Five Joins Forces With Top Up TV
Channel Five has announced plans to take a strategic investment in pay-TV provider Top Up TV’s business, allowing both parties to explore and develop a number of free and pay services on Freeview.
The agreement will also allow the groups to investigate broadcast options on other platforms, including Five’s plans to launch further free-to-air channels.
Commenting on the initiative, David Chane, chairman of Top Up TV said: “We have an excellent relationship with Five and extending it in this way is a natural next step for our continued growth.”
Jane Lighting, Five’s chief executive added: “i am delighted that we are building on our relationship with Top Up TV which we believe will be beneficial to both parties and to the Freeview platform. We will announce more details in the New Year.”
Earlier this year, reports revealed that Channel Five may be launching a women’s lifestyle channel in an attempt to strengthen its digital offerings as terrestrial programmers prepare for the impending multi channel dominance (see Five May Launch Digital Channel).
As rival broadcasters inject their programming strategies with a raft of digital options, Five has been criticised for being left behind, being the only UK terrestrial channel with no sister platforms.
However, Five does have two spare Freeview slots, which could be used for digital expansion.
Five’s latest financial results show a healthy performance for the broadcaster with revenues increasing by 13.2% year on year for the six months ending 30 June, reaching €146 million, up from €129 million a year ago (see Five Sees Revenues Rise By 13.2%).
According to RTL Group, pre-tax profits for the broadcaster rose by €10 million during the first half of the year, reaching €16 million, up from €6 million, enjoying a “record performance.”
In May, Ofcom slashed the broadcasters licence fee payments by a massive 30% to £9 million for 2005, resulting in Five’s fees being reduced by 64% over the last three years, down from £25 million in 2002 to £13 million in 2004 prior to the latest cut (see NewsLine).
Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv
Top Up TV: 08700 543 210 www.topup.tv