Mindset Network Launches New Primary School Pop-Up Channel

With lockdown for Covid-19 being the uppermost thought in everyone’s mind Multichoice and Mindset Network, launched by Nelson Mandela in 2003, is due to launch a channel dedicated to Primary School learners on 1 April 2020. Mindset Pop will feature educational programming covering the entire GET (Primary School) phase, including ECD, Grades 1 to 3 but with a focus on the Grade 4 – 9 curriculum.

Even though you are still on holiday we want you to be prepared when schools re-open. Mindset PoP will deliver live lessons daily with 6 fresh hours every day. We will bring you Literacy and Numeracy as well as Maths, Natural Sciences, English, Life Orientation, Art and Physical Education activities. A website will be available for downloading worksheets and information sheets that you can work through with our expert teachers. Lessons will come live from our studios where our expert teachers will unpack the concepts you need to understand as well as point you to additional resources. Lessons are based on the South African CAPS curriculum but are also aligned to the Cambridge curriculum.

Mindset’s CEO, Dylan Green says: “We are very relieved to be working with Multichoice to spread academic excellence during the lockdown. Remember that while we often focus on matric the key concepts are taught in the Foundation Phase. We are looking forward to bringing a whole new and exciting world of learning to DStv subscribers everywhere.”

Mindset PoP will be available to all subscribers across the DStv platforms in South Africa and Africa. Tune into channel 317 to find out more about this fantastic education channel!

This might be the same test channel coming to OpenView channel 122 and possibly StarSat for now there's no confirmation about it as this press release only has to do with MultiChoice.

Nina Novelas Added On StarTimes With Starsat Soon To Follow

TV channel ‘Nina Novelas’ is available on StarTimes platform since March 06th, 2020.

Nina Novelas is a 100% Telenovelas channel offering the best Telenovelas from Africa, Brazil, and the rest of world to the fans of the genre. Nina Novelas provides a rich program, 24/7 and an environment in which the modern African women can express themselves.

Nina Novelas is available in both French and English since 2015. The channel has seized exclusive access to the entire Globo TV Catalog, the world’s leading producer of Telenovelas with 2 500 hours produced per year in Brazil.

Telenovelas from Brazil are admired for their production quality and for playing a dual role of mirror and window to the society.

The Head of StarTimes media division, Lily Meng, said, “Telenovelas have been enjoying a constant success among our subscribers. With a majority of Brazilian novelas, Nina Novelas will ideally complete channels such as ST Novela E and ST Novela E Plus. Furthermore, Nina Novelas offer numerous African series, which is consistent with our strategy of promoting local productions.”

What Happened To TBN's Smile Channel On Starsat And StarTimes?

Back in 2019, Starsat and StarTimes subscribers awoke only to discover Smile TV was no longer available on the platform. Both operators haven't informed the media beforehand instead they only inform viewers through an enquiry that the channel went offline while TBN Africa remained quiet about the whole removal.

To start off the year, Smile got scrapped worldwide according to the admin of Smile TV media account and viewers can only find it online worldwide or through DVB2 in the United States.

It's possible that both Starsat and StarTimes found out around the time the channel left as viewers were asking about the channel and they were silent for a couple of hours.

Do I believe these companies will replace it?
No
Is it worth replacing?
Not really, there's plenty of religious channels so they'll more likely recommend subscribers to those channels or maybe source out "another" kids channel that won't be added as a replacement channel

Positiv.tv is a Christian-Based Movie Channel launched in 2020 offering family-friendly films that you might have seen on TBN. It was adapted from a programming block that aired on Smile TV.

This channel is said to be Smile TV's successor along with the youth based channel Juce TV. It's funny how broadcasters label replacements in linear TV. First minute you're watching a classic drama such as Bones on Universal TV next minute you wake up only to see a sports tournament such as Tokyo 2020 on the Olympics Channel. To me it seems more of a turnover than a replacement.

TBN should have informed the media and it's distributors that these kids channels will be scrapped so these operators can prepare themselves better and possibly seek out other alternatives instead of them having a run around and viewers pointing fingers at their them since they package the channel. Either way the damage has already been done and these operators lost several channels throughout 2019 as 2020 moves they're still sourcing out replacements.

Starsat And StarTimes Subscribers Lose 2 More Channels: Smile TV And Animaux

Just as the whole drama concerning the Disney channels came to light with Starsat on a fast track to source out more replacement channels. Viewers woke up to the loss of two more channels Smile was removed sometime last year while Animaux was removed a week ago.

Smile (formerly Smile of a Child) is Christian-based network owned and operated by the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The network is aimed at children between the ages of 2 and 12 years, and offers a mix of children's religious and family-oriented programming. Trinity also supplies several channels and programming across Africa through DStv, OpenView, Azam and several more.

Animaux is a French television channel run by AB Group with animal-based/inspired programming for the whole family.

Subscribers have been rampaging onto Starsat and StarTimes account demanding answers on the sudden loss of these two channels and after week they finally reply and yes they confirmed that they'll no longer supply those channels and are looking into possible replacement channels.

So far, they only managed to National Geographic and Wild with cheaper and more affordable channels such as Love Nature and Smithsonian channel. Now they have to source out even more replacement channels Lord only knows how many of these channels are likely to being replaced. With a channel such as POP it wouldn't matter since you can find something similar on Star Kids of course it's not the same but both channels don't have original content and target the same audience.

Starsat/StarTimes Launches Two New Channels To Celebrate The Festive

Starsat/StarTimes has lost several channels throughout the year including the KISS, Star Series1, Trace Africa and FOX channels (ESPN 1 & 2 formerly FOX Sports, National Geographic & Wild, FOX & FOX Life) which now belong to Disney and now they've unveiled the "new" channels which are set to replace National Geographic and National Geographic Wild from 10  December judging from the lineup who knows if they consider the two new additions replacements for FOX and FOX Life or if they're still sourcing out more replacement channels.

The Smithsonian Channel is an American pay television channel that is operated by Smithsonian Networks (SNI/SI Networks L.L.C.), a joint venture between CBS Corporation's Showtime Networks and the Smithsonian Institution. The channel features original non-fiction programming that covers a wide range of historical, scientific and cultural subjects.

Love Nature is a Canadian specialty television channel owned by Blue Ant Media . The channel broadcasts documentaries and television series related to wildlife and nature.

If you ask me the channels seem like another cheap addition in the end it saves them money on the other hand the channels may join the batch of several other wasted channels who knows the channels may do well in this market but those who watched National Geographic even though it could interest them they'll still pick National Geographic over any other channel. Starsat could be going through difficult times kind of like MultiChoice and its recent additions now that Lifetime and History remains it could have increased their expenses so channels are bound to be lost and affordable replacements might take quality channels position.