C4 To Launch Trio Of Film Channels

Channel 4 is to launch a raft of new film channels following on from the success of Film Four. The channel’s first pay-tv venture, which launched in 1998 and now has 300,000 subscribers (see Film Four On Air), will be joined by three further channels by the end of this year.

With the working title of F4 World, the second channel will broadcast foreign language films for six hours in the evenings. F4 Extreme plans to show more controversial movies, probably commencing broadcasts at 10pm. A third channel will show the core Film Four channel an hour later than its scheduled broadcast.

C4 is also progressing with the planned launch of E4, its digital entertainment channel, set to begin broadcasting in January 2001. Although equity talks with BSkyB fell apart this week (see E4 Equity Partner Discussions With BSkyB Flounder) the channel is believed to be in negotiations with NTL and Telewest regarding carriage.

Programming for the channel will include the third series of The Sopranos and Sex in the City, and West Wing and Dawson’s Creek will also feature. The channel won the rights to the new series of ER and Friends last year (see Feature: Channel 4 Is Good Friends With Comedy Shows).

Channel 4: 0207306 8666