilmFour subscription-free, and launching it on Freeview. A similar move was made in May 2005 with E4 and its time-shifted service.

It was confirmed on 6 February 2006 that FilmFour will become free-to-air from July, and launch on Freeview and Freesat from Sky. Its availability will increase, from 300,000 to 18 million households. Broadcasting hours will change to 1500-0300, and commercial breaks will be included during films for the first time in its history. The closure of FilmFour Weekly was also announced.