Channel 5

Channel 5 (now rebranded as '5') is a British free-to-air public service broadcaster and the UK's third-largest commercial television network, owned and operated by Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Paramount Skydance's Paramount Networks UK & Australia division. Launched on 30 March 1997, it operates the flagship channel 5 plus digital brands 5Star, 5USA, 5Select, 5Action, the Milkshake! children's strand, and the free on-demand streaming platform My5. Its programming slate spans original UK drama, premium factual, true crime, history, children's content, and news, with a mandate to reflect modern British life; the channel was named Channel of the Year at the Edinburgh TV Festival in 2025 and has received BAFTA and RTS recognition under the creative leadership of Chief Content Officer Ben Frow.