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Channel Five

Channel 5
Channel 5 (UK) 2016.svg
Launched 30 March 1997; 20 years ago (1997-03-30)
Owned by Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd
(Viacom International Media Networks Europe)
Picture format 576i 4:3/16:9 (SDTV)
1080i 16:9 (HDTV)
Audience share 3.75%
0.29% (+1) (March 2017 (2017-03), BARB)
Country United Kingdom
Formerly called Five (2002–2011)
Sister channel(s)
Timeshift service Channel 5 +1
Website www.channel5.com
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview Channel 5
Channel 44 (+1)
Channel 105 (HD)
Satellite
Freesat Channel 105 (SD/HD)
Channel 128 (+1)
Sky
(UK only)
Channel 105 (SD/HD)
Channel 171 (SD)
Channel 177 (+1)
Astra 2G 10964 22000 5/6
Cable
Virgin Media Channel 105
Channel 150 (HD)
Channel 155 (+1)
UPC Cablecom
(Switzerland)
Channel 167
(digital CH-D)
WightFibre Channel 5
Streaming media
TVPlayer Watch live (UK only)
Sky Go Watch live
(UK and Ireland only)
Virgin TV Anywhere Watch live (UK only)

Channel 5 is a British commercial television network. It was launched in 1997, and was the fifth national terrestrial analogue network in the United Kingdom after BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, and Channel 4. It is generally the fifth-placed network in the country in audience share, and has been since its inception.

The station was branded as Five between 2002 and 2011, when it was owned by the RTL Group. Richard Desmond purchased the station from RTL on 23 July 2010, announcing plans to invest more money in programming and return to the name Channel 5 with immediate effect, and it was relaunched on 14 February 2011. On 1 May 2014 the channel was acquired by Viacom for £450 million (US$759 million).

Channel 5 is a general entertainment channel that shows both internally commissioned programmes such as Fifth Gear, Big Brother & Celebrity Big Brother, The Gadget Show, The Hotel Inspector, Can't Pay? We'll Take It Away! and Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun and foreign programmes. The station has been very successful with imports from the United States in particular, including the CSI franchise, the NCIS franchise, the first 3 series in the Law & Order franchise. Power Rangers, The Mentalist, Body of Proof, Once Upon a Time, Dallas and Under the Dome. In July 2014, Channel 5 announced plans to open up its production arm and allow it to create shows for other channels, aping the BBC and ITV Studios.


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