Channel 5 is scrapping 20 or more current shows to free up the slate for new ideas. Director of Programming Ben Frow and Deputy Director of Programming Sebastian Cardwell have conceived a radical plan to breathe fresh life into the Paramount owned channel’s schedule, with particular focus on 9pm returnable slots. Speaking in @broadcastnow_mbi 's Behind The Screens podcast Cardwell said, “There’s no denying that terrestrial TV is struggling. We looked at the schedule and felt we had lost a bit of our spark...if we’re not excited and inspired, why should we expect our viewers to feel differently?”. Despite the shakeup happening Channel 5 has recently experienced a renaissance of sorts, last year enjoying its strongest performance since 2009. With a distinctly non metropolitan flavour as well as an unbothered approach to creating shows that must cater for a global audience, the channel occupies a niche that the other Public Service Broadcasters may overlook. We at Ten66 Television welcome the schedule rejig and look forward to seeing what mad new ideas ensue! Sources: https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-5/ben-frow-rips-up-channel-5-schedule/5172785.article Podcast - https://broadcastscommissioningchats.podbean.com/e/episode-5-ben-frow-and-sebastian-cardwell/ #Channel5 #BenFrow #SebCardwell #BroadcastNow