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{{Infobox television channel
| name            = FilmNet
| logo            = Filmnet.jpg
| logo_caption    = An old FilmNet logo
| launch_date     = {{Start date and age|1985|3|29|df=y}}
| closed_date     = {{End date and age|1997|8|1|df=y}}<small> (Scandinavia, Netherlands, Flanders, Poland)</small><br>{{End date and age|2008|6|1|df=y}}<small> (Greece)</small>
| owner           = [[NetHold]] (since 1996)<br>Esselte Video<br>Rob Houwer<br>ATN ([[Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeverijen|VNU]]/[[United International Pictures]] ([[Paramount Pictures]]/[[Universal Pictures]])
| replaced_by     = [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal+]]<small> (Scandinavia, Netherlands, Flanders, Poland)</small><br>[[Nova Cinema (Greece)|Nova Cinema]]<small> (Greece)</small>
}}
'''FilmNet''' was the name used for several premium television channels in Europe during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. It was launched on 9 March 1985, broadcasting with a focus on [[Scandinavia]], the [[Netherlands]] and the northern part of Belgium (Flanders). Filmnet channels were later launched in [[Poland]] and [[Greece]].
==History==
Filmnet was founded by the Swedish company Esselte Video, a division of Swedish office supply manufacturer [[Esselte]], and Dutch film producer [[Rob Houwer]]. They formed a partnership with ATN, a joint venture of the Dutch magazine publisher [[Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeverijen|VNU]] and the European film distribution company [[United International Pictures]] and the channel was launched across Scandinavia and the [[Benelux]] countries on 29 March 1985. Filmnet transmitted from the [[Eutelsat I F-1|ECS-1 satellite]], the same satellite used by [[cable operator]]s.
Filmnet failed to make a profit and was sold to [[NetHold]], a joint venture of the South African [[MultiChoice]] company and [[Richemont]], in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-03-fi-40257-story.html|title=Netherlands' NetHold Emerging as Global Player in Pay TV|first=Midge|last=Gillies|author-link=Midge Gillies|date=1996-09-03|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Los Angeles Times|location=London}}</ref> The channels were sold to the French [[Groupe Canal+]] on 1 August 1997.<ref name=tte>{{cite book|last1=Chalaby|first1=Jean K.|title=Transnational Television in Europe: Reconfiguring Global Communications Networks|date=2009|publisher=I.B.Tauris|isbn=9780857717474|pages=15–16|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Film1/Sport1: Dit Was Canal+ ...In Nederland!|url=https://dutchmedia.nl/blog/index.php/2006/02/01/film1sport1-dit-was-canal-in-nederland/|access-date=2 August 2018|work=DutchMedia.nl|date=1 February 2006|language=nl}}</ref> The deal didn't include the Greek channels, who continued using the FilmNet name until 2008. Although the brand no longer exists, most of its subsidiaries in the different countries live on in some way:
*'''Scandinavia''': The channel had 3 timeslots: ''Morning Club'' for morning, noon and early afternoon programs, ''Royal Club'' for late afternoon and evening programs and ''Night Club'' for night and after-midnight programs, each broadcasting for 8 hours. As it was increasing other content except for films, like sports, entertainment, music and others, the channel was renamed ''FilmNet Plus''. To create a TV channel which would fit to film lovers, a second FilmNet channel called ''The Complete Movie Channel: FilmNet'' was launched on most [[cable network]]s, and it featured only movies. Later, the channels were renamed ''FilmNet 1'' and ''FilmNet 2''. The channels were renamed [[C More Emotion|Canal+]] and [[C More First|Canal+ Gul]] on September 1, 1997. Canal+ sold the company to [[Nordic Capital]] and Baker Capital in 2003 and the company was renamed [[C More Entertainment]] (although still using the Canal+ name in marketing until 2012). They went on to sell to the [[SBS Broadcasting Group]] in 2005, who in turn was merged with [[ProSiebenSat.1 Media]] in 2007. In 2008, a deal was entered to sell the company to the Swedish [[TV4 AB|TV4 Group]]. In October 2012, C More launched a subscription online streaming service under the Filmnet name, which was moved to main C More websites on 30 June 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Streama filmer – Streama online i tv, mobil & surfplatta utan bindningstid |url=https://www.cmore.se/filmer |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=C More |language=sv}}</ref>
*'''Netherlands''': Filmnet was rebranded as Canal+ in 1997.<ref>[https://www.trouw.nl/home/fransen-gaan-nederlanders-vermaken~a25a435d/ Fransen gaan Nederlanders vermaken], [[Trouw]], Dorien Pels, 26 July 1997</ref> Canal+ sold the channels in 2005 to [[Liberty Global]] and renamed to [[Ziggo Sport Totaal|Sport1]] and [[Film1]] in February 2006.<ref>[https://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1002/Show/article/detail/2361973/2006/01/31/Canal-wordt-Sport1-en-Film1.dhtml Canal+ wordt Sport1 en Film1]</ref> Sport1 changed its name to [[Ziggo Sport Totaal]] in November 2015.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190524185201/https://www.ziggosport.nl/nieuws/103058-sport1-heet-vanaf-12-november-ziggo-sport-totaal.html Sport1 heet vanaf 12 November Ziggo Sport Totaal]</ref> Film1 was sold to [[Sony Pictures Television]] in 2015.<ref name="Sony Pictures Television">[https://web.archive.org/web/20170711013505/https://sites.sonypicturestelevision.com/press-release.php?id=276 SONY PICTURES TELEVISION CLOSES FILM1 DEAL] sonypicturestelevision.com, Retrieved on July 26, 2015</ref>
*'''Belgium''': The Belgian subsidiary was one of the most successful: as from mid 1988 it was profitable; early 1995 it had 186,000 subscribers. The channels were bought by and renamed Canal+ in 1997. In 2004, they were sold to [[Telenet (Belgium)|Telenet]] and are now known as [[Play More]]. The office of Filmnet was located in Brussels.
*'''Poland''': Filmnet was launched in 1995 and merged into the existing Canal+ channel in February 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/nethold-to-fold-filmnet-in-poland-1117435421/|title=Nethold to fold FilmNet in Poland|first=Rick|last=Richardson|date=1997-02-24|access-date=2019-12-27|website=[[Variety (magazine)#Editions|Variety.com]]|location=[[Warsaw]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227085810/https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/nethold-to-fold-filmnet-in-poland-1117435421/|archive-date=2019-12-27}}</ref> It continues to exist to this day, under the name [[Canal+ Premium]].
*'''Greece''': The ''FilmNet'' brand came in Greece in 1994, replacing ITA 8. The second channel was called ''FilmSat'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nova.gr/gr/tvguide.asp?action=search&channel=24|title=NOVA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011210045917/http://www.nova.gr/gr/tvguide.asp?action=search&channel=24|archive-date=December 10, 2001}}</ref> but during 2002 it was renamed as ''FilmNet 2'' and there was, also, a third one, called ''FilmNet 3''. Multichoice finally sold their Greek pay-TV business to [[Nova (Forthnet)|Forthnet]] in April 2008. The Filmnet brand disappeared on June 1, 2008, when the Greek channels were renamed [[Nova Cinema (Greece)|Nova Cinema]].
==Programming==
Filmnet mainly broadcast films and series, as well as gossip news from [[E!]]. In the 1990s, Filmnet also started broadcasting football and other sport events in countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands.
===K-T.V.===
{{Main article|K-T.V.}}
[[K-T.V.]] was a programming block on Filmnet, featuring various cartoons and original shows with kids as the presentations.
==See also==
*[[K-T.V.]]
*[[SuperSport (South African broadcaster)|SuperSport]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}{{Television in the Netherlands}}
[[Category:Multimedia]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1985]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 1997]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2008]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels in Greece]]
[[Category:Greek-language television stations]]
[[Category:1985 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels in the Netherlands]]