±±¾©Èü³µpk10

Channel 5 is to close its interactive ad sales house and make eight

staff redundant as part of a major cost cutting drive.

The sales house is to pull down the shutters on its online ads business

and make nearly all of its team redundant. This follows the completion

of an operational review by its board and European broadcaster RTL, a

major shareholder in Channel 5.

Nick Bampton, sales director at Channel 5 Interactive, told Revolution

that eight of the 11 staff will be phased out over the course of July as

a result of Channel 5 Interactive's closure.

He said: "Basically, most of the people at Channel 5 Interactive are

going to be made redundant. Because of the nature of TV and online

operations in the UK and Europe, the board are looking to cut costs

across the company.

They no longer see third-party ad sales as a business to be in. It's

fair to say Channel 5 Interactive will cease to be."

Bampton confirmed his role will be affected by the closure. He has been

in charge of the broadcaster's interactive operations since the former

chief executive Paul Curtis was poached by MTV Networks to head its

Viacom Brand Solutions sales house.

He said: "I have no plans at the moment, as the main plan is to close it

down professionally. There is no bad blood. It was a sensible business

decision."

The two firms subscribing to its ad sales service, online lottery

bananalotto.co.uk and email service another.com, will now have to find

another ad sales service.

Despite the closure, Bampton said one or two individuals would remain at

Channel 5 to oversee the maintenance of its site (www.channel5.co.uk)

and its own banner ad activity. Remaining staff will also be involved in

the roll-out of the company's own interactive TV service, expected to

launch at the end of the year.