I remember the first time the Cricket moved to FilmFour they failed / forgot to switch off (or change to FTV) the encryption on Sky. I and many others were left with a blue screen and a message about subscribing!
There was often a simulcast overlap between C4 and F4, but the ad breaks were not simulcast on F4, it just stayed with a 'beauty shot', or carried on with the action from the Cricket or Racing event, albeit without commentary.
Horse racing used Film 4 for the support races at the big meetings like Cheltenham festival as it meant the main channel could put countdown on without upsetting the racing fans who only watch the big meetings.
When cricket and racing were on the same day, I don't think racing was ever on Film4, cricket probably was. On those days at racing only about 10 minutes was spent on each race, with everyone standby'd for the other 20 minutes till the build up for the next race (but never stood down, as any break of play, e.g. rain, would get it back on-air to help fill too).
Don't forget Film Four (and BBC Films) are used as vehicles to distribute Government Arts and National Lottery funding to commercial film productions made, significantly in or, by UK film makers. As a result of this they jump the broadcasting rights queues for these titles, and also can leverage this when negotiating other title rights too.
BBC Films has had hands in some success stories over the years (as well as trash and opportunistic fluff - such as Mrs Browns Boys D'Movie for example which was such a let-down compared to the TV show and it was clearly a cash-in opportunity). I find some of the output relatively gritty and straight down to earth, though of course YMMV on this. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was fairly hard-hitting, particularly its ending (which I shan't spoil).
Have any of the ITV companies ever got involved in the film world. I know Carlton had a movie channel, Carlton Cinema, in the early days of ONDigital but I doubt they ever made any, though surely Granada must have dipped their toe in the water at some point. ABC had a cinema chain but did they make movies also?
Have any of the ITV companies ever got involved in the film world. I know Carlton had a movie channel, Carlton Cinema, in the early days of ONDigital but I doubt they ever made any, though surely Granada must have dipped their toe in the water at some point. ABC had a cinema chain but did they make movies also?
Well Carlton STV and Granada were both involved in cinemas in various ways
As for making films, if you watch Memphis Belle one if the first credits is for British Satellite Broadcasting, they part funded the film
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 5 March 2018 9:34pm
Billy Elliot was a co-production between BBC Films, Tiger Aspect and Working Title. A cheap film (compared to some Hollywood productions anyway) and it paid off handsomely. Not a bad film either but then I'm pretty much a sucker for films set in the 1980s.
Don't ITV Studios own one of the largest British feature film archives? Films from Rank, ITC (a subsidiary of ATV back in the day, which was later sold to Carlton) amongst others.
