Five is to take its place on the Freesat DTH platform from November 18. It follows the expiry of its contract with BSkyB that had meant its signal was previously encrypted.
A spokeswoman for Freesat said that although there were discussions over the addition of Five’s additional services Fiver and Five US, no immediate launch was expected.
In a statement Freesat MD Emma Scott said she looked forward to welcoming Five to the platform.
Charles Constable, Director of Strategy at Five, also expressed delight at the channel’s additional distribution. “Our launch will support three of Five’s objectives: to be universally available throughout the UK, to let viewers watch our programmes on the platform of their choice, and to enable as many people as possible to watch Five free of charge.
The last of the five analogue channels to join Freesat, Five will take channel 105 on Freesat, the same number it holds on Sky.

"In an industry that experiences rapid change and often a confusing subsequent
constant supply of news, it is often refreshing to read an insightful perspective. Broadband
TV News and its editorial team regularly provide a context and
helpful analysis to breaking news.”
Broadband TV News is the must-read publication for those working in the Business of the Multiscreen Television. We deliver news, insight and data direct to your desktop. As well as our constantly updated website you can sign-up to our Daily and Weekly email bulletins.
Connected TV Forecasts NEW REPORT. The number of TV sets connected to the Internet will reach 551 million by 2016 for the 40 countries covered in this report from Digital TV Research, up from 124 million at end-2010. The report states that this translates to 20% of global TV sets by 2016, up from only 6% at end-2010. Published in November 2011, this 83-page PDF report is the most geographically comprehensive to ever be published.