Five to air interactive gambling show

Five has signed a five-year deal to air a live interactive gambling show, SuperCasino, following rule changes made by TV regulator Ofcom in May.

SuperCasino will air from 12 midnight to 4am three nights a week, beginning 17 September, with Five planning to increase this to six nights a week by October and seven nights a week by the start of next year.

In May, Ofcom revealed that it was relaxing rules around teleshopping and gambling programmes to allow broadcasters to generate additional revenues. Following the changes, these programmes are allowed on PSB channels between midnight and 6am.

It also relaxed the rule limiting non-PSB channels to the broadcast of three hours of teleshopping per day.

The agreement follows a successful one night per week, four week trial of SuperCasino.

The deal also gives Five the opportunity to acquire a 5% stake in NetPlay TV Plc, the listed gaming company that owns SuperCasino.