Five News Set For Revamp
Channel Five is set to revamp its 7pm evening news bulletin, in an attempt to appeal to more men.
The new show will have its own identity, which will differentiate it from the 5pm news bulletin – broadcasting different stories and a new format.
The 5pm news slot currently focuses on a daytime audience, while the 7pm slot will be made to reflect the later audience – including more men.
The 7pm bulletin will see a number of changes, including more property and technology experts on the show as well as a new pace and different lighting.
Isla Traquair will become the sole presenter of the new 7pm show, while her co-presenter Matt Barbet will takeover the 5pm programme.
David Kermode, the Five news editor, said he wanted to experiment with the news format while Natasha Kaplinsky is off on maternity leave.
Five poached Kaplinsky from the BBC in a £1 million-a-year deal earlier this year (see Life In Cold Blood Leaves Competition For Dead).
In February, Five successfully relaunched its news output, which saw the 5pm bulletin hit record audiences earlier this month, peaking at 1.1 million viewers.
Kermode hopes that the changes to the 7pm news slot will increase its viewing figures, which currently average at around 400,000.
Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv