Late last month, Turner and Warner Bros. Digital Networks announced–much to the chagrin of cinephiles–that it planned to close Filmstruck, a streaming service that specialized in arthouse and classic films. Fans and celebrities–from Christopher Nolan to Guillermo del Toro–quickly got behind a petition to save the streaming service. And today their wish came true, more or less.
The Criterion Collection and WarnerMedia just issued a press release, declaring that “the Criterion Channel will launch as a free-standing streaming service” in the spring of 2019. This will effectively allow the Criterion Channel to “pick up where FilmStruck left off, with thematic programming, regular filmmaker spotlights, and actor retrospectives, featuring major classics and hard-to-find discoveries from Hollywood and around the world, complete with special features like commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage and original documentaries.”
If you want to demonstrate your appreciation and support, you can become a Charter Subscriber and gain the following benefits:
- A 30-day free trial.
- A reduced subscription fee for as long as you keep your subscription active. The regular fee will be $10.99 a month or $100 a year, but as a Charter Subscriber you’ll pay $9.99 a month or $89.99 a year.
- Concierge customer service from the Criterion Collection, including a customer ID and a special e-mail address.
- A holiday gift-certificate present, for use on the Criterion Collection website.
- A Charter Subscriber membership card.
- The satisfaction of knowing you’re keeping the best of film alive and available.
Hope this helps you have a great weekend.
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Related Content:
Akira Kurosawa Names His 21 Favorite Art Films in the Criterion Collection
The Art of Restoring Classic Films: Criterion Shows You How It Refreshed Two Hitchcock Movies
120 Artists Pick Their Top 10 Films in the Criterion Collection
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