98 PER CENT OF CHRISTMAS FILMS WILL BE REPEATS
Brace yours’elf for a sleigh full of all-too-familiar films this festive season – as LOVEFiLM reveals a whopping 98 per cent of films screened on TV this Christmas will be repeats.
UK viewers settling in front of their TVs for a bit of seasonal cheer can expect a heavy dose of Déjå-View – out of the 656 films to be screened on Freeview and Satellite channels over the three-day festive period (24th – 26th December), 643 will be re-runs with only 13 premieres – a decrease of over 19 per cent from last year.
LOVEFiLM commissioned the research to highlight the fact that members don’t have to rely on repetitive TV listings to get their festive fix this year. With LOVEFiLM Instant – the movie streaming service – film fans can watch what they want, when they want.
Despite the total number of films available across Freeview and satellite channels increasing by 23 per cent, the majority will have been screened before. Freeview channels will have the lion’s share of premieres with 11 per cent of screened films never seen before on terrestrial TV. Satellite channels lag behind this year with a pitiful total of two premieres, both of which will be broadcast on Christmas Day.
LOVEFiLM has a huge catalogue of films to watch instantly via a range of platforms this Christmas – to act as a welcome remedy to predictable TV schedules. This year film fans have exclusive access to favourites like Unknown, The Hangover, Gran Torino and The Dark Knight.
Helen Cowley, Editor of LOVEFiLM, commented:
“It comes as no surprise that the Christmas TV viewing schedule is stuffed to the brim with repeats, but research suggests that viewers now have less choice than ever before – despite having more channels to choose from.”
“LOVEFiLM provides the perfect antidote to tired TV schedules. We have thousands of films, including exclusives not available on any other subscription service, available to watch instantly. Whether you choose to stream at home via your Xbox, PS3™, on the go via iPad, direct to your living room through your internet connected TV or simply on your laptop via the LOVEFiLM website, you’ll be able to choose your own viewing schedule – watching what you want, when you want and how you want. It’s all the very best of Christmas viewing, on your terms”
