La Cinq

La Cinq
CountryFrance
Programming
Language(s)French
Picture format576i SDTV
Ownership
Owner
History
Launched20 February 1986; 38 years ago (1986-02-20)
Closed12 April 1992; 32 years ago (1992-04-12)
Replaced byArte
France 5 (known as "La Cinquième" before 2002) (1994)

La Cinq (French: [la sɛ̃k], lit.'The Five') was a French free-to-air television channel. Created by politician Jérôme Seydoux and Italian media mogul Silvio Berlusconi, it existed from 1986 to 1992.

The contract for France's fifth terrestrial network, which was supposed to have been in effect for an 18-year term, was granted to Seydoux and Berlusconi in November 1985. It was the first private free-to-air television network in France. Programming began on 20 February 1986 at 8:30 pm; the first programme on La Cinq was Voilà la Cinq, which was taped at Canale 5's studios in Milan, Italy.