London Live to launch in UK today

A new channel is launching on digital free-TV in the UK today.

London Live will occupy the Freeview channel 8 slot, along with BSkyB channel 117, Virgin Media channel 159 and YouView channel 8.

The network is one of the stations launching throughout the UK in a government-lead drive to launch channels that offer local news coverage and programming.

The 24-7 network is backed by Evgeny Lebedev, the Russian media mogul who owns the Evening Standard and Independent newspapers in the UK. He will operate the channel through a subsidiary, ESTV.

The programming team includes CEO Andrew Mullins; former Current TV UK boss Jane Mote, who is launch programme director; and former Disney UK buyer Jonathan Boseley, who is head of programming.

London Live is calling on producers to pitch programmes for commission and has acquired shows such as Peep Show, Twenty Twelve and Smack the Pony.