Five to launch +1 hour digital channels

Five is launching time-shifted versions of its digital channels Five Life and Five US later this year. Five Life+1 and Five US+1 will be available on satellite from early autumn.

The RTL-owned broadcaster launched its digital channels in October 2006, the last of the terrestrial operators to do so.

Five Life is a female-skewed channel offering drama, entertainment and factual programmes including Australian soap Home and Away. Five US screens American films and series, including the CSI crime franchise, House and Dirt.

Last week Channel 4 announced it would be the first broadcaster to launch a time-shifted digital version of a terrestrial channel. It launches next month.

Ofcom figures show that digital television penetration has reached 80%.