 | |
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | PAL HDTV 1080i[1] |
| Timeshift service | Movie Two, Starpics 2 |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Movie Network Channels Pty Ltd (Warner Bros./HBO, Disney, MGM Holdings & Village Roadshow) |
| Sister channels | Movie One FMC Family Starpics 1 Movie Extra Movie Greats |
| History | |
| Launched | 20 September 1995[2][3] |
| Closed | 31 December 2012 |
| Former names | The Movie Network (1995–1997) |
| Availability (at time of closure) | |
| Streaming media | |
| Foxtel Download | Movie Action Movie Comedy Movie Drama |
Movie Network Channels was an Australian premium television movie service that consisted of five original channels (Movie One, Movie Extra, Movie Greats, Family Movie Channel, Starpics 1), two SD timeshifts (Movie Two, Starpics 2) and three HD simulcasts (Movie One HD, Starpics 1 HD, Starpics 2 HD). Its main competitor was Showtime. Movie Network channels were originally only available through Optus TV, who produced and part-owned the channels prior to 1 January 2000.[2][4]
Through content sharing agreements, Movie Network Channels became available through Austar in January 1999 and Foxtel in December 2002.[5] Movie Network is also available on Neighbourhood Cable, SelecTV and TransACT.[6] The channels were owned, operated and programmed by Warner Bros., Disney, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Village Roadshow. In addition to films from these studios, the network also had access to films from DreamWorks[7] and Australian distributor Hopscotch Films.
On 15 November 2009, the network expanded with three additional (including 1 timeshift) channels and 3 HD simulcasts (including 1 timeshift).[8] In addition, a new website was launched and a unified slogan for the overall network - "All Together Better!".
From 2009 until 2012, Movie Extra was the naming rights sponsor for the Tropfest short film festival.[9]
On 6 December 2012, an announcement was made that Movie Network would cease broadcasting from 31 December 2012.[10] This came in the wake of Foxtel purchasing the Showtime Movie Channels from the Premium Movie Partnership to take movies in-house to save on costs.[11] Negotiations were taking place between Foxtel and Movie Network, but it is believed that one or more of the Movie Network owners began negotiations with Foxtel for their movie rights, causing the acquisition of Movie Network to fall through.[12] On 9 December 2012, it was announced that Movie Network and Showtime (with the exception of Showcase) would be replaced with a new line-up of Foxtel branded movie channels to be named Foxtel Movies[13]
- ^ Movie Greats channel now available in Widescreen
- ^ a b McCutcheon, Marion. Is Pay TV Meeting its Promise? (PDF) (Report). Faculty of Arts, School of Media, Communication and Culture, Murdoch University.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
cablewatchmovieextrawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Programmers Count The Cost of Quotas". Television Business International. 1 April 1997. p. 79.
- ^ "Austar unifies H'wood lineups". The Hollywood Reporter: 6. 4 January 1999. ISSN 0018-3660.
- ^ "TransACT launches new Movie Network Channels on TransTV" (Press release). TransACT. 4 June 2008. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
- ^ "DreamWorks, Optus team up Has signed a long-term exclusive output deal with DreamWorks SKG". The Hollywood Reporter: 1. 20 September 1996. ISSN 0018-3660.
- ^ Movie Network. "Meet The New Movie Network Channels". Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
- ^ Tropfest loses Sony and gains Movie Extra Archived 20 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine – B&T Today, 7 August 2008
- ^ "Movie Networks channels to fold TV Tonight". David Knox. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
- ^ "Foxtel to acquire Showtime channels TV Tonight". David Knox. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ "Warner Bros, Disney, Roadshow & MGM Dissolve Aussie Pay TV Movie Partnership - Deadline.com". Don Groves. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
- ^ "New movie channels for Foxtel TV Tonight". David Knox. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
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