MoviePlex

Movieplex
Launched	January 1, 1997 (1997-01-01)
Owned by	Starz Inc.
Picture format	1080i (HDTV) (HD simulcast on Retroplex and Indieplex only) 480i (SDTV)
Country	United States
Language	English Spanish (via SAP audio track; some films may be broadcast in their native language and subtitled into English)
Broadcast area	Nationwide
Headquarters	Meridian, Colorado
Formerly called	Encore Plex (1997–1998)
Replaced	INTRO Television
Sister channel(s)	Starz, Encore
Website	www.movieplex.com www.movieplexplay.com
Availability
Satellite
Dish Network	377 MoviePlex (SD) 378 IndiePlex (HD) 379 RetroPlex (HD)
DirecTV	TBA[1]
Cable
Available on some U.S. cable systems	Consult your local cable provider for channel availability
IPTV
Verizon FiOS	348 IndiePlex (SD) 349 RetroPlex (SD)
AT&T U-verse	909 MoviePlex (SD) 914 IndiePlex (SD) 916 RetroPlex (SD)

MoviePlex (stylized as movieplex since 2006) is an American premium cable and satellite television channel that is owned by Starz Inc.^[2] (it is a sister service of the co-owned premium channel from which it spun off from, Encore). The channel's programming consists of recent and older theatrically released motion pictures. The headquarters of MoviePlex and its sister channels Encore and Starz are located on the Meridian International Business Center complex in Meridian, Colorado.^[3]

History

MoviePlex originally launched on January 1, 1997 as Encore Plex;^[4] it replaced INTRO Television (originally called TV! Network until September 1995), a cable channel that was launched in 1994 by Liberty Media (which initially owned MoviePlex in a joint venture with Tele-Communications, Inc.), which aired blocks of programming from other cable channels.^[5] MoviePlex's original programming format carried on the format of its predecessor, as the channel featured day-long blocks of various programs from Encore's themed multiplex channels each day of the week, with a different channel showcased each day (prior to Movieplex's conversion into a standalone channel, it broadcast programming from Encore WAM (now Encore Family) on Sundays, Encore Mystery (now Encore Suspense) on Mondays, Encore Drama (now Encore Black) on Tuesdays and Saturdays, Encore Westerns on Wednesdays, Encore Action on Thursdays and Encore Love (now Encore Classic) on Fridays); programming was shown on a one-hour delay from its presentation on that respective Encore channel, with R-rated films excised.

On June 2, 1997, TCI announced a deal in which it transferred majority ownership of its Encore Media Group subsidiary to sister company Liberty Media, a deal done in part to shield TCI from effects resulting from the significant profit losses incurred by Starz! following that channel's launch – TCI retained a minority 20% ownership interest until its 1999 merger with AT&T Corporation, when Liberty Media assumed full ownership of the Encore Media Group.^[6]

On April 4, 2006 at 12 a.m. Eastern Time, MoviePlex launched two companion multiplex channels, IndiePlex and RetroPlex.^[7][8] IndiePlex is dedicated to independent films, while RetroPlex focuses on older movies. The first movie aired on IndiePlex was Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas; RetroPlex launched with Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street.

On November 19, 2009, Liberty Media spun off Starz, Encore and MoviePlex into a separate public tracking stock named Liberty Starz.^[9] On August 1, 2011, MoviePlex adopted its own separate programming schedule, ending the sampler block format of films and other programs seen on the various Encore multiplex channels.^[10] On August 8, 2012, Liberty Media announced that it would spin off Liberty Starz into its own separate publicly traded company.^[11] The spin-off of the subsidiary was completed on January 11, 2013, with Liberty Starz changing its name to Starz Inc. as a result.^[12][13]

Channels

List of channels

Depending on the service provider, MoviePlex provides up to six multiplex channels – three 24-hour multiplex channels, which are simulcast in both standard definition and high definition – as well as a subscription video-on-demand service (MoviePlex On Demand).

MoviePlex broadcasts its primary and multiplex channels on an Eastern Time Zone schedule. Because MoviePlex operates a singular broadcast feed that covers every U.S. time zone, the difference in local airtimes for a particular movie or program between two locations will be at most six hours. The premium film service Starz and Encore, which are both also owned by Starz Inc., operate as separate services – although subscribers to MoviePlex do not necessarily have to subscribe to either of the two sister services.

Other services

RetroPlex/IndiePlex HD

RetroPlex HD and IndiePlex HD are high definition simulcasts feed of RetroPlex and IndiePlex that broadcast in the 1080i resolution format. Atypical for a premium service, while its multiplex channels are available in HD, the main MoviePlex channel does not have a high definition simulcast feed of its own. RetroPlex HD and IndiePlex HD are currently available nationally on Dish Network^[14] and regionally on certain cable providers.

MoviePlex On Demand

MoviePlex On Demand is MoviePlex's video on demand service, which launched in 2006. MoviePlex On Demand's rotating program selection incorporates select new titles that are added each Friday, alongside existing program titles held over from the previous one to two weeks. It is currently available to Comcast subscribers. On April 16, 2012, as part of its new carriage agreement with Starz Entertainment, DirecTV announced it would carry MoviePlex On Demand.^[1]

MoviePlex Play

MoviePlex Play is a website that provides feature film content from MoviePlex available for streaming in standard or high definition. As of January 2014, it is available to MoviePlex subscribers of AT&T U-verse^[15] and Cox Communications.^[16] The MoviePlex Play iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch app was first released on December 18, 2012,^[15] followed by the release of the app for Android devices on May 7, 2013.^[17]

Programming

Although the channel is not purposely formatted as a family-oriented service, MoviePlex's primary channel does not broadcast films with a Motion Picture Association of America rating of "R" or a TV Parental Guideline rating of "TV-MA". This dates back to the channel's original format of running sampler blocks of Encore's multiplex channels, MoviePlex did not actually simulcast each Encore channel's programs as a result, scheduling films during each day's schedule that differed from those seen on the Encore networks in some timeslots. In contrast, IndiePlex and RetroPlex will televise films with those assigned ratings.

Movie library

As of August 2013, MoviePlex – through Starz – maintains exclusive first-run film licensing agreements with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures since 1997 (including content from subsidiaries Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Marvel Studios, Disneynature, and Touchstone Pictures since 1997),^[18][19][20] Sony Pictures Entertainment since January 2005 (including content from subsidiaries Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Classics, Screen Gems, Destination Films, Triumph Films and TriStar Pictures),^[21][22] Anchor Bay Entertainment and Warren Miller Films since 1997.^[23]

The first-run film output agreement with Walt Disney Pictures expires after December 2015, at which time the Netflix streaming service will assume pay television rights in January 2016 (excluding films released by Touchstone Pictures, which will be retained by Starz through a separate contract).^[24][25][26] The first-run film output agreement with Sony was renewed for nine years on February 11, 2013;^[27][28] the Warren Miller output deal was renewed for ten years on October 19, 2009.^[29]

MoviePlex also shows sub-runs – runs of films that have already received broadcast or syndicated television airings – of theatrical films from Warner Bros. Entertainment (including content from subsidiaries New Line Cinema, Turner Entertainment (both for films released prior to 2005) and Castle Rock Entertainment), Universal Studios (including content from subsidiaries Universal Animation Studios and Focus Features, all for films released prior to 2003), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (including content from subsidiaries United Artists, Orion Pictures, and The Samuel Goldwyn Company), Miramax Films (for films released prior to 2009), 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Revolution Studios,^[30] Overture Films,^[31] Yari Film Group^[32] and Lions Gate Entertainment.

In January 1997, MoviePlex secured a licensing agreement with Paramount Pictures, broadcasting over 300 movie titles. Paramount's first contract with MoviePlex expired in December 2005.^[33] In March 2013, MoviePlex reassumed sub-run rights to Paramount Pictures' feature film releases. The first film broadcast through this deal was Sunset Boulevard.^[34] Additional Paramount Pictures releases began to be broadcast on MoviePlex starting the following month, such as The Errand Boy, The Stooge and The Bellboy.^[35][36][37]

Carriage

MoviePlex is available nationally on Dish Network^[38] and regionally on select cable systems. IndiePlex and RetroPlex are currently available on Dish Network, Comcast,^[7] Atlantic Broadband and Verizon FiOS.

On April 16, 2012, DirecTV and Starz Entertainment reached a new carriage agreement that would allow MoviePlex, IndiePlex and RetroPlex to join DirecTV's channel lineup.^[1] The press release did not include a launch date, nor did it specify whether the channels will be available in standard definition, high definition, or both.

References

External links

• Official website
• MoviePlex Play (streaming content available only to authenticated subscribers)