Film Buffs

In the cold, winter months, a trip to the theater, braving the weather, sometimes isn’t as appealing as enjoying a warm cup of hot chocolate by the fire, as a movie plays on TV. Many viewers choose to subscribe to a premium movie channel package, adding a little bit of variety and depth to the paltry by comparison DVD collection. Choosing which movie channel is right for you is a task in and of itself. But, the options are pretty much the same, whether you’re a DIRECT TV, DISH or cable household. Here’s a look what to expect from the most prominent channels available, with some providers allowing to mix and match 2 or more:HBO Not only the most famous name in movies on the small screen, Home Box Office is the most widely watched of the movie channels as well, currently serving 28.5 million subscribers. Combining some of the biggest names in major release motion pictures, slightly dated throwbacks, popular original series (i.e. Entourage), boxing, documentaries, stand-up and more, the proven platform can suffice for many a viewer’s every need.Cinemax Owned by Home Box Office, Cinemax is often packaged with it in when purchasing channels. Cinemax focuses almost exclusively on movies, with less sports or original series presence, hence maximum cinema, the concept from which it takes its name. Cinemax is noted not only for its varied movie selection but also its special feature and erotica programming.Showtime Historically praised for its selection of movies, many a little less mainstream than HBO (in fact, at one point Showtime was officially branded with the slogan “Showtime has the hits HBO misses), the channel has recently increased viewership through popular series programming. Dexter, Weeds and Californication have all been critically acclaimed successes for Showtime as it continues to diversify its programming selection. Read more »