Media Perspective: Five's fighting spirit is laudable but does it have the finance?

It's a good job the World Cup starts this week, otherwise there'd be a black hole in my TV viewing following the conclusion of Prison Break on five. Monday's double-episode climax left me gagging for the second series of another fine US acquisition by the channel, which has also brought us Hugh Laurie in House and the continued ratings success of the CSI franchise.

Despite the occasional programming hit, though, five has struggled of late. After eight years of audience growth since its launch in 1997, it suffered its first year of decline in 2005. Its programming was visibly refreshed since the Dawn Airey days of 'football, films and fucking', but its audience less …