MoviePlex

Movieplex
Launched	January 1, 1997
Owned by	Liberty Starz
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) (HD simulcast on Retroplex and Indieplex only)
Country	United States
Broadcast area	Nationwide (on cable providers in select areas and Dish Network)
Headquarters	Englewood, Colorado
Formerly called	Encore Plex (1997-1998)
Sister channel(s)	Starz Encore
Website	http://www.starz.com/channels/movieplex
Availability
Satellite
Dish Network	377 MoviePlex (SD) 378 IndiePlex (HD) 379 RetroPlex (HD)
Cable
Available on some cable systems	Check local listings for channels

MoviePlex is an American premium television network which features recent and older motion pictures. It is a spinoff of the Encore movie channel and is owned by Liberty Starz. The headquarters of MoviePlex and its sister channels Encore and Starz are located on the Meridian International Business Center complex in Meridian, Colorado.^[1]

The channel is available on select cable systems but is not available on all providers that carry the Encore multiplex; Dish Network is the only national carrier of the primary MoviePlex channel, which was added to the satellite provider on December 1, 2010.^[2]

Launched on January 1, 1997 as Encore Plex,^[3] it replaced INTRO Television (originally called TV! Network until September 1995), a cable channel launched by Liberty Media in 1994, that showed blocks of programming from other channels.^[4] On November 19, 2009, Liberty Media spun off Starz, Encore and MoviePlex into a new company named Liberty Starz.^[5]

Programming

Former

Until August 1, 2011, MoviePlex broadcasted various programming from Encore's theme channels seven days a week with a different channel showcased each day. Programming on MoviePlex was shown on a one hour delay from its presentation on the Encore channel.

The channels shown were:

• Encore WAM (Sundays)
• Encore Mystery (Mondays)
• Encore Drama (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
• Encore Westerns (Wednesdays)
• Encore Action (Thursdays)
• Encore Love (Fridays)

MoviePlex becomes a standalone channel

On August 1, 2011, MoviePlex stopped simulcasting programming from any of the Encore channels and became a separate stand alone channel.^[6]

IndiePlex and RetroPlex

On April 4, 2006 at midnight ET, MoviePlex became a multiplex service of its own when Starz Entertainment Group launched two companion channels, IndiePlex and RetroPlex, which was launched on Comcast digital cable systems.^[7][8] IndiePlex is dedicated to independent films, while RetroPlex shows only older movies. The first movie aired on IndiePlex was Wim Wenders' Paris, Texas; RetroPlex launched with Samuel Fuller's Pickup on South Street. The channels are currently available on Dish Network, Comcast, Atlantic Broadband and Verizon FiOS.

Additionally earlier in 2006, MoviePlex launched a video-on-demand component, free for Comcast Digital Cable subscribers. The station also underwent a rebranding earlier in the year, modernizing its logo and presentation to fit in better with the Starz/Encore look yet still remaining unique.

Retroplex HD and Indieplex HD

Movieplex does not presently operate high definition simulcast feeds. However, Movieplex's multiplex channels Retroplex and Indieplex both operate 1080i high definition simulcast channels, which were launched on Dish Network on February 10, 2010.^[9]

References

1. ^ Colorado Gov. Bill Owens Helps Starz Encore Group Dedicate New Headquarters In Meridian Office Park South of Denver
2. ^ "DISH Network Expands Movie Channel Lineup with Introduction of Starz Entertainment's MoviePlex.", PR Newswire, December 2, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2011 from HighBeam Research.
3. ^ Kevin M. Williams. "Plex channel arrives without warning", Chicago Sun-Timesm February 16, 1997. Retrieved February 24, 2011 from HighBeam Research.
4. ^ Katz, Richard. "TCI sampler channel gets mixed reception", Multichannel News, June 27, 1994. Retrieved February 24, 2011 from HighBeam Research.
5. ^ "Liberty Media Completes Split-Off and Merger with The DIRECTV Group, Inc.", PR Newswire, November 20, 2009. Retrieved February 23, 2011 from HighBeam Research.
6. ^ Starz Entertainment Enhances ENCORE with ENCORE ESPANOL, More HD, and New Channels Starz Press Release May 31, 2011
7. ^ Reynolds, Mike. "Comcast to add new Starz duo; RetroPlex and IndiePlex will be available via Digital Plus service", Multichannel News, February 13, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2011 from HighBeam Research.
8. ^ "Starz Entertainment Group to Launch Two New Networks, Extending Family of Targeted Film Channels", PR Newswire, February 13, 2006. Retrieved February 25, 2011 from HighBeam Research.
9. ^ Dish Network® Extends HD Leadership, Delivers Slate of Nine New National HD Channels, Dish Network Press Release, February 11, 2010.