Five To Undergo Major Revamp

Five is to undergo a major revamp, coinciding with the arrival of Neighbours on the channel next year.

According to reports, the revamp is scheduled for next March/April, with the channel getting new branding and idents.

It is understood that Lisa Opie, Five‘s managing director of content, is in the process of recruiting a new media team with responsibility for relaunching the broadcaster’s website.

The overhaul will include updating Five News and extending the video capability of Five’s website.

This is not the first time that the channel has changed its look. In 2002, Channel 5 rebranded as Five, claiming that this would “refresh the channel’s on-screen identity.”

Five celebrated its 10 year anniversary at the end of March, with the new kid on the block proving to be the only terrestrial channel to increase its viewing share during the late 1990s and early 2000s (see Five 10th Birthday – From Sunset Beach To Grey’s Anatomy).

However, like the other terrestrial channels, in recent years Five has seen its annual share of viewing follow a downward trend.

Last October, Five launched two digital channels, Five Life and Five US, coupled with the broadcaster’s biggest ad campaign since the main channel launched in 1997 (see Five Unveils Biggest Marketing Campaign In Channel’s History).

In May, Five won the rights to air Neighbours in an eight-year deal worth $300 million, although it has not yet said where the show will be positioned in its schedule (see Five Takes Neighbours From BBC One For £300m).

Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv