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Flix (cable network)
Encyclopedia
Flix is an American premium television network
that is owned by CBS Corporation
subsidiary Showtime Networks, Inc.
, which also runs Showtime and The Movie Channel
. Although most cable and satellite providers include Flix as part of the Showtime premium package, some cable providers do not offer Flix with the remainder of the Showtime/The Movie Channel multiplex at all, depending on market.
and Encore.
Before its launch, Tele-Communications, Inc. made a failed attempt to acquire a 50 percent stake in Showtime in 1989. there was some debate as to whether Viacom
or TCI originally conceived the idea for Encore, a service similar to Flix, that also focused on films from the 1960s to the 1980s until a format change in 1999 in which recent films were added to the mix. Viacom executives insisted TCI lifted part of the plan from Showtime Networks, Inc. Then-Encore president John Sie said in an 1991 interview with Multichannel News
that TCI brought up the concept of the Encore network as a way to revitalize Showtime, either by launching a new service from scratch or overhauling the format of Showtime sister network The Movie Channel
.
Starting in 2007, Flix began to show some R-rated movies during the day. Also in 2007, Flix began showing movies from the year 2000; those titles include Reindeer Games
and Pitch Black
. Unlike most other premium movie channels, Flix does not offer multiplex services other than the main network.
Launched in 2005, Flix On Demand is the subscription video-on-demand counterpart to Flix, available to subscribers who receive the channel along with the other Showtime multiplex channels. Flix On Demand offers classic movies from the '50s through the '90s. Flix On Demand divides movies by decades: '50 & '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s.
Pay TV
Pay television, premium television, or premium channels refers to subscription-based television services, usually provided by both analog and digital cable and satellite, but also increasingly via digital terrestrial and internet television...
that is owned by CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is an American media conglomerate focused on commercial broadcasting, publishing, billboards and television production, with most of its operations in the United States. The President and CEO of the company is Leslie Moonves. Sumner Redstone, owner of National Amusements, is CBS's...
subsidiary Showtime Networks, Inc.
Showtime Networks
Showtime Networks, Inc. is the corporate division of media conglomerate CBS Corporation.The company was established in 1983 as Showtime/The Movie Channel, Inc. after Viacom and Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment merged their premium channels, Showtime and The Movie Channel respectively, into one...
, which also runs Showtime and The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel is an American premium channel owned by Showtime Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, which shows mostly movies, as well as special behind-the-scenes features, softcore adult erotica and movie trivia....
. Although most cable and satellite providers include Flix as part of the Showtime premium package, some cable providers do not offer Flix with the remainder of the Showtime/The Movie Channel multiplex at all, depending on market.
Background
The channel launched in August 1, 1992 as a single-channel "mini-pay" service. Flix originally featured movies from the 1960s to the 1980s, with some 1990s film titles scattered on the network's schedule, however the channel has since begun to feature some film titles from the 2000s as well. The channel's tagline is "Movies You Grew Up With". A notable aspect of Flix during its early days was that the channel did not advertise the primetime lineup of solely itself, but also ran during breaks between daytime movies, a primetime schedule of programs that were slated to air that night on all major premium channels including HBO, CinemaxCinemax
Cinemax, sometimes abbreviated as simply "Max", is a collection of premium television networks that broadcasts primarily feature films, along with softcore erotica, original action series, documentaries and special behind-the-scenes features. Cinemax is operated by Home Box Office, Inc., a...
and Encore.
Before its launch, Tele-Communications, Inc. made a failed attempt to acquire a 50 percent stake in Showtime in 1989. there was some debate as to whether Viacom
Viacom (1971–2005)
Viacom , stylized as VIACOM in its current logo, was an American media conglomerate. It was the owner of CBS, Nickelodeon & MTV, among others. Effective December 31, 2005, this corporate entity changed its name to CBS Corporation...
or TCI originally conceived the idea for Encore, a service similar to Flix, that also focused on films from the 1960s to the 1980s until a format change in 1999 in which recent films were added to the mix. Viacom executives insisted TCI lifted part of the plan from Showtime Networks, Inc. Then-Encore president John Sie said in an 1991 interview with Multichannel News
Multichannel News
Multichannel News is a magazine and Web site published by NewBay Media that covers multichannel television and communications providers, such as cable operators, satellite television firms and telephone companies, as well as emerging Internet video and communication services.Multichannel News was...
that TCI brought up the concept of the Encore network as a way to revitalize Showtime, either by launching a new service from scratch or overhauling the format of Showtime sister network The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel
The Movie Channel is an American premium channel owned by Showtime Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of CBS Corporation, which shows mostly movies, as well as special behind-the-scenes features, softcore adult erotica and movie trivia....
.
Starting in 2007, Flix began to show some R-rated movies during the day. Also in 2007, Flix began showing movies from the year 2000; those titles include Reindeer Games
Reindeer Games
Reindeer Games is a 2000 American film, directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, and Charlize Theron. It was Frankenheimer's final theatrically released film and received poor reviews.-Plot:...
and Pitch Black
Pitch Black
Pitch Black is a 2000 science fiction thriller film directed by David Twohy and starring Vin Diesel. The film costars Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser and Keith David....
. Unlike most other premium movie channels, Flix does not offer multiplex services other than the main network.
Flix On Demand
Slogans
- 1992–present: "Movies You Grew Up With"
- 2007–present: "Cool Classics for the Movie Generation"