Five’s landmark gambling deal
Broadcaster Five has inked a landmark deal with Netplay the interactive gambling group, that will allow viewers to bet thousands of pounds on a live real-time roulette show from their own homes. The shows will be broadcast three nights a week between midnight and 4 am, and extended to six nights in October and every night in 2010. The deal is seen as an attempt by Five to increase revenue as a result of the drop in TV advertising that has been dwindling during the downturn. As part of the deal Five has the option to buy five per cent of Netplay’s shares for 28.5p.