Filmnet

Filmnet was the name used for several premium television channels in Europe during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. It was launched in 1985, broadcasting with a focus on Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Filmnet channels were later launched in Poland and Greece. 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.

Although the brand no longer exists, most of it 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). 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.
*Netherlands: Filmnet was rebranded as Canal+ in 2003. 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.
*Flanders: The channels where renamed Canal+ in 1997. In 2004, they were sold to Telenet and are nowadays known as Prime.
*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.

The companies behind Filmnet also operated the sports channel Supersport in several of the markets above. SuperSport still exist in South Africa.

Filmnet (Australia) is a company providing news information and a messageboard for the Australian film industry. It is unrelated to the European Filmnet. http://filmnet.org.au