In my opinion Channel 5 should only be one channel with a timeshift channel and that's it.
Their digital channels are there to increase share and advertising revenue, they wouldn't be able to operate as a single channel operation in this day and age.
If channel 5 put their mind and money to it they could make some decent original content. Take a leaf from Netflix's book and give it a go.
There's plenty of good original content on there now and their ratings are getting better. Still some horrors on the channel but overall their factual content is strong. A good non-scripted strategy is all they'll be able to afford, there's no money to do any level of Netflix style series, even with Viacom as an owner.
In my opinion Channel 5 should only be one channel with a timeshift channel and that's it.
Their digital channels are there to increase share and advertising revenue, they wouldn't be able to operate as a single channel operation in this day and age.
If channel 5 put their mind and money to it they could make some decent original content. Take a leaf from Netflix's book and give it a go.
There's plenty of good original content on there now and their ratings are getting better. Still some horrors on the channel but overall their factual content is strong. A good non-scripted strategy is all they'll be able to afford, there's no money to do any level of Netflix style series, even with Viacom as an owner.
Well if that's the case TV is pretty much doomed isn't it?
In my opinion Channel 5 should only be one channel with a timeshift channel and that's it.
Their digital channels are there to increase share and advertising revenue, they wouldn't be able to operate as a single channel operation in this day and age.
If channel 5 put their mind and money to it they could make some decent original content. Take a leaf from Netflix's book and give it a go.
There's plenty of good original content on there now and their ratings are getting better. Still some horrors on the channel but overall their factual content is strong. A good non-scripted strategy is all they'll be able to afford, there's no money to do any level of Netflix style series, even with Viacom as an owner.
Netflix have shown that investing in content is a good strategy. 5 need to be on the lookout for the next Stranger Things, or Breaking Bad, or The Crown, or Orange is the New Black. These are all shows that have turned into massive money makers, but they are all quality shows with impressive production values. Things like Big Brother give short term benefit but they aren’t great for reputation.
In my opinion Channel 5 should only be one channel with a timeshift channel and that's it.
Their digital channels are there to increase share and advertising revenue, they wouldn't be able to operate as a single channel operation in this day and age.
If channel 5 put their mind and money to it they could make some decent original content. Take a leaf from Netflix's book and give it a go.
There's plenty of good original content on there now and their ratings are getting better. Still some horrors on the channel but overall their factual content is strong. A good non-scripted strategy is all they'll be able to afford, there's no money to do any level of Netflix style series, even with Viacom as an owner.
Netflix have shown that investing in content is a good strategy. 5 need to be on the lookout for the next Stranger Things, or Breaking Bad, or The Crown, or Orange is the New Black. These are all shows that have turned into massive money makers, but they are all quality shows with impressive production values. Things like Big Brother give short term benefit but they aren’t great for reputation.
Sorry but you really can't compare the two. Channel 5 has to run a 24 hour daily schedule with public service commitments funded solely by adverts in a single market, Netflix is a global subscription service that built up a customer base and revenue over 15 years before investing in its first commission, its original shows are released in dribs and drabs, there's no expectation of there being several new shows every day like there are with a traditional linear service.
C5 have increased their investment in content massively over the last few years, almost completely removing the American imports that used to dominate the schedule. That content happens to be largely factual while Netflix is largely drama. If C5 invested massively in a small amount of high end drama the schedule for the rest of the year would deteriorate drastically and their reputation certainly wouldn't get any better.
High quality drama is extremely expensive and the fact that C5 have asked producers to come with them with drama ideas that cost no more than £250k an hour shows how little they can realistically afford to make in the genre.
5Later
Channel5+24
My5TV
5Prime
.......and now something else.
They really have not got a clue what to brand this channel, or what to show on it?!?
Shouldn't that be 5Channel now?
:-(
A former member
The point I was trying to make is that a big investment *is* needed for shows like this, but that money is made back along with an increased reputation. In its 20 years on air, Channel 5 still isn’t really famous for anything, whereas Netflix has shaken up the industry purely on the basis of the quality of what it offers.
Sorry but you really can't compare the two. Channel 5 has to run a 24 hour daily schedule with public service commitments funded solely by adverts in a single market, Netflix is a global subscription service that built up a customer base and revenue over 15 years before investing in its first commission, its original shows are released in dribs and drabs, there's no expectation of there being several new shows every day like there are with a traditional linear service.
C5 have increased their investment in content massively over the last few years, almost completely removing the American imports that used to dominate the schedule. That content happens to be largely factual while Netflix is largely drama. If C5 invested massively in a small amount of high end drama the schedule for the rest of the year would deteriorate drastically and their reputation certainly wouldn't get any better.
High quality drama is extremely expensive and the fact that C5 have asked producers to come with them with drama ideas that cost no more than £250k an hour shows how little they can realistically afford to make in the genre.
They have been making strives in the last two years, they are in the position where they can probably afford to drop Big Brother and I wouldn't be surprised if it gone after this year. Something like Rich House, Poor House has been a ratings success and got them noticed in the broadsheets and they taking risks with documentaries like The Accused which don't rate well but are good critically. They could do better in some areas but just from the range of programmes and talent they've have, they're in a better place.
Drama is a tough nut to crack and it's hard to get right even when you are BBC One or ITV. Even Channel 4 don't get it right all the time which is why 5 are taking baby steps when it comes to original drama.
They have too many channels as it is. Whats this one needed for? 5PRIME would only be repeats of Can't Pay and Cowboy Builders etc. They have all demographics covered with their other channels.
The point I was trying to make is that a big investment *is* needed for shows like this, but that money is made back along with an increased reputation. In its 20 years on air, Channel 5 still isn’t really famous for anything, whereas Netflix has shaken up the industry purely on the basis of the quality of what it offers.
But C5 is unlikely to make the money back for it, hence why they haven't done a massive show like this. Netflix can use these shows to increase subscriptions year round because it's always on their site, Channel 5 has a one-off chance to get a big audience for it on the night and sell adverts during it and that's it. They don't own the IP for their shows because they're made by independent producers so they wouldn't be able to make any money from it internationally.
They're pursuing a non-scripted strategy that made C4 successful. Granted C4 has had its fair amount of dramas over the years but it's arguably its non-scripted hits that made the channel so successful and given it its reputation.
At the end of the day television is a business and they know what they can realistically achieve with the budgets they have. Sky have seen the competition Netflix provides and have invested massively in original content over the last few years but they're the only people who can realistically afford to do that. If Channel 5 could afford to make reputation-defining scripted shows they'd already be doing it by now.