RTL positive at Five's progress

RTL, owner of Five, released its interim results this week, showing record profits.

The company revenues grew 1.3% in the first half of this year to £1.44 billion, helped by the success of production and distribution division FremantleMedia Enterprises - which handled the Neighbours distribution deal - and the growth of its French M6 group and German television channels.

In the UK, Five reported revenues of £225 million for the first six months of this year, which were flat compared to 2006, with earnings before interest, tax and amortisation (EBITA) flat at £15 million.

Five’s adult audience share for the main channel was 5.5%, down from 6% in 2006, though combined with the two digital channels Five Life and Five US - which launched in October - it had a share of 6.3%.

Pointing to its recent acquisition of Australian soap Neighbours, RTL chief executive Gerhard Zeiler said he believed the programme would boost the channel.

Echoing Five' s managing director of content Lisa Opie's outlook at MGEITF earlier this week, Zeiler said that while US programmes would remain critical to the success of the channels, there would be more of a focus on commissioning UK content for 2007/8.

Zeiler also confirmed that no talks had gone on between Five and Sky about its possible interest in acquiring Sky's stake in ITV.