FIVER to Air SPTI’s Sofia’s Diary

LONDON, April 17: FIVER,
formerly known as Five Life, has taken on the online drama Sofia’s Diary from Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI),
marking the first time a U.K.-produced online show has made the jump to
broadcast.

Beginning April 28, FIVER
will screen the series as a set of three-minute programs each weekday at 4:55
p.m., with a 30-minute episode airing every second weekend. The show follows
the life of 17-year-old Sofia Taylor as she deals with the ups and downs of
adjusting to her new life after being sent to London by her mother after
getting in trouble at school.

Sofia’s Diary premiered on the social-media network Bebo on March
14, and attracted 5 million viewers in its first two weeks online. The series
was originally launched in Portugal in 2003 as an experimental web and mobile
service, and has run for four seasons on Portuguese state broadcaster RTP2 and
has been adapted for audiences in Brazil, Chile, Turkey and Vietnam.

The director of programs
for FIVER and Five US, Hannah Barnes, said: “I’m thrilled to be working in
partnership with Bebo and SPTI in what is an exciting broadcasting first in the
U.K. Quality programming for 16-24’s is booming on the Internet, and our
decision to showcase Sofia’s Diary
shows our commitment to 16-24’s, which is part of our wider strategy in
building a further connection with this group.”

The senior VP of European
production for SPTI, Antony Root, said: “We are moving our production business
quickly to meet the needs of viewers who want to access our content across
multiple platforms. Sofia’s Diary
is a unique entertainment offering and we are delighted with the success Bebo
has had with the show. We are sure that FIVER viewers will also be excited to
hear it’s about to air for the first time on TV in the U.K.”

FIVER is also set to air Generation
Sex, a 6×1-hour series from
Princess Productions that explores modern sex and sexuality, discussing
everything from sexual etiquette to virtual sex, sex toys and cyber sex.

Barnes commented: “Generation
Sex is the perfect fit for
FIVER—it’s as contemporary sex show as you can get and is a welcome addition
to a packed lineup of younger, sexier and smarter programming for FIVER.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski