Channel 5 is a television network that broadcasts in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1997, it was the fifth and final national terrestrial analogue network to launch.
The station was branded as Five between 2002 and 2010. After his purchase of the station from RTL on 23 July 2010, Richard Desmond announced plans to invest more money in programming and return to the name Channel 5 with immediate effect, prior to an official re launch on 14 February 2011 which was also applied to 5 News.
The new on-screen look for Channel 5 went live on 14 February 2011 with new idents, on-screen DOG and website address.
The re-launch has also seen investment in a range of new programming with the debut of the nightly entertainment show, OK! TV. Audience figures for the re launch were boosted with increased viewing figures for the main 5 News bulletins and improved figures for OK! TV in the 18:30 slot.
The channel is a general entertainment channel, with internally commissioned shows such as The Gadget Show and Fifth Gear appearing alongside numerous international programmes such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Neighbours and Home and Away.
On 1 May 2014, Desmond agreed to sell Channel 5 to Viacom for £450 million (US$759 million).
The deal was approved on 10 September 2014 and at the same time it was announced that it was to co-commission programmes with its pay channels such as Nickelodeon and MTV.
The channels operate under the Viacom International Media Networks Europe subsidiary.
The channel has historically had the lowest audience of Britain’s five terrestrial television channels, usually lagging well behind its main four terrestrial rivals with a viewing share of around 5%. During live football coverage, the channel often enjoys significantly larger audiences as high as 12%. Channel 5 +1 launched on Freesat, Freeview and Sky on 6 December 2011.
Website: www.channel5.com
Channel 5+1
Channel 5 +1 launched on Freesat, Freeview and Sky on 6 December 2011. The channel launched on Virgin Media on 25 October 2012.
As with other similar ‘+1’ services, Channel 5 +1 rebroadcasts Channel 5’s entire programming output on a one-hour time-delay, though the ‘Supercasino’ commercial gaming block is blacked out on the timeshift.
Channel 5 HD
Channel 5 HD is a high-definition simulcast of Channel 5. The channel launched on Sky channel 171 and Virgin Media channel 150 on 13 July 2010.
In Summer 2015, Channel 5 and Channel 5 HD switched places on Sky, with Channel 5 HD being located in Channel 5’s original space of channel 105.
On 4 May 2016, Channel 5 HD became free-to-air, coinciding with its launch on Freeview and Freesat.
5 Star
5 Star is a television channel owned by Northern & Shell. It was originally launched alongside 5USA by Channel 5, in order to create a multi-channel strategy. 5* is a sister channel of Channel 5 and 5USA.
The channel is attracting increasing numbers of younger viewers with a range of younger, faster, ruder programming.
The channel was launched as “Five Life” on 15 October 2006, and was rebranded as “Fiver” on 28 April 2008, and “5*” on 7 March 2011.
Programmes on 5Star include $h*! My Dad Says, 10 Things I Hate About You, Alphas, Animal Rescue Squad, Banged Up Abroad, Better with You, Big Brother, Big Brother’s Bit on the Side, Chuck, The City, Comedy Kings – Best of Just for Laughs, Dharma & Greg, Everybody Hates Chris, Fifth Gear, The Gadget Show, Home and Away, The Hotel Inspector, Human Target, Malcolm in the Middle, The Mentalist, Neighbours, Police Interceptors, Prison Break, Sex and the City, Silent Library, Two Guys and a Girl, Minder, Push and Tripping Over.
The channel is available on digital television via Freeview, Freesat, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media.
Website: www.channel5.com/channels/5star
5USA
5USA is an entertainment television channel owned by Northern & Shell. 5USA concentrates on showing imported movies and programmes from the United States, originally broadcast from 16:00 to 01:00, extending its hours starting at 12:00 in June 2007. The channel changes its programme slots and shows from time to time. Channel 5’s American cousin, 5USA, launched on 16th October 2006 and is now one of the highest rating multichannel in the UK during prime time.
5USA brings UK viewers the slickest, smartest American drama series, including CSI, CSI New York, CSI Miami, Numb3rs and The Mentalist, as well as a combination of established and new drama; comedy; films; sport and youth programming.
The channel is available on digital television via Freeview, Freesat, Sky, TalkTalk TV and Virgin Media.
Website: www.channel5.com/channels/5usa
5Spike
5Spike is a general entertainment channel from the Channel 5 family of channels. The channel is available via the main digital TV platforms in the UK, including Sky TV (channel 160), Freesat (channel 141) and Freeview channel 31.
5Spike offers a mix of original commissions, smash hit acquired drama and blockbuster films, factual library content and adrenalin-fuelled sports blended with a range of reality series from Spike in the US, which is consistently amongst the highest rating basic cable networks.
Both Spike in the US and Channel 5 are owned and operated by Viacom International Media Networks, one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.
Website: www.channel5.com/5spike/
5Select
5SELECT showcases a selection of high quality content ranging from factual programmes like Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild and GPs: Behind Closed Doors to spin-off original series like The Yorkshire Vet Casebook and The Dog Rescuers: Best in Show, alongside brand new commissions like The Secret Life of Owls.
5SELECT broadcasts hit RTE show Striking Out, a brand new legal drama starring Neil Morrissey and Amy Huberman.
5SELECT takes viewers to amazing places to tell incredible stories—through the eyes of captivating talent such as Jane McDonald, Alex Polizzi and Tony Robinson, and through the prism of history in the exclusive broadcast of World War I in Colour.
It is the home of stunning natural history series such as Alaska: A Year in the Wild, the place to find compelling tales from series like Extraordinary People and the channel for intelligent, accessible history programmes including The Great Fire.
The channel also features themed programme collections, including Secrets of the Past exploring history’s defining moments, SELECT Drama where viewers can settle in for an evening of high-quality drama, and Famous Faces, Amazing Places where Channel 5 talent visit their bucket list destinations.
Contact Channel 5
Customer Services
Channel 5 Television
10 Lower Thames Street
London EC3R 6EN
United Kingdom
Telephone: (020) 8612 7700 or 08457 050505
From outside the UK: +4420 then 8612 7700 or 08457 050505
Email: customerservices@channel5.com
