London Live Launches

It’s been 12 months in the making but last night, London Live finally launched on Freeview 8, Sky 117 and Virgin 159.

Unless you have been living on another planet for the past year, you’ll know that London Live is the capital’s new TV station (although out-of-towners can also tune in via londonlive.co.uk.)

The 24 hour station is backed by the London Evening Standard and Independent owners, Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny, and aims to “be completely different” from other channels.

Feedback has mostly been positive with celebs such as Stephen Fry, Colin Firth’s wife Livia, London’s mayor Boris Johnson, Kay Burley and respected media commentator Raymond Snoddy all tweeting their support.

Eco-fashion designer Livia Firth tweeted: “Well done! @mrevgenylebedev here with fab @davidwalliams to launch @londonLive TB channel.” Meanwhile the Mayor said: “Good luck @Londonlive new TV station launched 1 hour ago – news, culture, communities, the arts, entertainment – for London & about London.”

London Live staff such as Louise Scodie, Gavin Ramjaun and Marc Edwards celebrated with high profile friends including fashion designer, Ozwald Boateng, actress Tina Hobley, Bond actor Colin Salmon and BBC news presenter Riz Lateef with a launch night party at One Kensington restaurant and bar. Located opposite Kensington Gardens, One Kensington is the latest venue from the Tamarind Collection (the team behind award winning Indian restaurants Tamarind and Imli Street).

Elsewhere Evgeny Lebedev – the channel’s proprietor – threw a party at his house in west London for 30 VIP guests. Politicos David Cameron, George Osborne and Ed Miliband, acting heavyweights Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hytner, Ralph Fiennes and Anna Friel all attended as did Naomi Campbell, Tracey Emin, Andrew Neil and Nancy Dell’Olio. The A list guests were served fish canapes as they watched the biggest TV launch since Channel 5 took to the airwaves back in 1997.

London Live joins Estuary TV in Grimsby and Mustard TV  in Norwich as the third of the government’s proposed network of almost 50 local TV services to launch.