UK digital terrestrial channel Carlton Cinema is launching on cable on March 1 in a move that will increase its subscriber base by 1.5 million viewers.

The 24-hour film channel, owned by UK media group Carlton Communications, has concluded agreements with UK cable operators Cable and Wireless, NTL, Telewest and Atlantic. The channel, which was launched in November 1998, currently reaches 550,000 homes through digital terrestrial platform ONdigital, which is jointly owned by Carlton and the Granada Media Group.

Carlton Cinema screens classic and contemporary films, uncut and without breaks, drawing from Carlton's extensive archives, built up by the acquisition of the Rank, Korda and Romulus film libraries.