Channel 5 Expands Snooker Coverage; Sunset+Vine Streams Second Table to 5 App

Expanding streaming-only coverage of a second feed presents a viable model for broadcasters to enhance live sports offerings without significant linear broadcast investment. This allows for greater content depth and caters to niche fan segments willing to engage via app. The efficient use of shared resources and crews across consecutive productions highlights strategies for optimizing live sports broadcast costs. Future developments will indicate if this multi-platform approach increases overall viewership and engagement for Channel 5, particularly the reach of its app-exclusive content.

Channel 5 and Pluto TV announced a simulcast partnership for the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship and other snooker events (World Seniors Snooker, May 2026). This collaboration marks the first time the two networks have joined forces to amplify the sport, reaching wider audiences across the UK and internationally. Pluto TV will stream the World Seniors event in the UK and in countries like the USA, Canada, Germany, and Australia. Channel 5 will air both main table and, for the first time, second table coverage, with the latter available on 5 Streaming (Broadcast, May 2026). The partnership aims to bring prominent snooker players, including Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White, to a broader international viewership (WPBSA, May 2026). This expanded distribution model underscores a trend towards diversified platform strategies for live sports content, leveraging free-to-air channels, dedicated apps, and FAST services to maximize reach and engagement.