5 Kanal

5 Kanal, meaning “Channel 5,” is a Ukrainian television news broadcaster headquartered in Kyiv. It was created in 2003 by the regional media company NBM and the Kyiv-based television and radio company Express-Inform. The channel emerged from a group of journalists who sought to establish a broadcaster with stronger editorial independence and a clear focus on news rather than general entertainment. Its initial concept was associated with journalists including Andriy Shevchenko, Roman Skrypin, and Yevhen Hlibovytsky, who had left other Ukrainian television outlets amid concerns about censorship and editorial control. From the beginning, 5 Kanal presented itself as an “honest news channel.” Its founders, journalists, managers, and owners adopted an editorial principles agreement intended to restrict owner interference in news production. The station became nationally prominent during Ukraine’s 2004 presidential election and the Orange Revolution. At a time when many Ukrainian broadcasters were viewed as sympathetic to the government or subject to political pressure, 5 Kanal offered airtime to both government and opposition representatives and provided extensive live coverage of demonstrations in Kyiv. When authorities threatened the channel and its bank accounts were blocked following a dispute involving parliamentary official Volodymyr Sivkovych, employees went on hunger strike. The accounts were later unblocked. During the Orange Revolution, the broadcaster shifted to around-the-clock news coverage and transmitted live reports from Independence Square and other locations in Kyiv, producing a sharp rise in its audience. The channel moved more decisively toward an all-news format in 2005. On 14 March, entertainment, music, and feature films were removed from the schedule, leaving news, documentaries, analysis, journalism, and some tourism programming. In 2007, its schedule was reorganized around fixed horizontal news blocks, increasing the number of information items carried during the day. This format reinforced the brand’s identity as a continuous information service rather than a conventional mixed-format television station. 5 Kanal has repeatedly covered politically sensitive events in Ukraine. It reported on the Euromaidan protests and was temporarily removed from terrestrial, cable, and satellite distribution in much of Ukraine on 18 February 2014 while covering an assault on Independence Square. The signal was subsequently restored. The broadcaster also reported repeated bomb threats against its premises during 2014, interruptions that temporarily halted operations while searches were conducted. Its website suffered a distributed denial-of-service attack in August 2010. The station has also developed technical and distribution capabilities over time. It introduced a 16:9 picture format in 2016, changed its digital-terrestrial multiplex allocation in 2019, and launched an HD satellite version on Astra 4A in October 2019. In 2011, an Independence Day television marathon hosted by Tetyana Danylenko and Pavlo Kuzheev ran for 52 continuous hours and was later registered with Guinness World Records. For much of its history, 5 Kanal was associated with businessman Petro Poroshenko, who later became president of Ukraine. In November 2021, shortly after Ukraine adopted legislation targeting oligarchic influence, Poroshenko sold 5 Kanal and Pryamiy Kanal. The broadcaster subsequently stated that it was owned by Free Media Holding, described as a structure involving media workers, public figures, and opposition deputies drawn from journalistic circles. The station remains a Ukrainian political and news-media brand whose public profile is closely connected with editorial independence debates, election coverage, protest reporting, and the broader struggle over media ownership in Ukraine.

5 Kanal’s origins lie in NBM, a media company founded in Chernivtsi in 1995. NBM operated a regional television channel and the western Ukrainian Niko FM radio network, later obtaining broadcasting licences in multiple regions and expanding into satellite distribution. Between 1998 and 2000, the channel’s predecessor structure involved NBM-related interests, CJSC MMC-STB, and Intermart Corporation. Disagreements among the participating owners led to changes in the ownership structure, after which the channel operated independently for a period. Express-Inform, a Kyiv company established in 1993 as an economic-news television and radio studio, began appearing on the Ukrainian broadcasting market in 2001 and started broadcasting in Kyiv in August 2002. In 2003, NBM and Express-Inform combined their efforts to create 5 Kanal. The concept was developed by journalists Andriy Shevchenko, Roman Skrypin, and Yevhen Hlibovytsky, who were associated with different Ukrainian television networks and had left amid concerns about censorship. The new station adopted the identity of an independent information broadcaster and established internal principles intended to prevent owners from directing news content. The channel’s decisive breakthrough came during the 2004 presidential election and Orange Revolution. It was recognized for providing airtime to both the authorities and the opposition while other broadcasters were widely criticized for political bias. Pressure intensified after 5 Kanal’s owner Petro Poroshenko publicly criticized Volodymyr Sivkovych, who was involved in a parliamentary inquiry concerning the poisoning of opposition politician Viktor Yushchenko. Following Sivkovych’s request, the channel’s bank accounts were blocked. Staff members responded with a hunger strike, and the accounts were later released. The broadcaster also partially retransmitted sessions of Ukraine’s parliament as a defensive measure against the possibility of closure. During the Orange Revolution, 5 Kanal moved to continuous news coverage and broadcast live from Independence Square and other locations in Kyiv. Its audience grew sufficiently for the station to rank among Ukraine’s leading channels despite having less nationwide infrastructure than the largest commercial broadcasters. In 2005, the channel formalized its shift to an information-only format by removing entertainment, music, and feature films. It retained news, documentaries, analytical programs, public-affairs journalism, and tourism content. The departure of prominent editorial figures followed, including Andriy Shevchenko in 2005 and Roman Skrypin in 2006. In 2007, the channel introduced a schedule based on fixed horizontal news blocks and increased the number of daily information items. 5 Kanal continued to play a visible role in politically sensitive reporting. A court dispute in 2010 concerned the allocation of broadcasting frequencies to 5 Kanal and TVi. The channel’s website was also targeted by a DDoS attack that year. In 2011, it carried a 52-hour Independence Day marathon that was later recognized by Guinness World Records. During the Euromaidan crisis in February 2014, the channel was temporarily disconnected from much of Ukraine’s terrestrial, cable, and satellite distribution while covering the security assault on Independence Square. It later resumed transmission. The station also experienced repeated bomb threats in 2014. Technical and distribution changes followed: 5 Kanal adopted a 16:9 format in 2016, changed its digital-terrestrial multiplex allocation in 2019, and launched an HD satellite feed in October of that year. Its close association with Petro Poroshenko became a continuing subject of discussion because he later served as Ukraine’s president. In November 2021, Poroshenko sold 5 Kanal and Pryamiy Kanal after the enactment of Ukraine’s anti-oligarch legislation. The channel said that Free Media Holding had become its owner, describing the holding as involving media professionals, public figures, and opposition deputies. 5 Kanal remains active as a Ukrainian news and public-affairs broadcaster and digital media brand.

1. 2021Ownership transferred to Free Media Holding

   Petro Poroshenko sells 5 Kanal and Pryamiy Kanal after the adoption of Ukraine’s anti-oligarch legislation.

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2. 2019HD satellite feed launched

   An HD version begins broadcasting on the Astra 4A satellite.

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3. 201616:9 broadcasting begins

   5 Kanal changes its television picture format to 16:9.

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4. 2014Euromaidan distribution interruption

   The channel is temporarily disconnected across much of Ukraine while reporting on events at Independence Square.

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5. 201152-hour Independence marathon

   A continuous Independence Day broadcast later receives Guinness World Records registration.

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6. 2007Horizontal news-block schedule introduced

   The channel reorganizes its programming around fixed news blocks and expands the number of information items.

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7. 2005Transition to an information-only format

   Entertainment and music programming are removed, leaving news, documentaries, analysis, journalism, and tourism programming.

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8. 2004Orange Revolution coverage

   The station provides extensive live coverage of the presidential election crisis and Orange Revolution, becoming nationally prominent.

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9. 20035 Kanal is created

   NBM and Express-Inform establish 5 Kanal as a broadcaster focused on news and editorial independence.

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10. 1995NBM is established

    NBM is founded in Chernivtsi and develops regional television and radio operations that later contribute to the creation of 5 Kanal.

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A Ukrainian information broadcaster positioned around continuous news, political journalism, live reporting, and editorial independence.

• 5 Kanal television serviceTelevision broadcasting2003

  The core broadcast service is a Ukrainian news and public-affairs channel. It carries recurring news blocks, live political coverage, interviews, documentaries, analysis, journalistic programs, and coverage of major national events. The service evolved from a mixed television schedule into an information-focused broadcaster in 2005.

• 5.uaDigital news

  5.ua is the broadcaster’s online news platform, extending the television brand into digital reporting and web-based public-affairs coverage.

• 5 Kanal HDSatellite television2019

  The HD satellite version provides a higher-resolution distribution feed of the channel and was launched on Astra 4A in 2019.

• 2011Ukrainian Independence TV Marathon

  Ukraine

  The channel aired a 52-hour continuous broadcast hosted by Tetyana Danylenko and Pavlo Kuzheev.

  Outcome. The marathon was later registered in Guinness World Records.

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• 2004Orange Revolution live coverage

  Ukraine

  5 Kanal moved to round-the-clock news coverage and transmitted live reports from Independence Square and other locations during the Orange Revolution.

  Outcome. The station gained national prominence and recorded a substantial rise in audience reach.

  Source

• 2021Sell 5 Kanal to Free Media HoldingM&A

  The sale followed the passage and signing of Ukrainian legislation aimed at limiting oligarchic influence.

  What changed. Petro Poroshenko sold 5 Kanal together with Pryamiy Kanal. The broadcaster identified Free Media Holding as the new owner.

  Aftermath. The ownership structure changed, while the channel continued operating as a Ukrainian news broadcaster.

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• 2019Launch an HD satellite serviceProduct launch

  The broadcaster expanded its technical distribution and image quality.

  What changed. An HD version of 5 Kanal was launched on the Astra 4A satellite.

  Aftermath. The service added a high-definition satellite distribution option.

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• 2005Adopt an information-only programming strategyStrategy

  The broadcaster sought to sharpen its identity as a dedicated news service.

  What changed. Entertainment, music, and feature-film programming were removed from the schedule, leaving news, documentaries, analysis, journalism, and tourism content.

  Aftermath. The change established 5 Kanal’s long-term positioning as an information broadcaster.

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• 2016Allegations of double-entry bookkeeping and tax fraudControversy

  A report in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung stated that seven employees of the editorial office said they had participated in a double-bookkeeping arrangement involving payments and alleged tax fraud over several years. The available reference does not establish a final legal finding against the channel.

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• 2021Petro Poroshenko sells 5 Kanal and Pryamiy Kanal

  Petro Poroshenko sold the two broadcasters shortly after Ukraine’s anti-oligarch legislation was signed. 5 Kanal subsequently identified Free Media Holding as its owner.

  M&ALeadership change
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• 20195 Kanal launches HD satellite version

  The channel introduced an HD version on the Astra 4A satellite.

  Product launch
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• 20145 Kanal temporarily disconnected during Euromaidan coverage

  The station was removed from terrestrial, cable, and satellite distribution in much of Ukraine while reporting on the assault on Independence Square. Its broadcasts later resumed.

  OtherRegulation
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• 20145 Kanal reports repeated bomb threats

  The station faced repeated anonymous reports claiming that its premises had been mined, temporarily interrupting operations during searches.

  Other
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• 20115 Kanal broadcasts 52-hour Ukrainian Independence marathon

  A 52-hour continuous broadcast hosted by Tetyana Danylenko and Pavlo Kuzheev was later registered as a Guinness World Records achievement.

  Other
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• 2010Court annuls frequency allocation to 5 Kanal and TVi

  A court upheld a challenge brought by the Inter television group and annulled a prior regulatory decision allocating frequencies to 5 Kanal and TVi. Journalists alleged political influence over the proceedings.

  LawsuitRegulation
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• 20105 Kanal website hit by distributed denial-of-service attack

  The channel’s website became unavailable on 18 August after a reported DDoS attack.

  Other
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• 20045 Kanal employees protest threatened closure during 2004 election dispute

  The channel faced political pressure after a dispute involving parliamentary official Volodymyr Sivkovych. Its bank accounts were blocked at his request, prompting employees to begin a hunger strike; the accounts were subsequently unblocked.

  Other
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• 20045 Kanal expands live coverage during the Orange Revolution

  The broadcaster switched to continuous news coverage and reported live from Independence Square and other locations during the Orange Revolution, substantially increasing its national audience.

  Other
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1. 5 Kanal
2. 5 Kanal official website