Spike UK to tap Channel 5 for content

Bob Bakish

Viacom’s Spike UK channel will feature a mixture of US originals and “off-net product, principally from Channel 5,” according to Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) CEO and president Bob Bakish. 

Speaking to DTVE’s sister title TBI, Bakish said that the network, which is due to launch in the UK this spring, will supplement this content with local commissions.

Bakish said some of these will be made by 5Production – the programme-making arm of Channel 5, the UK free-to-air network Viacom acquired last year.

“Internationally, we’ve done a lot of work around formats and will do that with Spike,” said the VIMN chief.

Spike will launch with a local version of Spike US series Tattoo Nightmares and has also acquired all five seasons of hit US drama Breaking Bad.

Viacom first announced last year that it would launch the male-skewing Spike channel internationally for the first time in the UK. The channel will replace Viacom International Media Network’s music channel Viva on the UK free-to-air DTT platform, Freeview.