It was launched on 9 March 1985, broadcasting with a focus on Scandinavia, the Netherlands and the northern part of Belgium (Flanders).

They formed a partnership with ATN, a joint venture of the Dutch magazine publisher VNU and the European film distribution company United International Pictures and the channel was launched across Scandinavia and the Benelux countries on 29 March 1985.

Filmnet failed to make a profit and was sold to NetHold, a joint venture of the South African MultiChoice company and Richemont, in 1996.

Although the brand no longer exists, most of its subsidiaries in the different countries live on in some way: Filmnet mainly broadcast films and series, as well as gossip news from E!.

was a programming block on Filmnet, featuring various cartoons and original shows with kids as the presentations.