Classic British film channel new on Freeview
September 22, 2015
Arqiva has confirmed the launch of the nostalgic British film channel, Talking Pictures TV – an independent archive film and television company – on UK free-to-air DTT platform Freeview channel 81. Available from 13:00 on Tuesday 22 September 2015, people watching Talking Pictures TV will be able to relax at home and watch vintage and rare films, 24 hours a day, and relive their memories of the ‘Saturday morning pictures’. The channel will broadcast in standard definition nationally in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland with just over 72 per cent population coverage, from the Arqiva Freeview multiplex.
Talking Pictures TV is a family-run business, which first began as a classic films DVD label under Renown Pictures Ltd. With its own large library of rights for UK films and acquired programming from many major broadcasters, Talking Pictures began to see a huge demand for its DVD content, and saw the opportunity to launch a TV channel. Targeted at the mature audience who grew up going to the Saturday Morning Pictures, viewers can now watch vintage films from the 1930s through to the 1960s on TV.
According to Sarah Cronin-Stanley, Director Talking Pictures TV, it is the only broadcaster to offer TV viewers the opportunity to watch nostalgic films of this genre for free, on Freeview. “By launching on Freeview, we’re excited to be able to deliver such a unique experience to a much broader audience of movie lovers, or those people who may discover a new interest in classic films through channel surfing and discovering Talking Pictures TV! ”
Mike Finchen, Director, DTT MuxCo at Arqiva, said it was great to be able to add another movie channel to Freeview. “Freeview gives niche broadcasters, like Talking Pictures TV, the chance to not only air content to an audience who already knows and loves its brand, but to engage and expand its footprint with a broader set of viewers who may enjoy vintage films but weren’t aware of the service.”