Movie Network Channels

Movie Network Channels was an Australian premium television movie service that consisted of five original channels (Movie One, Movie Extra, Movie Greats, Family Movie Channel, Starpics 1), two SD timeshifts (Movie Two, Starpics 2) and three HD simulcasts (Movie One HD, Starpics 1 HD, Starpics 2 HD). Its main competitor was Showtime. Movie Network channels were originally only available through Optus TV, who produced and part-owned the channels prior to 1 January 2000.

Through content sharing agreements, Movie Network Channels became available through Austar in January 1999 and Foxtel in December 2002. Movie Network is also available on Neighbourhood Cable, SelecTV and TransACT. The channels were owned, operated and programmed by Warner Bros., Disney, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Village Roadshow. In addition to films from these studios, the network also had access to films from DreamWorks and Australian distributor Hopscotch Films.

On 15 November 2009, the network expanded with three additional (including 1 timeshift) channels and 3 HD simulcasts (including 1 timeshift). In addition, a new website was launched and a unified slogan for the overall network - "All Together Better!".

From 2009 until 2012, Movie Extra was the naming rights sponsor for the Tropfest short film festival.

On 6 December 2012, an announcement was made that Movie Network would cease broadcasting from 31 December 2012. This came in the wake of Foxtel purchasing the Showtime Movie Channels from the Premium Movie Partnership to take movies in-house to save on costs. Negotiations were taking place between Foxtel and Movie Network, but it is believed that one or more of the Movie Network owners began negotiations with Foxtel for their movie rights, causing the acquisition of Movie Network to fall through. On 9 December 2012, it was announced that Movie Network and Showtime (with the exception of Showcase) would be replaced with a new line-up of Foxtel branded movie channels to be named Foxtel Movies