Five ups programming budget to £200m

Five's programming budget will be at least £200 million next year, programming director Dan Chambers has confirmed.

The increase of more than £10 million will be used to pursue a strategy of going both "younger and more upmarket".

Chambers is moving away from reality shows like The Farm and is instead concentrating on four key areas: drama, factual/features, comedy and "cerebral programming".

Meanwhile, the broadcaster is ploughing ahead with plans to enter the competitive multichannel market. "We need a multichannel presence," he said, adding: "There will be a Five multichannel presence within a year, maybe within a few months."