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News

Channel 5 , My5 relaunching as 5

UK commercial PSB Channel 5 and its free streaming service , My5 , will relaunch in 2025 under a unified parent brand of 5 across linear , streaming and digital platforms – giving its audience access to its range of programming and content , wherever and whenever they want it . The move reverses a decision announced in November 2023 to combine My5 with Pluto TV .

As part of the relaunch as 5 , the free streaming service will be given a new user interface to enhance audience experience with
As part of the relaunch as 5 , the free streaming service will be given a new user interface to enhance audience experience the service . It will feature a significantly expanded content offer to complement Channel 5 ’ s UK drama originals and unscripted programming . This will include premium content from across the wider Paramount family spanning reality , drama , factual , films and true crime shows from MTV Entertainment Studios , CBS , and Comedy Central , as well as the opportunity to sample some of the biggest hits from Paramount +. There will also be content for kids and family from Milkshake ! and Nickelodeon – as well as new box sets from additional content partners .
For the first time , the streaming service will include a new range of specially curated FAST channels . There will also be personalisation , and enhanced data-led advertising opportunities . The new unified brand and enhanced streaming service will launch in Q1 2025 . It follows successive years of growth across both Channel 5 ’ s linear channels and My5 . Over the first half of 2024 , My5 grew its viewing by + 40 % more than any of the other public service streaming services .
“ We have seen record growth for My5 viewing over the last three years and , as more of our audience discover streaming , we think it ’ s the right time to have a much closer relationship between our linear and streaming services ,” said Sarah Rose , president , Channel 5 and UK lead , Paramount . “ The new exciting content and FAST channels that we ’ ll be offering on 5 from 2025 will build on the amazing array of homegrown Channel 5 hits we know our audience already love .”
“ We know from the success that so many of our Channel 5 shows have had on Netflix that there ’ s a huge appetite for our content in the streaming world ,” added Ben Frow , chief content officer , Paramount UK . “ As we relaunch as 5 , our streaming service will be a much bigger and broader offer than My5 with a significantly expanded range of content including new series and box sets in reality , drama , factual and kids from across the Paramount family .”
The relaunched 5 will complement Paramount ’ s other streaming services in the UK . FAST operator Pluto TV will continue as a standalone service in the UK . Paramount +, the UK ’ s fastest growing SVoD service , will continue to offer brand new originals , blockbuster movies and iconic shows for British viewers .
Poland : SkyShowtime partners with Play
Polish telco Play is now
offering the full SkyShowtime
service to its customers in
Poland , providing a range
of entertainment in one
place . Play customers will
have the opportunity to
subscribe to SkyShowtime ’ s
Standard Plus plan ( without
ads ). Additionally , Play will
provide customers with
access to two new linear
channels – SkyShowtime 1
and SkyShowtime 2 .
“ We are proud to announce
that Play customers will
now be able to subscribe to
SkyShowtime with various
package options to choose
from ,” declared Monty Sarhan ,
CEO , SkyShowtime . “ Through
this new partnership – our
first in Poland – we are proud
to extend our reach within
Central and Eastern Europe to
offer more choice and value
in the market .”
“ At Play we are constantly developing our home services offer to make it the best proposition in the Polish market ,” added Mikkel Noesgaard , CMO of Play . “ We believe in freedom of choice and want to give customers a wide range of
TV and VoD programming , so they can always find something to watch that fits their needs and mood . The partnership with SkyShowtime is an important step on this path and we are proud to be the first operator in Poland offering access to the SkyShowtime platform as
well as two new premium TV channels . SkyShowtime will be also significant enrichment for our New Generation TV , a unique concept which allows customer to change SVoD platforms and TV packages they use as a part of their monthly subscription .”
4 EUROMEDIA