5 (Streaming)

5 is the brand name of video-on-demand services offered by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited, operator of TV channel 5, in the United Kingdom.
The service is ad-supported and provided over-the-top to various different consumer devices. It is owned by Paramount Global and operated by their Paramount Networks UK & Australia division.

With 5 you can:

• catch up on recent shows for at least 7 days (without registering for a 5 account)
• create a free 5 account and enjoy longer catch-up windows for your favourite shows
• watch 5 exclusive shows and content extras
• access premieres of brand new shows and box sets of the best of our archive
• subscribe to our newsletters and be the first to hear about new releases and offers
• watch live TV from the Channel 5, 5USA, 5STAR, 5SELECT, and 5ACTION and many onlinw channel such as Milkshake

All of the shows 5 offer are free to watch, including those from the 5 archive.
You can watch shows as many times and on as many devices as you wish, for as long as they’re available.
High Definition (HD) content is not currently available via any 5 apps or on through the 5 website.

Note: UK only IP restrictions apply to all VOD and live streaming services on 5.

Website: www.channel5.com

Bitrates on 5

My5, Channel 5’s on-demand streaming platform, typically provides content with the following streaming quality standards:

Video Bitrates

• Standard Definition (SD): Around 1.2 Mbps. This quality is the default for most content and suits lower bandwidth connections.
• High Definition (HD): Approximately 2.5 Mbps to 3.5 Mbps. Not all content is available in HD, and it may vary by device and connection strength.

Audio Bitrates

• Stereo Sound: 5 offers stereo audio quality at about 96 kbps to 128 kbps, depending on the content and platform being used. Some platforms may have slightly higher audio bitrates for a richer experience.

These bitrates are generally adaptive, meaning they adjust automatically based on the user’s internet speed and device capabilities.

Live Streams

Channel 5’s live streaming service offers different video and audio bitrates depending on the user’s device, internet connection, and chosen video quality settings. Here’s a general breakdown of the usual bitrates provided across streaming services in the UK:

Video Bitrates:

• Low Quality (240p-360p): Typically around 400-700 Kbps.
• Standard Quality (480p): Around 1-2 Mbps.
• High Quality (720p): Usually ranges from 2.5-3.5 Mbps.
• Full HD (1080p): Commonly requires around 5-6 Mbps.

Audio Bitrates

• Standard Audio: Generally around 64-128 Kbps for lower video qualities.
• High-Quality Audio: Often up to 192 Kbps, especially for HD streaming.

Streaming bitrates may vary based on Channel 5’s platform optimisations and your specific connection.

Using 5

All programmes on 5 are available for free, you can watch them as many times as you like while the programmes are available.
To view programmes or video clips in full screen, simply click the ‘full screen’ button at the bottom right of the video window.

To exit full-screen click the ‘exit full screen’ button at the bottom of the screen or press the ‘Esc’ button on your keyboard.

You have to register to watch clips or full episodes on the 5 site.
However. registering will allow you to interact with the site easier, such as commenting on episodes or web pages.

If you are experiencing issues with video playback, there could be a problem with the equipment you use to connect to the internet. You should first try restarting your router and devices, plus any network peripherals you may have.

To restart your equipment:
1. Switch off all devices
2. Unplug (if mains powered) or remove batteries
3. Wait 30 seconds
4. Plug in or replace the battery
5. Switch all devices on

Once all equipment is switched back on, see if the problem has been resolved.

If an episode does not start when the adverts finish, this is normally caused by connectivity issues with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or network.

Typical problems include:

• Connection too slow to stream the video
• Poor Wi-Fi signal strength
• Noise on your ADSL line
• Congestion on your local network

Resolving the problem

To resolve this issue:

• Close any unnecessary browser windows or tabs
• Close any applications that could be consuming bandwidth
• If you are watching in a web browser, reload the page and try playing the content again
• If you are watching via a mobile device or console, try restarting the device

If you continue to experience problems, try contacting your ISP.

Subtitles on 5

To switch on subtitles on 5:

1. Click the play button to start playback.
2. Hover your mouse over the video player.
3. Click the S icon to switch on subtitles. A tick appears on the S icon to confirm that subtitles are switched on.
4. To switch off subtitles, click the S icon again

Missing Subtitles
Some shows are not subtitled, and subtitles are only provided on selected devices.

To check subtitle availability go to channel5.com and locate the show in the Schedule.

• The (S) abbreviation indicates that the show has Subtitles
• The (AD) abbreviation indicates that the show has an Audio Description

Subtitles are generally available on:

• Milkshake content
• Shows on Channel 5 that are not broadcast live

Subtitles are generally not available on 5Star or 5USA.

Availability

Channel 5’s on-demand service, is available on a wide range of platforms across the UK. You can watch 5 on most smart TVs, including newer models of Samsung, LG, and Sony Android TVs, as well as set-top boxes like Freeview, YouView, and Virgin Media TiVo. Streaming devices, such as Roku, NowTV, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV, also support 5.
For mobile access, both Android (version 5.0 or higher) and iOS (version 10 or higher) devices are compatible, alongside web viewing at www.channel5.com.

Content availability on 5 often depends on broadcast rights, with most shows being accessible for at least seven days following their initial broadcast. New content is added daily, including archived shows and 5 exclusives. However, some series or episodes may be missing due to licensing limitations. For more details on devices or any updates, Channel 5 provides a help centre on their official site.