Channel 5 launched on Sunday 30 March 1997. The launch featured the Spice Girls singing a version of Manfred Mann’s hit “5-4-3-2-1”
Channel 5 is a general entertainment channel, funded by advertising and sponsorship. Channel 5 broadcasts both internally commissioned programmes such as Fifth Gear, Big Brother, The Gadget Show, The Hotel Inspector and foreign programmes, including the CSI franchise, the NCIS franchise.
Most Channel 5 TV channels are are available for free on satellite, without viewing card or subscription. They are classed as “free to air” channels, and can be received on most digital satellite receivers, including Sky digiboxes and Freesat set top boxes.
Initially Channel 5 was a “free to view” channel, and available on satellite only with a Sky viewing card but no monthly subscription.. As it was encrypted, it was transmitted on a European beam of the UK TV satellites.
A “free to air” version of Channel 5 was launched on 5 November 2008, to enable its availability on Freesat. This free to air version of Channel 5 was transmitted from the Astra 2D satellite with its “spot beam”, aimed at the UK. This tried to limit reception of Channel 5 channel in Europe. To some extent this worked, as some areas of Spain, like the Costa Blanca, had to use large 1.8m satellite dishes, 1.9m satellite dishes, and 2.4m satellite dishes to watch Channel 5 TV channels. Some areas of Spain were more lucky, like the Costa del Sol, where they could use the smaller “125x135cm” ( or a “1.4m” ) satellite dish.
In November 2011, the Channel 5 TV channels moved from their satellite, to a temporary home on the Astra 1N satellite. The Astra 1N satellite “signal footprint” is more generous to expats in Spain, and so the Channel 5 TV channels on Astra 1N could be received on a satellite dish as small as 90x100cm, a “1m” satellite dish. This was also when Channel 5, Channel 5+1, 5* and Five USA became available on Freesat.
During December 2012, the Channel 5 TV channels on Astra 1N moved to the UK beam on their new satellite,Astra 2F.
During June 2015, the Channel 5 TV channels moved from Astra 2F to the UK beam on the new satellite,Astra 2G.
The new Astra 2F and Astra 2G satellites UK “spot beam” or “narrow beam” signal footprint is different to the previous UK TV satellites UK beam. This has meant that reception of channels on the new Astra 2 satellites will be different to previous reception. In the areas between Valencia and Alicante, our service area, the Channel 5 channels on the new Astra 2 satellites UK beam can still be received on a small satellite dish – as small as a 110x120cm satellite dish with a 125x135cm satellite dish being the recommended size satellite dish.
However, in other areas of Spain, reception of these Channel 5 TV channels on the new Astra 2 satellites UK beam has become harder. For example, in areas such as Barcelona, Catalonia and Zaragoza, you need at least a 1.8m satellite dish to receive these channels on the Astra 2F UK beam, whereas previously you only needed a smaller 80cm satellite dish. It is a similar story in the south of Spain, in areas like the Costa del Sol, Malaga, Almeria, Seville, Gibraltar and even Portugal, where even the larger 2.4m satellite dishes are struggling to receive these channels on the Astra 2 satellites UK beam.
Channel 5 on Freesat and Sky
Channel 5 is on Freesat channel 105.
Channel 5 is on Sky channel 105.
Channel 5+1 on Freesat and Sky
Channel 5+1 is a one hour timeshift of Channel 5. Channel 5 +1 launched on 6 December 2011.
Channel 5+1 is on Freesat channel 128.
Channel 5+1 is on Sky channel 177.
Channel 5+24 on Freesat and Sky
Channel 5+24 is a 24 hour timeshift of Channel 5. Channel 5+24 launched on 4 February 2014During the day time it shows limited programming and “Infomercials” and teleshopping. After 6pm, it shows the previous days Channel 5 programming.
Channel 5+24 is on Freesat channel 133.
Channel 5+24 is on Sky channel 175.
Channel 5 TV Channels:
Channel 5 : Channel and frequency Information
Channel 5 HD : Channel and frequency Information
5* : Channel and frequency Information
5USA : Channel and frequency Information
Spike : Channel and frequency Information
Channel 5 Satellite Frequencies
Channel 5 Channel Numbers on Freesat
Channel 5 Channel Numbers on Sky