View source for FilmFlex

{{Short description|Video on demand service}}
{{Update|date=December 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
[[Image:Filmflex.png|right|thumb|The FilmFlex logo]]
'''FilmFlex''', is an [[Video on demand|on-demand]] movie rental services provider, claiming to be the largest outside the US.<ref name="HMV" />

The service originally launched as a joint venture between [[Sony Pictures Television]] and [[The Walt Disney Company]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11/11/eu_okays_movieco/|title=Sony, Disney VoD JV wins EC approval|work=The Register|date=11 November 2004}}</ref> but it was sold in 2014 to Vubiquity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2014/05/28/vubiquity-snaps-up-filmflex/|title = Vubiquity snaps up FilmFlex|date = 28 May 2014}}</ref>

== Virgin Movies ==
Virgin Movies makes up part of [[Virgin Media]]'s "On Demand" [[video on demand]] system. Virgin Movies has been available on Virgin since January 2005 and saw over 11 million films watched on demand in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ir.telewest.co.uk/phoenix.zhtml?c=76808&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=663415&|title=Telewest Broadband launches first wave of TV-on-demand services with FilmFlex|publisher=Telewest|date=18 January 2005|access-date=1 November 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714003925/http://ir.telewest.co.uk/phoenix.zhtml?c=76808&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=663415&|archive-date=14 July 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="VMOM" /> FilmFlex replaced ''Front Row'' which was a near video on demand pay-per-view service which was initially available on [[analogue television|analogue]] cable from 1997, switching to [[digital television|digital]] when digital cable services launched from late 1999 onwards. On 13 September 2012, the FilmFlex service was rebranded as Virgin Movies on the cable platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/New-look-on-demand-movies-unveiled-by-Virgin-Media-23f4.aspx|title=New look on demand movies unveiled by Virgin Media|date=13 September 2012|access-date=13 September 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205175640/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/New-look-on-demand-movies-unveiled-by-Virgin-Media-23f4.aspx|archive-date=5 February 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Virgin Movies provides over 500 movies some of which are available in HD (high definition), which are available at any time for the viewer to watch when they want to. Viewers can search for a movie by title, genre, cast or director. Once a movie has been ordered it can be viewed any time within the next 24 hours before it has to be paid for again. The movie can also be viewed as many times as the viewer likes within the 24 hours for no additional cost. Once viewers are watching a movie they have full control over it by the use of pause, rewind and fast forward functions, much like a DVD.

All genres of movies are available ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to action, adventure, horror, comedy, romance and classic movies.

On 8 February 2013, the two companies signed a multi-year deal, with investment in the development of next-gen functionality on Virgin Movies, including "multi-device playback" through Virgin TV Anywhere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a457098/virgin-movies-to-get-multi-device-playback.html|title=Virgin Movies to get multi-device playback|work=Digital Spy|date=8 February 2013}}</ref>

=== Virgin Media Online Movies ===
On 26 April 2010, Virgin Media announced the launch of its first online movies service: Virgin Media Online Movies.<ref name="VMOM">{{cite web|url=http://phoenix.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=205406&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1417528&highlight=|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728170833/http://phoenix.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=205406&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1417528&highlight=|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 July 2012|title=Virgin Media launches first online movies service|date=26 April 2010}}</ref> All rentals will offer unlimited streamed views for 48 hours so viewers can pause, rewind and watch again, plus the film can be watched wherever the account holder logs on. Virgin Media Online Movies is powered by FilmFlex, the service is delivered over the web using [[Microsoft Silverlight]] and will initially present movies in standard definition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/04/26/virgin_to_offer_movie_streaming/|title=Virgin Media fires up movie streaming service|publisher=Reg Hardware|date=26 April 2010|access-date=27 April 2010|archive-date=28 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428014036/http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/04/26/virgin_to_offer_movie_streaming/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A HD version of the service was tested, although {{As of|2012|lc=y}} has not been made available.

=== Penny Movies Festival ===
From 30 March 2007 Virgin Media ran a movies promotion called the 'Penny Movies Festival'. The promotion was run over five weeks and each week focused on a different genre. Week one: blockbusters, week two: family favourites, week three: cult classics, week four: comedy, week five: action adventure.

Each week viewers could vote on the Virgin Media website for their favourite movie out of a selection of 15 movies and the winning movie would be available to view on the On Demand service, during the next week for the price of 1p.

The festival returned in 2008.

== Film4oD ==
{{Main|Film4oD}}

[[Channel 4]] partnered with FilmFlex to launch an online video on-demand service for [[Film4]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/news/a285390/channel-4-launches-film4-on-demand.html|title=Channel 4 launches Film4 on-demand|work=Digital Spy|date=1 November 2010}}</ref> Film4oD, which officially launched on 1 November 2010, had more than 500 films available for 48-hour rental online. It closed in 2015.

== HMVon-demand ==
In November 2011, [[HMV]] partnered with FilmFlex to launch the online video on-demand service HMVon-demand.<ref name="HMV">{{cite web|url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2011112417353/hmv-filmflex-launch-vod-service.html|title=HMV, FilmFlex launch VOD service|publisher=Rapid TV News|date=24 November 2011}}</ref> The online service offers content available on a rental basis for consumers to stream or download to view offline, with other models planned including download-to-own and cloud-based locker services. FilmFlex manage all digital rights and security on behalf of HMV and are responsible for the website build and platform operation; content management; billing and customer service as well as on-site promotion. HMV initially promoted the service with a soft launch through its hmv.com store, with the main launch activity beginning in January 2012.

== EE film ==
On 30 October 2011, FilmFlex launched the EE Film store together with [[EE (telecommunications)|EE]], to coincide with the launch of its 4G service.<ref name="EE">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitaltveurope.net/29331/uk%E2%80%99s-4gee-to-offer-film-service-from-filmflex/|title=UK's 4GEE to offer film service from FilmFlex|publisher=Digital TV Europe|date=23 October 2012}}</ref> The service is a combined cinema ticketing, listings, trailers and film download platform, which is also available via computers and features pause and play functionality, allowing viewers to start watching on one device and finish on another.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Official website|http://www.filmflexmovies.co.uk}}
*{{Official website|http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/|name=Virgin Movies website}}
*{{Official website|http://film4od.film4.com/|name=Film4oD website}}
*{{Official website|http://explore.ee.co.uk/film|name=EE Film website}}
*[http://www.filmflexratings.com/ Filmflex Ratings] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120014726/http://www.filmflexratings.com/ |date=20 November 2010 }} Currently available movies listed by ratings according to [[Rotten Tomatoes]], [[Metacritic]] etc.
*[https://serieshd24.com/ SeriesHD24]

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[[Category:Streaming television in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Virgin Media]]
[[Category:Video on demand services]]