The Channel 5 linear service and My5 streaming service will come under a unified brand, with big changes to its streaming offer.
- Linear and streaming service to be known simply as “5”
- Paramount teases “significant greater range of programming on offer”.
- Follows most success Christmas period for My5.
Paramount, the company behind Channel 5 and My5 in the UK, has confirmed it will be relaunching its UK free-to-view streaming and linear channels in March.
As first reported last August, Channel 5 and My5 will be broadcast under the common brand of “5”, mirroring Channel 4’s recent move to combine traditional broadcast channels and streaming offer under one brand.
Paramount had originally planned to revamp Channel 5’s streaming offshoot last year by merging it with Pluto TV. The plan was abandoned in favour of creating “5”.
The impending relaunch follows a successful end to 2024 for My5. The service enjoyed its best-ever Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
All Creatures Great and Small was the top performing show over the two days. Over the full festive fortnight (23rd December to 5th January) new Channel 5 drama, The Serial Killer’s Wife, was the top performing show – whilst other top performers included acquired drama, The Following and perennial festive highlight, World’s Strongest Man.
What will be different from March?
As part of the relaunch as 5, Paramount says “the streaming service will be boosted with an expanded content offer”.
That means the streamer will add additional boxsets and shows from across the wider Paramount family (such as Comedy Central and MTV).
The streaming service will also host programmes from other content partners, adding more reality, drama, factual, true crime and films to the platform.
Paramount has also announced a broad kids and family offer from Milkshake! (Channel 5’s pre-school strand) and Nickelodeon.
It’s also promised a range of streaming-only channels, similiar to the extra live TV channels available on ITVX.
The 5 streaming service will also boast an upgraded user experience. Advertisers can look forward to “enhanced data-led advertising opportunities”.
Paramount hasn’t yet named the exact date in March when the change will take place.
Corporate Comment
Channel 5’s Chief Content Officer, Ben Frow, commented:
“2024 was a huge year for My5 as our viewers really discovered the depth of content, particularly our Channel 5 dramas, that we have on the service. We know that audiences increasingly want to switch seamlessly between streaming and linear TV and that’s why in March we are relaunching both our services under the combined brand of 5 with a significantly greater range of programming on offer.”
Channel 5 launched as the UK’s fifth terrestrial network on 30th March 1997. Over the years and under different owners, Channel 5 rebranded to Five and back again.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Channel 5 / Paramount