The Channel 5 Thread

The CA tends to say along the lines of 'Neighbours is next on Channel Five..., also available on Five HD'

Channel Five 'bloodbath' as Richard Desmond culls seven directors. Up to 80 jobs to go as broadcaster's new owner announces £20m cost-cutting drive.

From the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/11/channel-five-richard-desmond

Glad to see that Richard Woolfe has gone though I'm disappointed that they're likely to make even less original programming.

Richard Woolfe arrived from Sky with much fanfare, but his tenure has been a disappointment.

Live from Studio Five, Don't Stop Believing, Farmer Wants a Wife all flopped, they signed Justin Lee Collins exclusively for 2 years then axed both his shows.

I don't think he's added anything much to the mix that wasn't already there prior to his arrival, and remain Five's best performers such as the CSI franchise, other US imports and The Gadget Show.

These are on top of the redundancies a year or so ago.

It does look like it's mostly backroom functions that are going which is understandable, now it's part of N&S there's no need for things like HR, IT, accounts - they'll all be absorbed by the existing departments at N&S

Five to bring TV to Facebook?

http://www.nma.co.uk/news/five-brings-tv-to-facebook/3016866.article

Looks like 'Channel 5' are bringing back their branding from 1997, albeit updated.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/aug/11/channel-five-branding


I'm quite upset that the current graphics will be going. I think the channel has looked the best it ever has.

It is slightly worrying that such changes can be made just on the whim of one man (and one particularly odious man, at that).

Why is that 'worrying'?... he's in charge of the company which owns the channel, he can change whatever he likes!

I completely agree - I don't see what benefit it will have going back to Channel 5. I highly doubt it will have anything as creative as the current idents - sure, they could blow me away, but I just can't see it happening.
This, for example, is a really creative and unique ident and they'll be lost:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHLDLtORwn8&feature=player_embedded

I have to say I have liked five's latest package of idents, I agree that it is one of the strongest out there at present, however it is quite apparent the presentation of the channel has nothing to do with its success or not, so I fail to see what this rebrand will achieve. The problem of renaiming the channel 'Channel 5' is that it is not on channel 5 on all platforms, it may have worked on an analogue set up but with the digital it doesn't. Also where do the digital offerings stand? Channel fiver could work but channel 5 USA does not really.

I think you'll find that they have reserved rights to 5 or 105 on all platforms.

Where have you seen it on a different number, other than the HD version?