Channels

Viacom Now Officially Own Channel 5


Channel 5 has been bought by Viacom for £450 million from Northern & Shell Media Group.

The deal was announced on May 1 this year and was completed today (September 10) after the European Commission unconditionally cleared the acquisition.


Viacom President and CEO Philippe Dauman said: "Our ownership of Channel 5 will significantly increase Viacom's investment in British creativity and content.

"We are committed to strengthening Channel 5's status as one of UK broadcasting's premier brands, and we will continue to grow the network's pipeline of original programming with more quality commissions, as well as acquisitions."

He added: "The addition of Channel 5 will also benefit our existing UK pay television channel portfolio, as demonstrated by the announcement of our first two original programming commissions.

"We are excited about our stewardship of Channel 5 and we look forward to delivering added value for our shareholders, partners and, above all, our audiences."

Coinciding with the completed acquisition, Channel 5 has confirmed joint commission with Viacom's UK pay TV channels.

Channel 5 and MTV UK will collaborate on reality entertainment series 10,000 BC, which will have 10 x 60 minute shows on Channel 5 and 5 x 60 minute spinoffs on MTV UK.

Nickelodeon will collaborate with Channel 5's pre-school Milkshake strand to develop animated series Nella the Knight.

With the sharing of rights after the deal, episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will also begin airing on Channel 5.




So it looks like their partnering up certain shows with their other owned channels...maybe a change of some kind will look for BB.

Could the Big Brother Live Feed be shown on VIVA?

Is there an implication that BB might go down the pay tv route?

I suppose it's possible. If their already partnering shows and BB is a huge brand maybe they want to spread the wealth.


Not sure it would be one way for them to maybe cover costs and justify any kind of live feed

Feel like the Big Brother brand was wasted under previous owners.

I agree...I think Desmond cared more about the conflict from the show that would sell his newspapers.

Viacom have done a lot of reality TV in the past especially on MTV and seem to make a big deal out of them...maybe their the key to Irving BB new life

First thing Viacom should do is to update http://bigbrother.channel5.com more often. Also have a better website for the next series.

Hopefully this deal will mean an improvement in the quality of the programme. It shouldn't be difficult after the shambles it's descended into.

Could some sort of link up with MTV's Geordie Shore be on the cards?

Oh, wait ...

In cause of CBB, They are more famous then some of the people that is in there now.

MTV owner Viacom has completed its takeover of Channel 5 and announced its first joint programme commissions, including a reality TV series in which participants will “go back to life in the stone age”.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...er-deal-closes

It is intriguing how they are yet to mention BB. It was basically the first thing Desmond talked about when he took over Channel 5 (And it was still on a completely different channel at that point)

Though a working relationship between Viacom and Endemol has already existed for years

now just wait for the paid live feed option.
Don't know whether to or

Wooo Spongebob on c5! Other than that meh, MTV & C5 collaborating on reality TV does not sound good. I know it's only for that one show at the moment but I can just imagine MTV's BB would be even worse than the daily stars BB..

It will be a catch 22.

Imagine if they did offer a paid live feed or put it on one of their pay to watch channels. It would still be giving people what they want but I bet a lot of people would still find enough reason to moan

Im actually thinking opposite. At the moment it could be in Channel 5's mind that they need people who will sell the papers to keep the boss happy then he can justify it to himself if the ratings are not so hot where as Viacom have no newspaper they own so for them what will drive them forward is just ratings.

Maybe Viacom hasn't mentioned BB yet because they are going to change it.

I think the 450 million deal includes Desmond's papers agreeing to continue to promote channel 5 for a certain period of time

It's just that all of their reality TV shows are scripted and along the lines of Geordie Shore, I just don't want that happening. There's already enough interference at the moment. Plus I'm just thinking all the housemates are going to end up being young and MTV like. With cbb full of even more reality 'stars'.

Hardly. BB attracts viewers to other of the Channels offerings as it did on Channel 4. I guarantee there are programs scheduled around BB that would be all but ignored otherwise. That is one of the reasons why Channel 5 has been keen to keep the program running.

In other words life Up North then? :-p

Ohh eye I suppose that would make sense yes. Im not sure whether Daily Star will carry on with the same sort of BB Headlines in a year or two if Viacom keep the show going though.


I get what your saying but they have done a wide range of reality shows over the years that came before Geordie/Jersey Shore. I suppose it depends on how they want to handle it

HOW DARE YOU

I thought that is what we have been watching this year.....