London Live has announced a number of new acquisitions for its March portfolio of programming, alongside the promotion of two members of staff.
The deal will see the capital’s TV channel acquire content from Entertainment One, Eyeline Entertainment and Metrodome to broadcast a brand new film strand, ‘London Film House’.
In March the channel will showcase London-based films including the Bafta award-winning Vera Drake, 44 Inch Chest and the premiere of Confine, which stars Daisy Lowe and Alfie Allen.
The Evengy Lebedev-backed channel has also exclusively obtained the rights to the third season of Movie Talk from 3DD, which is hosted by London-based film critic Jason Solomons.
Other recent content acquisitions include Made in Chelsea, Cookery School, Love for Sale, Da Ali G Show and Phone Shop.
In January London Live announced that it would be axing approximately a third of its staff as it looks to “assess where [its] resources are best deployed to drive continued growth into the business.”
Since launching in spring 2014, the channel has struggled to pull in viewers – and in October last year, after an initial refusal, was granted its request to reduce its broadcasting hours by Ofcom.
The move was lambasted by Channel 4, which told Ofcom that public service broadcaster status should not be given lightly, and that by significantly reducing public service obligations so soon after they were agreed, ESTV would set an “unwelcome precedent.”
On 30 March 2014, when London Live first aired, its audience peaked at 59,000 viewers. By the summer, the channel was flat-lining on a 0.2-0.3% audience share, according to BARB figures; however, London Live claims that in December 2014 its shows were watched by more than 2.3 million adults – double the number since June.
Lucy Myers, who has been promoted to programme director for London Live, said that the latest acquisitions “reflect the diversity of London’s affluent, urban and cultured audience and reflects [the channel’s] commitment to offer Londoners fresh and local content.”
Tim Kirkman, chief operating officer for London Live, added: “I am delighted to announce that Lucy Myers has been promoted to programme director and Jim Grice has been promoted to head of news and current affairs.
“Both Lucy and Jim have been part of the channel since launch, their expertise and knowledge have made a significant contribution to the business to date and will now contribute to the overall London Live management team.”
