Channel 4 Examines Options For Digital Film Channel

Channel 4 has confirmed that it is in talks with a number of digital platform owners regarding the carriage of its planned subscription film channel (see C4 Claims Successful Year).

BSkyB is currently being touted as the likely winner of the contract to carry the C4 film service, although a spokesperson for the channel said that no deal had yet been agreed. They also said that the aim is to secure as great a distribution for the channel as possible.

However, C4 would not confirm whether discussions were also underway with British Digital Broadcasting (BDB), which is launching a terrestrial digital service to rival Sky’s satellite service. BDB would benefit greatly from the rights to C4 films as it needs some exclusive programming with which challenge Sky’s offerings.

The film channel will draw on the archive of C4-funded films, as well as featuring independent films from Europe and the US.

The BBC has already signed a deal with BSkyB to ensure carriage of the Corporation’s existing and new content (see BBC Services To Launch First On Sky Digital). ITV has declined to pay Sky for carriage and says that Sky is ‘trying to dominate the future of digital television’ (see ‘BSkyB Is Trying To Dominate The Future Of Digital Television’, Says ITV Chairman). BDB is equally owned by two ITV companies, Carlton and Granada which are therefore competing directly with Sky’s digital service.

Channel 4: 0171 396 4444 BSkyB: 0171 705 3000 British Digital Broadcasting: 0171 819 8000