Filmnet

FilmNet
Launched	December 5, 1984
Closed	1997 (Scandinavia, Netherlands, Flanders, Poland) 2008 (Greece)
Owned by	Multichoice
Replaced	Canal+ (Scandinavia, Netherlands, Flanders, Poland) Nova Cinema (Greece)

FilmNet was the name used for several premium television channels in Europe during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. It was launched on 5 December 1984, broadcasting with a focus on Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Belgium. Filmnet channels were later launched in Poland and Greece.

History

It had several owners through the years. In 1996 the channels were owned by the South-African company Multichoice who decided to sell Filmnet to the French Canal+ Group. The deal didn't include the Greek channels, who continued using the FilmNet name until 2008.

An old FilmNet logo

Although the brand no longer exists, most of its subsidiaries in the different countries live on in some way:

• Scandinavia: The channels were renamed Canal+ in November 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 were merged with ProSiebenSat.1 Media in 2007. In 2008, a deal was entered to sell the company to the Swedish TV4 Group. In October 2012, C More launched subscription online streaming service under the Filmnet name, which was moved to main C More websites on 30 June 2015.
• Netherlands: Filmnet was rebranded as Canal+ in 1997. Canal+ sold the channel later on. In 2005, the channels were bought by Liberty Global Europe who in February 2006 renamed them Sport1 and Film1. Sport1 changed its name to Ziggo Sport Totaal in November 2015 and Film1 was sold to Sony Pictures Television in 2015.
• Belgium: The channels were renamed Canal+ in 1997. In 2004, they were sold to Telenet and are nowadays known as Prime TV.
• Poland: Filmnet was merged into the existing Canal+ channel in February 1997. It continues to exist to this day, under the name Canal+ Poland.
• Greece: Multichoice finally sold their Greek pay TV business to Forthnet in April 2008. The Filmnet brand disappeared on June 1, 2008, when the Greek channels were renamed Nova Cinema (Greece).