London, 14 December 2021 - Pluto TV, Europe’s top free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) service, has extended its content partnership with Channel 5 in a move which will bring three new channels to the streaming service in the UK this month, featuring some of the broadcaster’s best-loved talent.   

In addition, existing Channel 5 programming on Pluto TV – originally available via My5 Crime and My5 GPs – has been repackaged into two branded channels which will better signpost viewers to the range of critical and ratings hits available from the UK’s third-largest commercial television broadcaster.   

In all, the suite of five branded channels will significantly expand Channel 5’s presence on Pluto TV, as the streaming service continues to build relationships with leading content partners in the UK and around the world.   Pluto TV viewers will be able to indulge in some of the most compelling programmes from Channel 5 in the new line up of thematic channels. 

5 Cruising with Jane McDonald – based on the travelogue which won Channel 5 its first BAFTA award – will follow the singing sensation and ‘queen of cruise ships’ as she travels the world exploring life on board a range of ocean and river vessels.   

5 Destination Britain will bring together some of the best shows celebrating the beauty of the UK’s regions and counties, featuring titles such as Britain by Bike with Larry & George Lamb and Walking Britain’s Lost Railways, featuring Rob Bell. 

5 Building Britain will showcase the country’s most impressive structures, with range of programmes spotlighting historic and modern triumphs of engineering, including Britain’s Greatest Ships, Britain’s Greatest Boats, Britain’s Greatest Bridges and George Clarke’s Build a New House in the Country.   

5 GPs Behind Closed Doors – formerly My5 GPs – will become the home of the only series on British TV to be set inside a working general practice. The channel will follow the stories of staff and patients at surgeries on the front line of NHS care across the UK.   

Finally, My5 Crime will become 5 Cops on Pluto TV. The channel will air some of the best-performing factual crime series from Channel 5’s catalogue, including Police Interceptors and Traffic Cops.   The extended partnership between Pluto TV and Channel 5 – which are both owned by ViacomCBS – reinforces the company’s strategy to continue strengthening its streaming proposition with some of the best-loved programmes from its own extensive catalogue, as well as third party content.   

“These new FAST channels from Channel 5 show the potential of Pluto TV for content partners, who can remix and repackage evergreen content to reach fans new and old”, said Dan Fahy, SVP Streaming, ViacomCBS UK.   

“Pluto TV provides content partners with a sophisticated consumer platform, market wide distribution, a proven monetisation model and significant marketing support – this offer is unrivalled in the UK FAST space.   

“The addition of the new Channel 5 channels to the service strengthens Pluto TV’s range of local and international programming in way that is compelling to viewers who enjoy the linear streaming experience, while also consolidating Pluto TV’s position as the leading FAST player in the UK.”    

The launch of the 5-branded channels follows news that the latest season of Star Trek: Discovery will debut on Pluto TV viewers in the UK, as well as Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland this winter.   With more than 54 million monthly active users, Pluto TV has a rapidly expanding global footprint and is currently available in the U.S., the U.K., Europe and Latin America, where the service has seen strong momentum.   

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About Pluto TV

Pluto TV, a ViacomCBS Company, is the leading free streaming television service delivering hundreds of live linear channels and thousands of titles on-demand to a global audience of over 54 million monthly active users. The Emmy ® award winning service curates a diverse lineup of channels, in partnership with nearly 400 international media companies, offering a wide array of genres, languages and categories featuring movies, television series, sports, news, lifestyle, kids and much more. Pluto TV can be easily accessed and streamed across mobile, web and connected TV devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Pluto TV’s growing international footprint extends across three continents and 26 countries.     About Channel 5   Channel 5 is a public service broadcaster and the UK’s third largest commercial TV station. Launched in March 1997, Channel 5 has been owned by ViacomCBS Networks International since September 2014. Channel 5, 5STAR, 5USA, 5Select and My5 TV reach 3 in 4 of the UK viewing public each month with a diverse schedule including issue-led documentaries, popular factual, accessible history, stunning natural history, inclusive entertainment and reality, top level sport, high quality scripted programming and critically acclaimed children’s, news and current affairs programming. Through its agenda-driving commissions, Channel 5 has led on societal issues from inequality to inner city gang life, homelessness to mental health, aiming to tell the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the nation.  In 2018, Channel 5 won its first BAFTA for Cruising with Jane McDonald and was named ‘Channel of the Year’ at the Edinburgh TV Festival. In 2019, Chanel 5 won best documentary award for The Abused at the RTS Awards, Edinburgh TV Awards and the Association of International Broadcasters Awards. In 2020, Channel 5 was crowned ‘Channel of the Year’ at the Broadcast Awards and ‘Channel of the Year’ at the RTS awards. In addition, it secured its first ever Grierson award win in the ‘Best Single Documentary – Domestic’ category with Suicidal: In Our Own Words. In 2021, Springtime On The Farm was named ‘Best Lockdown Programme - Factual Entertainment, Popular Factual & Kids’ at the Broadcast Awards.