return for a sixth series following a year long hiatus. The fifth series was released on DVD the day after the finale episode aired. Broadcasts International broadcasts The complete series is available to view in Ireland on the RTÉ Player. In the United Kingdom, seasons one and two aired on Scotland's ITV franchise, STV. RTÉ International and the programme's producers signed an international broadcasting deal with ITV Studios Global Entertainment. ITV Global will help market and distribute the show internationally. The series is expected to air on television in the US, with a broadcast date yet to be confirmed. Series 1–3 are now available to view via U.S. Netflix, which were added on 18 September 2013. Also in the United Kingdom season 1 and 2 have been purchased by Channel 5, giving the series a UK-wide broadcast. The first season aired on 24 July 2013. Series 2 was shown on UK freeview channel Spike, following a repeat run of the first series. The complete series is available on the subscription service BritBox. In October 2013, it was announced that streaming company Netflix has bought the show and will make it available to its subscribers. The first three series have also been bought by TV markets in Brazil, Israel and Singapore joining Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. DVD releases Episodes Reception Love/Hate has been well received, and has won eight Irish Film & Television Awards (IFTA), seven of them in 2012. The second series was met with critical acclaim. On the eve of the third season, The Irish Times hailed the show as "the best drama RTÉ has produced." The Guardian (UK) praised the show, comparing it to The Wire and The Sopranos, saying "what makes Love/Hate distinctive is the way in which the scripts ... [root] the mobster genre in the trends and tensions of contemporary Irish culture." Controversy The programme has attracted criticism for its graphic and explicit portrayals of rape and its effects. An actor playing an undercover Garda (Kieran O'Reilly) was revealed to be a real member of the Garda National Drug Unit, leading to an internal Garda investigation. Gardaí are not prohibited from acting by the Garda Code. However, there was an inquiry into his appearance on the show. Viewership ratings The second series of Love/Hate was the most watched TV show in Ireland in 2011. 970,600 viewers tuned in to watch the series four