The channel began broadcasting on satellite at 9:00 pm on 19 September 2008 with a launch video featuring a new rendition of the Runrig song, '. The first part of a live "cèilidh" from Skye, presented by Mary Ann Kennedy, was followed by a specially produced comedy drama entitled ' (Elvis), starring Greg Hemphill as Elvis Presley, at 9:30 pm. The channel's first independent commission, ' ("Peter Manuel - The End of Evil?"), a drama documentary produced by STV Productions, was shown at 10:30 pm before the opening night closed with the second half of the live "cèilidh" from Skye. The launch night was simulcast on BBC Two Scotland between 9:00 pm and 10:30 pm and there was a launch event held at the National Museum of Scotland, which was recorded by the channel's news service '.