Channel 4

Other channels

Film Four

Channel 4 has had a long record of success in funding the production of films through Channel Four Films, later renamed FilmFour in 1998 to coincide with the launch of its digital channels. Among its biggest successes are The Madness of King George, The Crying Game, and Four Weddings and a Funeral. However, this dedicated film-making wing was effectively closed in 2002 as a cost-cutting measure in the face of substantial losses.

Related Topics:
1998 - The Madness of King George - The Crying Game - Four Weddings and a Funeral - 2002

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Channel 4 launched a subscription film channel, FilmFour, in November 1998. It is available on analogue and digital satellite television. Companion services, such as FilmFour +1, FilmFour World and FilmFour Extreme were also available on some digital services. In 2003 Extreme and World were discontinued, and replaced with Film Four Weekly.

Related Topics:
Film - FilmFour - November - 1998 - Satellite television - 2003

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The Film Four channel is sometimes used to carry live cricket when the main channel is committed elsewhere, at which time it is free-to-air,

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attheraces

Channel 4 launched a dedicated horse racing channel, attheraces, in 2000, however for a combination of financial and legal reasons the channel ceased broadcasting in 2003. It was subsequently bought by BSkyB and relaunched in June 2004, but Channel 4 no longer has any involvement with it.

Related Topics:
Attheraces - BSkyB - 2004

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E4

E4, a digital entertainment channel previously available on the Internet, was launched in January 2001. It features premieres of US imports and supplementary footage for programs on its main channel (most notably extended Big Brother coverage).

Related Topics:
E4 - Internet - January - 2001

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In 2005 it launched on the Freeview service. E4 now has as much coverage as other services available on Cable, Satellite and Freeview like ITV2 and BBC THREE. It is a very successful channel with a first look or sneak peak, with the next episode of some series appearing on E4 immediately after the show on Channel 4 has finished.

Related Topics:
2005 - Freeview - ITV2 - BBC THREE

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T4

T4 is a separately identified strand carried on Channel 4 and E4. It consists of programming in the mornings seven days a week for an age range of around 13–25.

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Music, soaps and US comedy shows all feature as part of the schedule on T4. Famous programmes include the Hollyoaks Omnibus, Will & Grace and Friends, with popular US animation Futurama airing weekend mornings too.

Related Topics:
Hollyoaks - Will & Grace - Friends - Futurama

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Quiz Call

Quiz Call is a television channel on which puzzles and questions are displayed and viewers invited to call in to win prizes. The channel launched on August 30, 2005, and is available on the digital TV platform Freeview (channel 37) and NTL cable. Carriage on Sky is expected soon. The channel advertises no connection with Channel 4 on-screen.

Related Topics:
Quiz Call - Freeview

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More4

More4 is a channel aimed at more upmarket 35 to 60 year olds. It is to be launched on 10th October 2005. The channel will also carry a News programme and nightly discussion programme.

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Future proposals

On 27 February 2004 it was reported that Channel 4 and Five were discussing a possible merger. Because of the special nature of Channel 4, any such merger would have required an Act of Parliament. However in November 2004, Channel 4 pulled out of the discussions. Subsequently, Five has now been bought by RTL.

Related Topics:
27 February - Five - RTL

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In August 2004 the news came that Channel 4 is planning a digital radio station using the licence currently belonging to Oneword radio. For more information, see the article Oneword.

Related Topics:
August - Digital radio - Oneword

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In September 2004 Channel 4 spent £55m reserving space for up to 14 channels on SES Global's Astra 2D satellite before the limited amount of air space is filled, though some of this may be filled with Channel 4's existing channels when more expensive contracts with BSkyB expire in 2008. At the time it was rumoured that Channel 4 were working on a new channel, with a working title of More4, aimed at older audiences, which would broadcast programmes from the channel's archive of factual and documentary programmes, described by Channel 4 Director of Television Kevin Lygo as "Channel 4 without the stupid bits". More4 is to be launched on October 10th 2005.

Related Topics:
September 2004 - £ - SES Global - Astra 2D - BSkyB - 2008 - More4 - Kevin Lygo

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Also in September, the television regulator, Ofcom, announced it was looking into creating a new public-service broadcasting license for a channel broadcasting three hours per day dedicated to factual and current affairs programming. The new channel, if it is approved, will probably not be funded by advertising, and may be a subscription channel or funded by a top-up to the BBC's license fee. It was widely suggested in the news that Channel 4 would be the most likely candidate to run the new channel.

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In 2005, Channel 4 won an additional slot on the Freeview platform. It is to launch a new channel aimed at older viewers on October 10th 2005. In May 2005, E4 (which was previously a subscription channel via Top Up TV on the digital terrestrial platform) went free-to-air at the same time as E4+1 arrived on Freeview, on the opening day of the sixth season of Big Brother.

Related Topics:
Top Up TV - Big Brother

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