IFC (U.S. TV Channel) - Business Operations

Business Operations

• IFC includes the linear channel IFC.com, and IFC Free, which is IFC’s on-demand cable service, where viewers can watch premieres of IFC's programming in HD before they air on the linear network. Currently, Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cablevision, Verizon FIOS and some cable providers have added the high-definition channel of IFC to a few select markets.

• IFC's related company IFC Films has entered into several ventures in new distribution models for video on demand (VOD) and DVDs.

• In 2005, IFC opened the IFC Center, a movie theater for independent film in New York.

• In 2008, IFC premiered 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 Holdings acquired Sundance Channel.

• On July 1, 2011, Rainbow Media was spun off by its parent company, Cablevision; with the spin-off, the company was renamed AMC Networks.

• On May 4, 2012, Dish Network announced that it would no longer carry the AMC Networks family of cable channels (including IFC) upon the expiration of the satellite provider's distribution agreement with the company at the end of June 2012, citing that AMC Networks charged an excessive amount in retransmission consent payments from the service for their carriage and low audience viewership for the channels. On June 30, 2012, Dish dropped the three AMC Networks properties, replacing AMC with HDNet Movies, IFC with HDNet (now known as AXS TV), and WE tv with Style Network.

• On October 21, 2012, AMC Networks announced a settlement was reached between them, Cablevision and Dish in which Dish was forced to pay up to $700 million in damages to Cablevision for damages from removing Voom-owned channels from the Dish lineup back in 2008, and in return Dish signed a new agreement to bring the AMC networks-owned channels back on the Dish lineup with AMC returning October 21 and the rest (including IFC) on November 1.

• On November 1, 2012, after four months of being off Dish Network, IFC returned on Channel 298 and to celebrate its return, Dish Network had a free preview of it along with the Fuse, WE tv, and Sundance Channel.