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Channel 5 owners RTL and United Business Media (UBM) have recently

decided to add pounds 6m to the channel's pounds 140m yearly budget.

Despite impressive growth in its short history, Channel 5 still suffers

from a downmarket reputation, although a spokesman for the channel

insists the 'smut' perception is 'only held by those who don't watch the

channel. We've moved on from that'.

According to him, future perceptions will be that C5 is 'entertaining,

interesting and innovative, moving formats onwards and offering a real

alternative to what's on the other channels'.

The channel's highest ratings were achieved in March 2001, when it

screened an England football match that gained an average audience of

5.5m and a peak of 8m, but it lacks any real 'appointment-to-view'

shows. C5 has not yet specified a destination for RTL's and UBM's extra

cash, but promises an increased amount of 'high profile, original

programming'.

The ITC has stated that last year C5 achieved its highest ever amount of

original programming and commissions, but this is yet to be reflected in

the ratings, which still favour bought-in programming. In the year to

March 2001, over 90 per cent of weekly highest-rating programmes were

films. This category also made up three-quarters of the top five

programmes each week. News represented 14 per cent, boosted by the short

bulletin shown during films. Factual programming (including late-night

erotica) represented 8 per cent.

Future change to this category split is unlikely. In its first Statement

of Programme Policy, submitted to the ITC last week, C5 said schedule

features such as the 9pm film will remain. So too will tabloid-style

shows, with planned highlights for the year including a three-part

documentary on Fred and Rose West, and art output featuring Rankin's

male nudes. That said, a London-based version of opera La Boheme and

extended current-affairs coverage during the election is also

promised.

However, this year's ad-bait is unlikely to be original shows: Greed has

enjoyed success abroad and will be hosted by tabloid-TV favourite Jerry

Springer, while Home and Away is set to emerge from its ITV-imposed

purdah.

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