Five Wins Friends Spin-Off After Fierce Bidding War

Five has acquired the exclusive broadcast rights to Friends spin-off series Joey after Channel 4 withdraw from an intense bidding war, claiming that the price for the programme had risen too high given the quality of a pilot episode.

The price paid by Five is believed to have been around £250,000 per episode, more than double the normal asking price for an imported American sitcom. However, the channel is no doubt hoping the show will bring in the large audiences enjoyed Friends on Channel 4.

In addition to Joey, Five has also won the UK broadcast rights to Two And A Half Men, America’s highest-rated series of the last few years, produced by Warner Bros and starring Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer. The broadcaster will be hoping for a ratings success on this side of the Atlantic, as it seeks to increase its audience share towards the elusive seven per cent mark.

Commenting on the deal, Jeff Ford, managing editor and director of acquisitions at Five, said: “I am delighted that the channel has secured the rights to Joey and Two And A Half Men. Five has become synonymous with quality US imports and the acquisition of these two comedy series is a great coup for the channel.”

Jeffrey Schlesinger, president of Warner Bros International Television, added: “We are pleased that Five has acquired the UK rights to Joey, which we expect will follow in the tradition of Friends, a series that was as popular in the UK as it was in the US, and Two and a Half Men, which we expect to be a hit in the UK. We believe that these will become signature series for Five.”

Earlier this month Channel 4 revived speculation over a possible merger with Five by appointing investment bank UBS to review its strategic options. The two channels have made no secret of their desire to forge closer links and have held tentative discussions about the logistics of a merger (see Channel 4 Hires UBS As It Mulls Merger With Five).

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv

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