Five Sets Its Sights On Toppling Channel 4
Channel Five has declared its desire to replace Channel 4 as the main commercial competitor to ITV.
The chief executive of RTL Group, Didier Bellens, has announced that his goal is to build Channel Five into the number two commercial broadcaster after ITV.
The news comes as Channel 4 has reportedly experienced one of its worst weekly ratings performances in history, with its audience share falling to 6.8%, just above Channel Five’s 6.6%.
According to overnight figures from BARB, Channel 4’s new breakfast show RI:SE is faring particularly badly in the ratings. The show, which launched in the spring, is understood to be losing ground to Channel Five’s early morning children’s programme, Make Way for Noddy.
However, a spokesperson for Channel 4 told NewsLine: “Channel Five is making a lot of noise, but when you look at it there is still a sizeable difference between us. We have no worries that year on year the gap between Channel 4 and Channel Five will not be eroded.”
Channel 4 is also keen to point out its role in producing innovative, less commercially motivated television and has emphasised that its new arts programme, The Art Show drew an average audience of 500,000 last Friday night. A spokesperson for the channel said: “The Art Show has attracted a good audience for a Friday night factual programme, we have had a bad week over-all in terms of ratings, but it is not a long-term trend.”
Despite the high profile departure of chief executive, Dawn Airey (see Airey To Leave Channel Five Sooner Than Expected) Channel Five seems to be enjoying a positive period. Earlier this week the channel attracted its largest ever audience for original programming with its tabloid documentary Michael Jackson’s Face (see Jacko Helps Five Face The Future).
Channel Five: 020 7550 5555 www.channel5.com Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com
Recent Television Stories from NewsLine The Office Is Still A Hit For BBC2 Jacko Helps Five Face The Future Michael Jackson Tipped For ITV’s Top Job
Subscribers can access ten years of NewsLine articles by clicking the Search button to the left