It’s bad news for TCM channel fans. Twenty-four years after launching in the UK and Ireland, the channel is saying a big farewell – for good.
The channel has shut down in the UK as of Wednesday (July 5), and that includes TCM’s +1 channel which will be removed from Sky and Virgin.
The channel has been broadcasting on channel 315 on Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream and is channel 415 on Virgin Media. Brian Cox, the star of the HBO and Sky series Succession, has spoken out over the decision by channel bosses.
Cox told Above The Line: “I’ve just written a thing for Facebook because I’m horrified.” He added: “The head of Warner Brothers, once they get rid of TCM/Turner Classic Movies, which I think is one of the most vital resources – and certainly Robert Osborne set that up, and the five gals who run it now. I mean, who’s an expert on film? I just love that sense of who we are, where we’ve come from, and our history. It’s vital to me that we see that and live it.
“For me, the history of cinema, the watching of it, and the way that TCM presents it are incredible resources because they really make me understand how far we’ve travelled.
“But also how far we haven’t travelled. You know, we’ve travelled technically, but in terms of the truth of acting, there are no more true players than Spencer Tracy or Katharine Hepburn. And you see them together in what they create, so the cinema has always been vital to me. Absolutely vital.”
A post on TCM’s social media page said: “TCM Movies is closing in the UK and Ireland. On July 6th, we’ll be riding off into the sunset one last time. Thank you for joining us on our journey and for loving classic movies just as much as we do.”
What does TCM show?
TCM (Turner Classic Movies) shows feature films from the Turner Entertainment film library – which is made up of films from Warner Bros (released before 1950), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (released before May 1986) and the North American distribution rights to films from RKO Pictures. The channel also licenses films from other studios and occasionally shows more recent films.
Why is TCM being removed?
It hasn’t been confirmed why TCM is shutting down. However, it has been reported that the company lost five senior executives last month after a handful of layoffs, including Pola Changnon, the general manager; Charlie Tabesh, the channel’s lead programmer; Genevieve McGillicuddy, who ran the annual TCM film festival; Anne Wilson, a production executive; and Dexter Fedor, a marketer.
Is TCM still in business?
TCM is still available in the US on platforms such as Hulu.
