Sofia’s Diary, the online soap opera that attracted 5 million viewers in its first two weeks on social networking site Bebo, has become the first online show to be picked up by a major British broadcaster.

Five has secured the broadcast rights for its rebranded digital television channel Fiver, formerly Five Life, enabling fans to follow the adventures of Sofia Taylor and friends as she adjusts to a new life in London through the more traditional medium of television.

Sofia’s Diary debuted in March on Bebo and has been running as short episodes described as “snack TV”. It follows other successful online soap operas on the site, such as Kate Modern, which had two million viewers a week for its first series.

Despite the fact that traditional television audiences have drastically declined in recent years, online soap operas are seeing viewer numbers increase at a rapid rate.

Hannah Barnes, director of programmes for Fiver and Five US, said: “The 16-24-year old market uses all media platforms and, if we want to talk to that audience, we need to look beyond linear television.

“Quality programming for 16 to 24s is booming on the internet, and our decision to showcase Sofia’s Diary shows our commitment to 16-24s, which is part of our wider strategy in building a further connection with this group.”

Since Sofia’s Diary’s online debut on Bebo last month almost 500,000 people are now tuning in to watch each episode.

The series will make its television debut on April 28, with a three-minute programme screened each weekday at 4.55pm. An omnibus 30 minute episode will be shown every second weekend. The series is produced by Campbell Ryan Productions on behalf of Sony Pictures Television International.

Sofia’s Diary was originally launched in Portugal in 2003 as an experimental web and mobile service. The original programme now has 200,000 visitors a month online and more than 19,000 mobile subscribers. It has run for four series’ on Portuguese state broadcaster, RTP2, and has since been adapted for audiences in Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Vietnam.

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