There are no plans to add Film4 HD onto Freesat at the moment. It is currently tied into carriage deals with Sky and Virgin as a pay TV service. But so was Film4 (SD) once upon a time, so things might change over the next few years.
It will be in the Sky Entertainment Extra+ package.
When first decided Film4 was going to launch in HD, there was mutterings of Freesat but the fact is, the cost to launch isn't cheap and with the incentives Sky offer, there is no way a HD channel set up with Sky help will be FTA at launch (Unless its a BBC Channel then it has to be)
Further down the line, i fully expect it to go FTA, for the time being, it will be a pay channel.
Sky wouldn't help pay for a BBC HD channel anyway. The fact that the BBC can afford to launch numerous FTA HD channels with a frozen licence fee suggests to me that Channel 4 and ITV could probably afford it too.
Sky wouldn't help pay for a BBC HD channel anyway. The fact that the BBC can afford to launch numerous FTA HD channels with a frozen licence fee suggests to me that Channel 4 and ITV could probably afford it too.
Sky wouldn't help pay for a BBC HD channel anyway. The fact that the BBC can afford to launch numerous FTA HD channels with a frozen licence fee suggests to me that Channel 4 and ITV could probably afford it too.
ITV could do yes, they launched theirs for revenue only but Channel 4 simply cannot afford to launch without help.
Its common knowledge afterall...
ITV could do yes, they launched theirs for revenue only but Channel 4 simply cannot afford to launch without help.
Its common knowledge afterall...
but if it went HD would it increase viewers?,some like me would just opt for the HD version,after all its the only watchable film channel on either freesat or freeview at 24 frames per second.
Sky wouldn't help pay for a BBC HD channel anyway. The fact that the BBC can afford to launch numerous FTA HD channels with a frozen licence fee suggests to me that Channel 4 and ITV could probably afford it too.
It just means that the BBC had it in their budget ... So it was allowed for when the LF renewal came up....
But they did loose significant income on DTT mux B /PSB 3 as the fifth slot was not taken up.
The BBC has always planned HD emission for its channels
What the others get up to..... But itv needs non advertising income ....
But if Film4 HD gets DTT emission .. DSAT may not be far away.
but if it went HD would it increase viewers?,some like me would just opt for the HD version,after all its the only watchable film channel on either freesat or freeview at 24 frames per second.
I know id more inclined to watch it if it was in HD
Im a movie buff but SD films are not great to watch, especially when you see what HD can deliver and what Blu-Ray can too.
It will be 25FPS though.
I know id more inclined to watch it if it was in HD
Im a movie buff but SD films are not great to watch, especially when you see what HD can deliver and what Blu-Ray can too.
It will be 25FPS though.
Ah yes, I was thinking of the cinema 24fps wow & flutter etc.
Nothing happens on freesat because Film4 HD isn't launching on freesat.
I'm actually surprised to see a thread here on it as I don't think it's even launched on Sky yet, and will be a subscription channel for a number of years first.
Nothing happens on freesat because Film4 HD isn't launching on freesat.
I'm actually surprised to see a thread here on it as I don't think it's even launched on Sky yet, and will be a subscription channel for a number of years first.
It has launched today and the HD channel is now on Sky.
Ian.
There are no plans to add Film4 HD onto Freesat at the moment. It is currently tied into carriage deals with Sky and Virgin as a pay TV service. But so was Film4 (SD) once upon a time, so things might change over the next few years.
Film4 was never a pay channel. It replaced Film Four which was a stand-alone premium channel and like Sky Movies showed films without commercial breaks.
It was marketed at the time as the Film Four channel now being free to air, I remember getting a letter about it. They didn't present it as one channel closing and another starting up.
I hope we get Film4 HD sooner rather than later. There must be a considerable audience out there to tap into with a decent free HD film channel considering how many people are happy to pay for Netflix.
Freesat could then market themselves as having a free HD movie service, get a HD sports channel on board and the marketing will really look more credible.
I hope we get Film4 HD sooner rather than later. There must be a considerable audience out there to tap into with a decent free HD film channel considering how many people are happy to pay for Netflix.
Freesat could then market themselves as having a free HD movie service, get a HD sports channel on board and the marketing will really look more credible.
But would Film4 and a Sports channel want to give their channel away for free if they are getting paid on Virgin/Sky?
Sky wouldn't help pay for a BBC HD channel anyway.
They did for the 24 extra Olympic channels back in 2012 (before this post)! When there is a viable financial benefit almost anything is possible. Let's face it, Pick and Challenge are only there fta because they are promos for Sky itself in the hope of attracting more subscribers.
Freesat could then market themselves as having a free HD movie service, get a HD sports channel on board and the marketing will really look more credible.
But how would Freesat (or anyone) make money out of that?
Comments
It's not necessarily tied in to a contract. Channel 4 might actually want the money that comes from subscription charges.
When first decided Film4 was going to launch in HD, there was mutterings of Freesat but the fact is, the cost to launch isn't cheap and with the incentives Sky offer, there is no way a HD channel set up with Sky help will be FTA at launch (Unless its a BBC Channel then it has to be)
Further down the line, i fully expect it to go FTA, for the time being, it will be a pay channel.
Thats a very good point!
ITV could do yes, they launched theirs for revenue only but Channel 4 simply cannot afford to launch without help.
Its common knowledge afterall...
but if it went HD would it increase viewers?,some like me would just opt for the HD version,after all its the only watchable film channel on either freesat or freeview at 24 frames per second.
It just means that the BBC had it in their budget ... So it was allowed for when the LF renewal came up....
But they did loose significant income on DTT mux B /PSB 3 as the fifth slot was not taken up.
The BBC has always planned HD emission for its channels
What the others get up to..... But itv needs non advertising income ....
But if Film4 HD gets DTT emission .. DSAT may not be far away.
I know id more inclined to watch it if it was in HD
Im a movie buff but SD films are not great to watch, especially when you see what HD can deliver and what Blu-Ray can too.
It will be 25FPS though.
Ah yes, I was thinking of the cinema 24fps wow & flutter etc.
Not sure what happens on Freesat.
Film 4 SD on the EPG, which was on 315, is not automatically replaced by 315 Film 4 HD.
Any preselected recordings on Film 4 SD on 315, stay on Film 4 SD, now on 342.
You need to reset your timer recordings to Channel 315, to record in HD.
And remove any timers set for Film 4 SD, now on 342.
The same above goes for Favourites, needing to select Film 4 HD as a favourite, instead of Film 4.
All the above, assumes a SKY+HD Box, with a HD recording Subscription
Hence..............
I'm actually surprised to see a thread here on it as I don't think it's even launched on Sky yet, and will be a subscription channel for a number of years first.
It has launched today and the HD channel is now on Sky.
Ian.
Film4 was never a pay channel. It replaced Film Four which was a stand-alone premium channel and like Sky Movies showed films without commercial breaks.
It was marketed at the time as the Film Four channel now being free to air, I remember getting a letter about it. They didn't present it as one channel closing and another starting up.
Freesat could then market themselves as having a free HD movie service, get a HD sports channel on board and the marketing will really look more credible.
But would Film4 and a Sports channel want to give their channel away for free if they are getting paid on Virgin/Sky?
They did for the 24 extra Olympic channels back in 2012 (before this post)! When there is a viable financial benefit almost anything is possible. Let's face it, Pick and Challenge are only there fta because they are promos for Sky itself in the hope of attracting more subscribers.
But how would Freesat (or anyone) make money out of that?