IFC (U.S. TV channel)

IFC
Launched September 1, 1994 (22 years ago)
Owned by AMC Networks
Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV)
Slogan Always On, Slightly Off
Country United States
Language English
Broadcast area Nationwide
Formerly called Independent Film Channel (1994–2014)
Sister channel(s) AMC
SundanceTV
WE tv
BBC America
Website IFC.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV 333 (HD/SD)
Dish Network 133 (HD/SD)
Cable
Time Warner Cable 280 (HD/SD)
Xfinity 280 (HD)
503 (SD)
744 (HD)
Available on most U.S. cable providers Check local listings for channel numbers
IPTV
Verizon FiOS 734 (HD)
234 (SD)
AT&T U-verse 797 (SD)
1797 (HD)
Streaming media
IFC - Watch Now
Sling TV Internet Protocol television
PlayStation Vue Internet Protocol television

IFC (an initialism of the network's former name, the Independent Film Channel) is an American cable and satellite television channel that is owned by AMC Networks. Programming on the channel includes both original and acquired series, and fan favorite films.

As of February 2015, approximately 73,333,000 American households (63% of households with television) receive IFC.[1] In March 2015, Dish TV's Sling TV announced it would soon begin making AMC channels available to cord cutters, including aMC, BBC America, IFC, SundanceTV, and WE tv.[2][3][4]

History

IFC logo, used from 2001 to 2010; still used on IFC Canada.

Original focus on independent films

The channel debuted on September 1, 1994, under the ownership of Rainbow Media, a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation; IFC originated as a spin-off of then-sibling channel Bravo, which focused at that time on a wider variety of programming than IFC, including arts-related programming. The Independent Film Channel originally operated as a commercial-free service, with films being shown without interruption.

In 2005, IFC opened the IFC Center, a movie theater for independent film in New York City.[5] In 2008, IFC launched its Media Lab Studios, a section of its website on which users can enter IFC-sponsored film contests, and can view others’ films. Numerous contests are run simultaneously, each with a different focus and guidelines for entries, and are presented by IFC and another sponsor. Recent contest sponsors include Scion, Absolut Vodka, and Red Bull. In 2008, Rainbow Media acquired competing independent film service Sundance Channel from Robert Redford and Showtime Networks.[6]

Format change

Logo from 2010 to 2014

By the mid-2000s, IFC began shifting away from running only independent films; original and acquired television series began to be incorporated within the channel's programming inventory. In March 2010, IFC unveiled a newly redesigned logo and a new slogan – Always On. Slightly Off - which reflects IFC's shift from merely airing independent films to also airing cult television series and specials with an indie flavor and sensibility.[7] Around this time, IFC became an advertiser-supported service and started commercial advertisements between programs. Theatrically released feature films, many of whom AMC holds television rights to, also became part of IFC's schedule.

On December 8, 2010, IFC began airing commercials within its programming, a move that sparked controversy among its viewers.[8][9] Along with this, IFC began to censor its programming. Most notably, The Whitest Kids U'Know had profanity bleeped and nudity blurred. In addition, all sex scenes from movies that featured nudity were now edited out. Despite continuing to air advertisements during its programming, IFC largely reversed its censorship practices and started to air R-rated movies and TV-MA rated series uncensored. The channel would publicly trumpet this fact in 2012 by releasing ads featuring showings of back-to-back blocks of movies like the Friday the 13th film series, highlighting the nudity and gore.[10] However, episodes of some programs rated TV-14 are still censored.[11]

On July 1, 2011, Rainbow Media was spun off from Cablevision into a separate company, which was renamed AMC Networks.[12] The name "IFC" is now an orphan initialism. On January 9, 2014, network general manager Jennifer Caserta announced: "The name 'Independent Film Channel' has been legally retired...starting today, IFC is legally IFC."[13] Beginning in May, the IFC logo, which was used since 2010 was rendered in 3-D.[14]

2012 Dish Network carriage dispute

Current programming

Scripted

Award shows

Acquired

Future programming

Former programming

Documentaries

Scripted

Unscripted

Anime

Programming blocks

Acquired

Other services

IFC HD

IFC HD is a high definition simulcast feed of IFC that broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format. IFC HD is available on Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cablevision, Verizon FIOS, Cox Communications, DirecTV, Charter Communications, Dish Network, AT&T U-verse, Optimum and several other major cable providers.

IFC Free

IFC operates a video on demand television service called IFC Free, which is available at no additional charge to digital cable and satellite subscribers. IFC Free offers program content available in standard or high definition, consisting of independent and theatrically-released feature films and original programs, including premieres of IFC programs before their initial broadcast on the linear television channel.

IFC Films

AMC Networks operates an independent film studio, IFC Films, which launched in 2001 and produces independent films for theatrical release. IFC Films has entered into several ventures in new distribution models for video on demand (VOD) and DVDs. The company has released over 600 films.

IFC.com

IFC's website, ifc.com, features blogs and news about film, music, and politics in addition to content about IFC's series, documentaries, and programming. The site also features exclusive web content consisting of a variety of original web series.

Web series

Blogs

International version

Canada

The Canadian version of the Independent Film Channel launched on August 15, 2001 under the ownership of Salter Street Films, under a brand licensing agreement with Rainbow Media. Alliance Atlantis acquired the channel in December 2001, through its purchase of Salter Street Films.[35] On January 18, 2008,[36] a joint venture between Canwest and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners known as CW Media,[37] acquired control of IFC through its purchase of Alliance Atlantis' broadcasting assets, which were placed in a trust in August 2007.[38]

On October 27, 2010, IFC Canada's ownership changed again through Shaw Communications' acquisition of Canwest and Goldman Sachs' interest in CW Media.[39][40] As with its U.S. namesake, the channel originally focused almost exclusively on smaller independent films. However, IFC Canada has broadened its programming focus to include more mainstream films from large production studios as the U.S. channel has done. It has also de-emphasized the use of the full Independent Film Channel name, instead using the IFC acronym, possibly due to the decrease in the number of independent films on its schedule.

As of 2014, none of IFC's original programming has aired on this channel. Rival broadcaster Bell Media currently owns exclusive rights to their shows and has aired them on their various networks, including The Movie Network and MuchMusic.[41]

References

  1. ↑ Seidman, Robert (February 22, 2015). "List of how many homes each cable network is in as of February 2015". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Retrieved March 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ Newman, Jared (March 4, 2015). "Sling TV bulks up base package with AMC and IFC". TechHive.
  3. ↑ Newman, Jared (January 30, 2015). "Sling TV brings back the linear video element that other cord-cutting services lack, but could use some polish and a few more features". TechHive.
  4. ↑ Paul, Ian Paul (February 9, 2015). "Sling TV's web-based live television opens to all cord cutters, adds AMC to lineup".
  5. ↑ Meehan, Peter (October 19, 2005). "Just Off the Aisle at the Movies". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Rainbow buys Sundance Channel Variety, May 7, 2008 JOHN DEMPSEY, DADE HAYES
  7. ↑ "FAQ Mobile App – Android". IFC.
  8. ↑ "IFC’s corporatespeak is insufficient response to showing ads during movies". Democracy Soup.
  9. ↑ Payne, Bob (December 13, 2010). "Is IFC selling out? Channel runs commercials now, irking viewers". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  10. ↑ The Many Faces of Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees – IFC
  11. ↑ "IFC Now Stands for "Interrupted Film Channel"". MovieFanFare.
  12. ↑ AMC Networks Goes Public With Hot Shows, And Analysts Looking For A Sale Deadline New York July 1, 2011.
  13. ↑ The Deadline Team. "IFC Officially Changes Name – To IFC - Deadline". Deadline.
  14. ↑ IFC Branding. Gretel. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pederson, Erik (29 July 2017). "IFC Sets 2018 Slate With 11 Comedy Projects Including ‘How To Rig An Election’ & Oliver Platt-Produced ‘NGO’ – TCA". Deadline.
  16. ↑ Littleton, Cynthia (April 21, 2016). "IFC Developing Comedy Projects with Bryan Cranston, Steven Weber, Sharon Horgan". Variety. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  17. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (February 16, 2017). "IFC Orders ‘Living With Yourself,’ Scripted Comedy Series From ‘Daily Show’ Veteran". Deadline. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Cutting Ties". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  19. ↑ "Dead & Lonely". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Four Eyed Monster". Ifc.com. December 7, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Funnel of Drakness". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Get Hit". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Getting Away With Murder". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Good Morning Internet!". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Lunchbox". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  26. ↑ "Like So Many Things". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  27. ↑ "The Mary Van Note Show". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  28. ↑ "The Stagg Party". Ifc.com. December 7, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  29. ↑ "The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Trapped in the Closet". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  31. ↑ "Pushing Twilight". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Young American Bodies". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  33. ↑ "IFC News Blog". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  34. ↑ "IFC Now Blog". Ifc.com. Retrieved October 20, 2010.
  35. ↑ Decision CRTC 2001-752 CRTC 2001-12-13
  36. ↑ Canwest Global receives final CRTC approval for acquisition of Alliance Atlantis CNW press release 2008-01-18
  37. ↑ Goldman's happy ending at CanWest The Globe and Mail 2010-05-03
  38. ↑ CanWest Completes Acquisition of Alliance Atlantis Archived April 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Investor Point 2007-08-15
  39. ↑ Shaw Communications closes purchase of Canwest TV assets, rebrands as Shaw Media
  40. ↑ CRTC approves Shaw’s purchase of the Canwest Global television properties Archived December 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  41. ↑ "The Movie Network Presents World-Changing IFC Comedy THE SPOILS OF BABYLON Beginning Jan. 9 at 10 p.m. ET". Bell Media. 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
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