Five, the broadcaster, boosted advertising revenue by 8.2 per cent last year, which it believed was the fastest growth achieved by the main commercial channels.

Five, which is frustrated at being portrayed as a struggling player in the television industry, said that Neighbours, the Australian soap that it begins airing on Monday, would help it to maintain that rate of growth.

Five generated £314 million in advertising revenue in 2007, compared with £290.3 million in 2006, helped by new revenue from its digital channels and a 2.9 per cent improvement in total television advertising.

Jane Lighting, chief executive, said: “Five is doing better than a lot of people think it is. We grew faster than the market last year and we think we can do the same again this year.”

Profits were believed to have fallen because of investment in the new channels Five Life and Five US. Figures will be confirmed when RTL, its owner, which is controlled by Bertlesmann, of Gemany, reports full-year results in March. Last year Five recorded a £2 million underlying profit, reflecting a £15 million investment in the channel launches.

The switch of Neighbours from BBC One after two decades would, Ms Lighting said, create an “Aussie hour” on Five at teatime, when it also shows Home & Away. Five expects to win at least half of the BBC Neighbours audience of 2.6 million at lunchtime and 2.7 million in the early evening. Ms Lighting said that she expected Neighbours would help Five to “absolutely grow overall share in 2008”.

Neighbours cost Five an estimated £30 million a year, but it is hoped that the soap will help to change the perception of the channel simply by winning more viewers.

Five has peformed poorly in the past two years, with its share of viewing falling by a tenth last year to 5.2 per cent. Many have argued that because it has few well-known programmes apart from CSI, that RTL should bid for ITV to give it a leading position in the UK.

Five is planning a mini-relaunch, with Natasha Kaplinsky presenting news in an informal style that will sometimes see her wearing jeans. It also plans to revamp its website to offer more video content.

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