Channel 5

Channel 5 was launched as Britain's fifth and final terrestrial broadcaster on the 31st March 1997.

In July 2010 the Channel 5 network was sold by long standing shareholder RTL to Northern & Shell.

Currently well over 30 million UK viewers watch Channel 5 any given week tuning in for programming as diverse as the CSI franchise, Extraordinary People, Fifth Gear, live UEFA Europa League Football, Home and Away and Neighbours, 5 News as well as the channel's award winning children's strand, Milkshake!

2010 Statistics

• The fifth terrestrial channel also has the fifth highest audience share (4.6%sh), ahead of all the multi channels including ITV2, E4 and Sky 1 (wks 1-10 2010).
  
• In a typical month Channel 5 reaches ¾ of the UK population or 43 million people.
  
• Channel 5 provides viewers with a varied mix of programming which includes entertainment, sport, documentaries, kids, drama, news and films.
  
• Channel 5 is home to the biggest US dramas. As well as continuing with hit series such as CSI and NCIS, Channel 5 introduced UK audiences to the hugely popular The Mentalist and FlashForward in 2009.
  
• Channel 5's programming reaches a broad range of audiences; starting young with Milkshake! for young children, the likes of The Gadget Show and blockbuster movies for young adults, Home & Away and Neighbours appeal to women and Europa League Football and Cricket coverage get strong viewing shares among men. In addition to these, shows such as The Hotel Inspector do particularly well among upmarket (ABC1) audiences.

Source: BARB, All individuals & ABC1s, weeks 1-10 2010 / 2009