Film4 launches movies-on-demand service

Channel 4 today revealed their plans to extend the Film4 brand with a new on-demand service called Film4OD.

The service, a collaboration with pay-per-view movie providers FilmFlex, aims to compete with sites like Lovefilm by offering a wider selection of films – over 500 at launch – with many becoming available concurrently with their release on DVD.
Titles include the acclaimed Film4 productions Nowhere Boy and Four Lions as well as blockbusters like Prince of Persia and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Prices will range from 50p to £3.99 for a 48-hour rental, downloaded straight from the iPlayer-style online distribution system, during which the film can be viewed an unlimited number of times.

Currently, downloads will be tied to a computer, with no way to transfer content to a television. However, head of Channel 4 on-demand content Sarah Milton said that other platforms and devices would be considered if the service was a success.