Five banks on freaks and US imports for relaunched digital channel

by Jennifer Whitehead, Brand Republic 10-Apr-08, 10:55

LONDON - Five has unveiled further details of its rebranded digital station Fiver, revealing a schedule of US acquisitions and reality television programming in a bid to win viewers over.

New programming will include a series of five documentaries, which follow people in the grip of drug or alcohol addiction as they face-up to the threat of their loved ones abandoning them forever, under the banner 'Intervention'.

Action series 'Ocean Force' is also in the line-up following the work of US lifeguards and coast police.

Returning to the channel, which was previously known as Five Life, is the Courtney Cox series 'Dirt' and re-runs of 'Sex and the City'.

The channel will also carry the first run of 'Hidden Lives', a series of documentaries about unusual people.

The next run will be shown on Five's terrestrial channel later in the year. It will include a programme called 'Sweaty Betty', about women who have a condition that makes them perspire profusely, and 'Naked Parents'.

Hannah Barnes, director of programmes for Fiver and Five US, said: "I'm delighted to be able to announce this exciting new line up of commissions and acquisitions for Fiver. Each one is a brilliant addition to the refreshed Fiver schedule."

Five revealed the station rebrand, which is a bid to attract younger viewers to the channel, last month.