Big names behind Brighton’s small screen start-up

Crime writer Peter James is backing Brighton’s new TV station

The boss of Brighton and Hove Albion football club  has thrown his support behind the city’s fledgling television station.

According to documents filed at Companies House in April, Tony Bloom, chairman at the Championship  side, has bought shares in Latest TV. Other shareholders include best-selling crime writer Peter James and local businessman Mike Holland.

Brighton and Hove is one of the first cities in the country to be awarded a 12-year local TV licence.

The station launches this week and will broadcast from it studios in Manchester Street on Freeview Channel 8 and Virgin 159 seven days a week and up to 24 hours a day.

Among possible projects under negotiation is live coverage of Brighton and Hove Albion Women’s games.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove Albion said: “We’d like to wish those at Latest TV the very best with the new station. It will be great for the city to have it’s own TV station, alongside an already thriving local media scene. For our fans it will mean they can enjoy even more in-depth coverage of the club and Albion in the Community’s activities across the city.”

Peter James said: “I believe that next to London, Brighton is today the most iconic – as well as the most diverse – city in the UK.  Until now, I don’t think Brighton has ever been well served by any of the past regional television stations, where has received an occasional mention in the context of it being part of the South East region, rather than being recognised in its own right as a major hub.   It is long overdue the professional and informed dedicated television station that Latest TV shows every sign of becoming.”

Mike Holland said: “There are many great things to celebrate in our city. However, until now the one thing we have been lacking is a proper terrestrial TV station. This is all now happily about to change with the launch of Latest TV. As a shareholder in the company, I am immensely excited at the prospect of the benefits this will bring to the city we all love so much.”