Channel 5 – What The Papers Say

The Times gave 5 seven out of ten for its first night’s programming. The digital countdown was branded ‘considerably less exciting than the Brazilian Grand Prix showing on ITV or Easter Songs of Praise on BBC1.’ The actual opening show was described as a ‘shameless half hour of self-promotion’, but then The Times decided that the rest of the evening, ‘wasn’t half bad.’

The Independent has also played safe, reluctant to pass judgment on only one night’s evidence. ‘If Channel 5 is going to work, it will do so because it offers regular films and comedy. The programmes that went out on the opening night couldn’t be taken as representative, but were more in the nature of celebratory fireworks. As first nights go, you have to concede, it went pretty well. Now, lets have a look at the real thing.’

The Guardian follows Zenith Media’s line of thinking, claiming that the channel has located a gap in the market, but asking, ‘is there a market for the gap?’ For the viewer however, the paper welcomes the extension of choice, but warns, ‘don’t expect quality drama of the sort you saw on the opening night whenever your finger strays to the 5 button.’