Dublin's new local TV station, City Channel, started broadcasting this morning and is now available on NTL Ireland's digital TV service.

The channel, which was added to the cable system on channel 123 back in September, started broadcasting its full schedule today.

"This is a very exciting time for City Channel," sad the channel's CEO David Harvey. "After months of preparation, we're delighted to have such a high calibre of presenters on our team, and such a varied schedule to offer viewers. It is important to stress that this is a local channel, and dedicated to Dublin. The sheer range of topics which we feature in our programmes will guarantee interesting television viewing relevant to local audiences - and this is where we can offer something that other national channels cannot."

Through its NTL carriage agreement, City Channel will be available to 110,000 homes, equating to around 400,000 individual viewers. Programming on the channel includes an LGBT magazine show, Free to Express, a TV simulcast of FM104's Phone Show, and a monthly programme focusing on Dublin's clubbing scene presented by former Big Brother contestant Ray Shah.