FilmFour for free
From July 2006, Channel 4’s dedicated film channel, FilmFour, will launch on Freeview channel 31, currently used by More4+1 and Big Brother series 7.
FilmFour Weekly will close on NTL, Telewest and Sky, but FilmFour + 1 will remain on cable and sky. Freeview viewers will have to do without the time-shifted version of FilmFour for the time being.
One thing all audiences will notice is that FilmFour will loose its current program format. Presently FilmFour does not show any adverts during the presentation of a feature film. However, from it’s launch on Freeview in July, adverts will interrupt the feature presentations, returning Sky to the only movie channel provider not to show advertisments during the main feature. Although this will undoubtly annoy current FilmFour viewers, for Channel 4 it is the only way they can effectly afford to run FilmFour without subscription.
More4+1 and FilmFour+1 may return to Freeview in the future if Channel 4 can win additional channels in the DTV (Digital Television) spectrum; as there are currently over 30 free slots, it doesn’t seem as though this should present a huge problem if Channel 4 are interested in pursuing that option.
It is expected that FilmFour will offer a new FilmFour HD channel in the near future for HD (High Definition) viewers on SkyHD and Telewest Broadband HD services, although as yet no announcement has been made. Obviously this will probably spread to free-to-air HD broadcasts once the service is up and running publically.
http://www.filmfour.com - FilmFour’s web site
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