FilmFour (to be known as Film4 from 23 July 2006) is a British digital television channel, owned and operated by Channel 4, which screens Channel 4-like films (mainly non-blockbuster, generally popular independent and arthouse fare).

The channel is currently subscription only, costing up to £7 a month, but will become free from July 23 2006.

The current subscription service will end on July 19, 2006. FilmFour will return under the slightly modified name of Film4 on July 23. It will also launch on Freeview for the first time (in More4+1's old slot). Its availability will increase from 300,000 to 18 million households. Broadcasting hours will change to 1500-0300, and commercial breaks will be included during films for the first time in its history. The first film on the new relaunched channel will be the première of Lost in Translation.

On July 5, 2006 Channel 4 began broadcasting short teasers advertising the change, the first of which featured actress Lucy Liu flying an aeroplane, in which she turned to the camera and waved. The re-launch date was then displayed on a red background. Shortly after, full-length advertisements began running on all Channel 4 stations, featuring notable actors such as Ewan McGregor and Judi Dench, with McGregor dressed as a tomato and Dench as a lobster. The pair are shown in a public square shouting, "FilmFour's free now!".

In addition to the main channel, FilmFour also operates a timeshifted variant, FilmFour+1 on satellite and cable only. A third channel, FilmFour Weekly, screens four films across the week at the same time each day, to make it easier to catch a film at least once. This channel, however, is to cease broadcasting on July 19 2006.

External links

• Film4
• MediaGuardian article on FilmFour's decision to go free-to-view (Subscription required)
• FilmFour is Free Ad

Television channels in the United Kingdom