Film4 Research


Film 4 takes on iTunes with movie download service – Digital TV Europe



FILM 4  Research


Founded - November 1st 1998

Founded by - Channel 4 

Revenue - channel 4 had a revenue of £975 million in 2018




Background - 

  • Film 4 is a production company that produces and broadcasts alternative films.

  •  Film 4 aims to produce 10 - 12 films per year. 

  • Film 4 set up a low-budget studio with The Uk film council called ‘WarpX’ which is a digital production house.

  • The production company offers a range of independent and mainstream films. 

  • They aim to offer alternative films to broaden audiences horizons. This helps them to appeal to a mainstream as well as a niche market. This has made film 4 known for showing challenging films.



Establishment

  • Film 4 was originally called FILM FOUR when it was launched on November 1st 1998.

  •  Its parent company was Channel 4 and at the time film4 was channel 4’s second channel. 

  • The service was originally a subscription service but this ended in 2006. When it relaunched as a freeview service the availability increased from 300,00 subscribers to 18 million households. 

  • This re-launch was accompanied by a large advertising campaign called ‘Freeto-air’.



Funding 

  • Film 4 states - 

  • ‘We don't offer tariff prices. We aim to fund 10-12 feature films a year with a mix of licence fee and equity and almost all our films are co-financed with other financing partners. After theatrical release, our films recive a premiere on C4 or Film4’

  • Film 4 was given a budget of £25 million in 2017/18

  • In 2002 due to financial worries Film4 announced they would no longer distribute their own films.

  •  In 2011, Channel 4 announced the budget for Film4 to rise to 50%. This meant £15million per year for years from 2011. This gave UK films and the domestic industry a boost from the closure of the UK Film Council


Aims-

To offer a benchmark of quality and innovation, providing competition to commercial and public sector broadcasts alike

To set ambitions for innovation in British media that others aspire to meet

To use their reputation for risk and non non-conformism to engage a younger generation in the values of public service broadcasting.



Genres 

Film 4 focuses on producing mainstream hollywood movies. They frequently have themed nights in programming according to seasons or genres



Facts

  • Film 4 was created in the 90s as part of channel 4

  • In 2006 film 4 became free tot air

  • 2002 finacial issues lead to a need to boost annual investment through thrid party partnerships. Because of this film 4 announced it woulds distribute its own films

  • Film 4 produced 5 oscars in 4 years and 3 baftas in 2007 alone

  • Reaches over 14.7 million people a month

  • Their first production was a movie called Walter, directed by Stephen Frears

  •  Channel 4 spent £489 million in 2018 in the production of original content

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