My5
My5 (previously Five Download and later Demand 5) is the brand name of video-on-demand services offered by Channel 5 in the United Kingdom. The service went live on 26 June 2008.[1] It is owned by Paramount Global and operated by their Paramount Networks UK & Australia division.
For the former TV channel, see 5Select.
As Five Download, the service offered downloads in Windows Media Video format of the US imports CSI, House and Grey's Anatomy. Individual episodes could be 'rented', with some episodes available seven days before they appeared on TV.
More varied content from Channel 5's programming has become available since June 2008, with a wider prevalence of free content offered for 30 days after broadcast. In January 2009, Demand 5 began to offer content in the Flash Video format, allowing users with Apple Macintosh computers to access their content.[2]
On November 1, 2023, Paramount announced that it would combine its streaming service with Pluto TV in the UK, with its full launch date set to be planned for the second half of 2024.[3]
Web platforms[edit]
Television platforms[edit]
BT Vision[edit]
Demand 5 launched on BT Vision on 7 October 2008.[8] Demand 5 was removed from BT Vision on 6 October 2010,[9] although the two companies continued discussions in a bid to reinstate the service, having previously stalled during contract renegotiations.[10] The service returned to BT Vision in May 2011.
Roku[edit]
On 26 July 2013, Now TV released a Now TV-branded Roku streaming box, including a Demand 5 app.[12] Three days after the release of the Now TV Box, Roku added Demand 5 to its own range of streaming devices.[13] The Roku service continued to operate in the Demand 5 format until December 2018, when it was upgraded to My5.
Televisions and Blu-ray players[edit]
In September 2009, an agreement was reached to make Demand 5 is available through Sony's Blu-ray Disc players, Blu-ray home cinema systems and Smart TVs, via the BRAVIA Internet Video service.[15]
On 13 May 2011, it was announced that Demand 5 would also be available on Samsung's Smart TVs through their Samsung Smart TV service.[16] On 16 January 2013 a Demand 5 app was launched and is available to download on Samsung Apps.[17]
As of 2020, the My5 app is also available on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Chromecast devices.
Virgin Media[edit]
My5 is available on Virgin Media's cable television service, offering programmes for 7 days after broadcast since November 2010.[18]
In late 2019, it was confirmed that as part of a wider deal with ViacomCBS, the My5 app, along with the UK version of Pluto TV and subscription service MTV Play would be made available on Virgin Media.[19]
YouView[edit]
My5 was one of four services available at the launch of YouView in July 2012. At launch the My5 app contained options to resume watching recent programmes, access favourites, browse featured programmes or a full list of shows, find similar programmes or more episodes and an integrated search bar.[20]
Game consoles[edit]
PlayStation[edit]
An application for Sony PlayStation 3 owners was made available on 9 April 2013, PlayStation 4 in November 2013, and PlayStation 5 in November 2020.[21]
From December 2018, the Demand 5 app was retired from all platforms and replaced by My5.[22]
Mobile platforms[edit]
iOS devices[edit]
A Big Brother Demand 5 app for the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone launched on 19 August 2011, the app offered a 30-day catch-up service for Big Brother content. The app has been extended to incorporate catch-up content from Channel 5, 5* and 5USA, creating an overall Demand 5 app.[25] The app is compatible with iOS 10.0 or later.[26] Reviews of the app have been very poor due to, among other issues, that Demand 5 can only be used on Wifi networks, rather than 3G or 4G[27]
Android[edit]
On 16 May 2013, Demand5 was launched on a range of Samsung Galaxy Android devices including smartphone and tablets.
Windows Phone[edit]
On 25 November 2013, Demand5 was launched for mobile phone handsets running the Windows Phone 8 platform.[28]