Film24 was a British television channel, that was available on

Sky The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from outer space. In the field of astronomy, ...

channel 157. The company had offices at Pinewood Studios and produced content for the TV channel as well as programmes for international TV, the Internet and mobile distribution. Before its sale in 2010, the channel averaged around a million viewers a week.

History

Film24 was an independent multi-platform content business, based at Pinewood Film Studios, that produced programmes and short features about the film industry and films themselves to satisfy the ever-growing consumer demand for film consumption and the audience's fascination with the movie business. Content was available primarily on Sky. The Channel was founded by one of the UK’s top headhunters - the late Nicky J Davis. Film24, the TV channel, launched in July 2007 as a channel about film, not airing films, but with original programming covering large and small films and DVD releases, new talent, regional cinema, films in production and behind-the-scenes programmes reporting and explaining every aspect of the film industry. In the latter half of 2009, the COO, Andrew Burns, brought in a new programming strategy, focusing on acquiring programmes. This new direction saw an increase in celebrity programming, demonstrating the Hollywood lifestyle and reality television shows. Film24 also showed comedy, factual documentaries, sports, as well as awards shows, with the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards airing in 2010. The Screen Actors Guild Awards were transmitted live in the UK. Viewing figures increased to a million a week In September 2009, Film24 commissioned Starstruck Media to relaunch flagship programme '' Film Xtra''. Originally, thirteen 15 minute programmes were agreed, but the programme was soon made into a half-hour feature, and continued to look at new cinema releases, home entertainment releases, and news from the world of film. The programme was presented by former

CBBC CBBC (initialised as Children's BBC and also known as the CBBC Channel) is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the bran ...

and

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most o ...

presenter, Adrian Dickson. A spin-off series, that was broadcast post the 9 p.m. watershed - ''FXU'', started in January 2010, presented by Tim Fornara. Also in September, Film24 acquired the rights to computer games shows '' Playr'' and ''Playr Guides''. In December 2009, Film24 announced plans to significantly increase its spend on new programmes. In early 2010, the channel showed a number of Southern Television programmes such as ''

Freewheelers ''Freewheelers'' is a British television series made by Southern Television between 1968 and 1973 for the ITV network. It was created by the television producer Chris McMaster, who was aware of the popularity of adult action series such as '' ...

'', ''

The Flockton Flyer ''The Flockton Flyer'' was a children's TV series made by Southern Television for the ITV network. It was a popular programme, which ran to two series, and provided early screen appearances for upcoming actors such as Peter Duncan and Gwynet ...

'' and the TV version of ''

Dick Barton ''Dick Barton – Special Agent'' is a radio thriller serial that was broadcast in the BBC Light Programme between 7 October 1946 and 30 March 1951. Produced and directed by Raymond Raikes, Neil Tuson, and Charles Lefaux, it was aired in 15-mi ...

'', some of which later turned up on

Talking Pictures TV Talking Pictures TV (TPTV) is a British free-to-air vintage-film and nostalgia television channel. It was launched on 26 May 2015 on Sky channel 343, but later also became available on Freeview, Freesat, and Virgin Media. It is on air for 24 h ...

who own the rights to the Southern TV library as well as a significant number of films that were also shown on the channel. It also completed a number of output deals with a number of major Film studios and distributors

Film24 Sale

The channel's principal shareholder was Lord Paul's Caparo Group. In May 2010, Angad Paul (CEO of

Caparo Group Caparo plc is a British company involved mainly in the steel industry, primarily in the design, manufacturing and marketing of steel and niche engineering products. Current affairs Caparo was founded by Lord Swraj Paul, in 1968. Sixteen compan ...

) withdrew promised development funding, without any notice, following serious financial problems at Caparo, forcing the channel into financial difficulties. On 22 June 2010, Canis Media, who were contracted to schedule the channel announced that it had been asked to review options for the potential sale of the Film24 EPG by Film24’s board On 7 September 2010, Canis Media announced that the sale of the Film24 EPG was "near to completion" and the new owner would be unveiled shortly. On 28 October 2010, it was reported that

Sony Pictures Television Sony Pictures Television Inc. (abbreviated as SPT) is an American television production and distribution studio. Based at the Sony Pictures Studios complex in Culver City, it is a division of Sony Entertainment's unit Sony Pictures Entertainme ...

were on the brink of a deal to buy Film24 as their first entry into the UK channel market. On 19 November 2010, Sony Pictures Television acquired the EPG slot for Film24 for an undisclosed sum. On 8 November 2015, Angad Paul (CEO of

) committed suicide by jumping from his 8th floor London penthouse two weeks after his family's steel company Caparo Group was forced into Administration.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Film24 (Channel) Movie channels English-language television stations in the United Kingdom Television channels and stations established in 2007 Defunct British television channels Television channels and stations disestablished in 2011