Channel 5 Gets Serious With New Art Programmes

Channel 5 is taking further steps to distance itself from its downmarket image by commissioning a series of art programmes.

Following on from the success of its Great Artists series, the network has commissioned 28 half-hour arts shows, with subjects ranging from Caravaggio to the Bloomsbury group.

The line up includes an eight part series, Every Painting Tells A Story, which will be presented by art critic Waldemar; Januszezak, a documentary on celebrity photographer David LaChapelle and a second series of Great Artists, which looks at at Gustav Klimt, Constable and Whistler, among others.

The new schedule means that Channel 5, which has increased its share of viewing to around 6.3% (see Feature: Channel 5’s Reasons To Celebrate), is the only terrestrial channel with arts programmes in prime time.

Over the last few month Channel 5 has been making a concerted effort to improve its image and despite loosing out to to Channel 4 in its bid for The Simpsons (see Channel 4 Secures Simpsons TV Rights), the network succeeded in strengthening its children’s programming by acquiring the rights to the animation series Make Way For Noddy (see Noddy Makes Come Back On Channel 5).

Channel 5: 020 7550 5555 www.channel5.co.uk

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