View source for Film4

{{short description|British free-to-air network devoted to broadcasting films}}
{{about|the British television channel|the film production company|Film4 Productions|the on demand service|Film4oD}}
{{Lead too short|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Film4
| logo = [[File:Film4 logo 2018.svg|170px|class=skin-invert]]
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1 November 1998}}
| closed_date = 
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2018
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[High-definition television|HDTV]]<br />{{small|(downscaled to [[576i]] for the [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]] feed)}}
| timeshift_service = Film4 +1
| owner = [[Channel Four Television Corporation]]
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| former_names = FilmFour (1998–2006)
| sister_channels = {{hlist|[[Channel 4]]|[[4seven]]|[[E4 (TV channel)|E4]]|[[E4 Extra]]|[[More4]]}}
| website = {{URL|channel4.com/collection/film4}}
| terr_serv_1 = [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]]
| terr_chan_1 = Channel 14<br /> Channel 47 (+1)
| online_serv_1 = [[Channel 4 (VoD service)|Channel 4]]
| online_chan_1 = [http://www.channel4.com/now/f4 Watch live]
| online_serv_2 = [[FilmOn]]
| online_chan_2 = [http://www.filmon.com/tv/film-4 Watch live]
| online_serv_3 = [[Sky Go]]
| online_chan_3 = [http://go.sky.com/ Watch live] {{nowrap|(UK and Ireland only)}}
}}
{{Channel Four Television Corporation|sidebar=yes}}
'''Film4''' is a British [[free-to-air]] public broadcast [[television channel]] owned by [[Channel Four Television Corporation]] launched on 1 November 1998, dedicated to broadcasting films. The [[Standard-definition television|standard-definition]] channel is available on [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]] and [[Freesat]] platforms, while the [[High-definition television|high-definition]] variant is offered free on [[Freely]], and as a [[pay television]] service on satellite and cable.

The channel offered an online [[video on demand]] service, [[Film4oD]], until it was closed in July 2015.

==History==
===1998–2001: Early years and launch===
The network has its origins in [[Film4 Productions|Channel Four Films]], a production company opened by [[Channel Four Television Corporation]] in 1982 which 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 [[Stephen Frears]]' ''[[Walter (1982 film)|Walter]]'', which was released in the same year.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

In the late 1990s, FilmFour Productions partnered with [[Showtime Australia]] in its first foreign co-financing venture, with [[Miranda Dear]] appointed in 1996<ref name=woods2000/> as production and acquisition consultant.<ref name=george2000>{{cite web | last=George | first=Sandy | title=Dear moves to SBS from Film Four Australia | website=Screen | date=10 May 2000 | url=https://www.screendaily.com/dear-moves-to-sbs-from-film-four-australia/402310.article | access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref> During this time the collaboration produced [[John Polson]]'s ''[[Siam Sunset]]'' and Mark Lamprell's ''[[My Mother Frank]]'' in Australia. Dear left FilmFour in July 2000,<ref name=woods2000/> to became commissioning editor of drama at [[SBS independent]] (the production arm of public broadcaster [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]]), after which FilmFour closed its Australian office.<ref name=woods2000>{{cite web | first1=Mark | last1=Woods | first2=Adam | last2= Dawtrey | title=FilmFour closes office in Oz after Dear ankles | website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date=19 July 2000 | url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/filmfour-closes-office-in-oz-after-dear-ankles-1117783898/ | access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref>

On 1 November 1998, the production company was re-branded as '''FilmFour''' to coincide with the launch of a new [[Digital television in the United Kingdom|digital television]] channel of the same name on both [[Sky UK|Sky]] and [[ITV Digital|ONdigital]] platforms, becoming [[Channel 4]]'s second network. At its launch, it was a [[pay television|subscription]]-only service costing £6 a month, eventually rising to £7. The launch night (which also broadcasts on Channel 4) was hosted by [[Johnny Vaughan]] and the first film to be shown was ''[[What's Eating Gilbert Grape]]'', as well as the launch evening also featured its British network television premiere of ''[[The Usual Suspects]]''.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

On 31 March 2000 at 6.00am, the analogue version of FilmFour shut down and later switched to digital.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

===2001–2006: Expansion===
On 7 April 2001, FilmFour expanded with the launch of three additional digital networks. '''FilmFour World''' carried the best of international cinema and broadcast from 4:00pm to 10:00pm, while '''FilmFour Extreme''' carried "controversial and cutting-edge" movies, and broadcast from 10:00pm-4:00am, both of which operated on a timeshare. The other addition was the timeshift service '''FilmFour +1''', which carried all of the main channel's films an hour later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/film-four-adds-three-new-digital-channels/507262|title=Film Four adds three new digital channels|website=Campaign|accessdate=9 April 2021}}</ref> All three channels were initially exclusive to [[Sky UK|Sky Digital]] but were made available on [[NTL Incorporated|NTL]] cable from November-December 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable/a4348/font-colorcc0000exclusivefont-new-channels-on-ntl-next-week/|title=EXCLUSIVE: New channels on ntl next week|date=2 December 2001|website=Digital Spy}}</ref>

In July 2002, Channel 4 reduced FilmFour's budget from £30 to £10 million and cut 50 staff to curb mounting losses, reintegrating FilmFour as a division of its television operation to continue to invest in new films. The cuts were a consequence of FilmFour's unsuccessful attempts to compete with [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]]. David Thompson, head of [[BBC Film]]s described it as:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/2118170.stm |title=FilmFour closure: What does it mean for the UK film industry? |work=BBC News |date=2002-07-11 |access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2118221.stm |title=FilmFour failure is 'sad day' |work=BBC News |date=2002-07-09 |access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Malcolm |first=Derek |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2002/jul/12/artsfeatures.channel4 |title=Where does British film go from here? |work=The Guardian |date=2002-07-12 |access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref>
{{cquote|A very sad day for the British film industry. The British film industry needs confidence right now and this doesn't inspire confidence.}} Also in the same year, [[Tessa Ross]] became the head of both FilmFour and Channel 4 drama.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gibson |first=Owen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/feb/06/channel4.broadcasting |title=Interview: Tessa Ross |work=The Guardian |date=2006-02-06 |access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref> 

On 31 March 2003, Channel 4 announced that FilmFour Extreme and FilmFour World would be replaced with a singular network - '''FilmFour Weekly''', on 5 May. FilmFour Weekly was formatted as a "catch-up" network, broadcasting three movies across the week at the same time each day. Films that previously broadcast on Extreme and World would move to the regular FilmFour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a10812/channel-4-replaces-niche-filmfour-screens.html|title=Channel 4 replaces niche FilmFour screens|website=Digital Spy|date=31 March 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2902801.stm |title=FilmFour moves mainstream |work=BBC News |date=2003-03-31 |access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref>

===2006–present: Transition to free-to-air===
On 3 July 2006, Channel 4 announced that FilmFour would relaunch as a free-to-air network on 23 July, as it would see its addition to [[Freeview (UK)|Freeview]], and begin to air [[television advertisement|advertisements]] during films. The channel would also be renamed as '''Film4''', alongside its timeshift service and the production company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/film4-will-relaunch-free-service-9pm-sunday-23rd-july|title=Film4 will relaunch as a free service at 9pm on Sunday 23rd July &#124; Channel 4|website=www.channel4.com}}</ref> The original subscription version of FilmFour and FilmFour +1 closed for the final time on 19 July, with FilmFour Weekly also ceasing broadcast to make way for the relaunch. The new free-to-air Film4 launched on 23 July at 9{{nbsp}}pm, with the UK free-to-air premiere of ''[[Lost in Translation (film)|Lost in Translation]]'' as its first film. Due to the change, the channel's availability increased from 300,000 (subscribers) to 18 million households. It also changed its broadcasting hours from 12.45pm to 8.45am to 3.00pm to 3.00am. The switch to becoming a free channel meant it also lost the ability to adhere to looser broadcasting regulations regarding content on subscription channels - it thus now routinely edits films to make them suitable for pre-watershed screenings before 9pm and removes particularly explicit content from the more extreme material it shows after that time. Most post-9pm films are unedited though.

Prior to the arrivals of [[Great! Movies|Movie Mix]] and [[Movies4Men]] on the Freeview platform, Film4 was the only free film channel available on [[Digital terrestrial television in the United Kingdom|digital terrestrial television]]. 

In 2007, the broadcasting hours were amended to 1.00pm to 4.00am. On 20 August 2007, Film4 +1 was removed from Freeview to make way for Channel 4 +1.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tryhorn |first=Chris |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jul/05/broadcasting.channel4 |title=Channel 4 launches '+1' timeshift service |work=The Guardian |date=2007-07-05 |access-date=2007-07-05}}</ref> From 23 May 2009, the broadcasting hours were amended again to 11.00am to 4.00am, with the downtime hours broadcasting either [[infomercial|teleshopping]] or an animated caption screen stating when the channel will return. On 20 July 2010, a [[High-definition television|high-definition]] simulcast – Film4 HD launched exclusively on [[Virgin Media]]'s cable television platform on channel 429, only available on certain packages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://about.virginmedia.com/press-release/387/film4-hd-to-launch-exclusively-on-virgin-media |title=Film4 HD to launch exclusively on Virgin Media |publisher=Virgin Media |date=2010-03-08 |access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.film4.com/film4-hd |title=Film4 HD |publisher=Film4 |access-date=2010-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727151919/http://www.film4.com/film4-hd |archive-date=27 July 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 1 November 2010, Film4 partnered with [[FilmFlex]] to launch [[Film4oD]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Laughlin |first=Andrew |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a285390/channel-4-launches-film4-on-demand.html |title=Channel 4 launches Film4 on-demand |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2010-11-01 |access-date=2013-08-30}}</ref> On 27 August 2013, Film4 +1 returned to Freeview.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freeview.co.uk/articles/news-and-features/blog-post/news-new-travel-channel-film-4-and-film-41.html|title=News: New Travel Channel, Film 4 and Film 4+1|publisher=Freeview|date=2013-08-01|access-date=2013-08-30|archive-date=5 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130805042705/http://www.freeview.co.uk/articles/news-and-features/blog-post/news-new-travel-channel-film-4-and-film-41.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Film4 HD launched on Sky on 2 September 2013 as a subscription network, requiring Sky's HD package.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2013/sky_adds_channel_4_4od_to_create_the_uk_most_complete_catch_up_tv_service |title=Sky adds Channel 4's 4oD to create the UK's most complete catch-up TV service |publisher=BSkyB |date=2013-03-15 |access-date=2013-08-30 |archive-date=18 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318041800/http://corporate.sky.com/media/press_releases/2013/sky_adds_channel_4_4od_to_create_the_uk_most_complete_catch_up_tv_service |url-status=dead }}</ref> Film4 HD is not available on Freeview.

On 2 September 2014, Film4 debuted a new on-air look, designed by Man vs. Machine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/09/02/film4-reflects-its-passion-and-commitment-film-new-ident-series|title=Film4 reflects its 'passion and commitment to film' with new ident series|website=thedrum.com}}</ref> There are 16 new idents in the series which run alongside a new [[station identification|on-screen presentation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2014/september/film4-rebrand |title=Creative Review – Film4's new look |access-date=2014-09-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904010208/http://www.creativereview.co.uk/cr-blog/2014/september/film4-rebrand |archive-date=4 September 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> On 26 November 2014, Film4 +1 became available via Freeview HD services only.<ref>{{cite web|title =4Viewers|work =Transmission/Technical Information: Howdo I get Film4+1?|publisher =Channel4|date =2014|url =http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/faq/name/how-do-i-get-film4-1/id/400291375|access-date = 26 November 2014}}</ref> On 10 January 2019, Film4 +1 was moved from the Freeview HD PSB3 (DVB-T2) multiplex to the Freeview PSB2 (DVB-T) multiplex, making the service available once again to viewers with non-HD Freeview systems and television sets that are incapable of decoding DVB-T2 signals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.a516digital.com/2019/01/freeview-merry-go-round-as-channels-move.html |title=Freeview merry-go-round as channels move |publisher=a516Digital |date=2019-01-06 |access-date=2019-02-16}}</ref> The capacity on PSB2 was made available by the "Sewing Quarter" service moving to Freeview COM6 (DVB-T) multiplex operated by [[Arqiva]]. {{cn|date=November 2024}}

===Former logos===
<gallery>
File:Filmfour logo.png|First FilmFour logo (1998–2006)
File:Film4.svg|Second Film4 logo (2006–2018)
File:Film4+1 logo.svg|Logo of timeshifted version; "Film4 +1"
File:Film4 HD logo 2010.svg|Logo of high-definition version; "Film4 HD"
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of television channels in the United Kingdom]]
* [[50 Films to See Before You Die]]
* [[London FrightFest Film Festival]]
* [[Carlton Cinema (TV channel)|Carlton Cinema]]
* [[Sky Cinema]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{channel4.com|id=collection/film4|title=Film4}}
{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Television|Film}}

{{Channel Four Television Corporation}}
{{Freeview}}

[[Category:1998 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Channel 4 television channels]]
[[Category:Movie channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1998]]
[[Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom]]