Could Siyaya TV Be Looking To Debut Another TV Channel On DStv?

Since last month, MultiChoice had begun test running a duplicate feed to Moja 9.9. on DStv platforms. The channel is known for airing older seasons to shows on Moja Love including X-Repo, Uyajola 9/9 and Kasi-2-Kasi.

Of course, the version MultiChoice had been test running for DStv households has a separate feed to the current Moja 9.9. It does lead to us wonder if Siyaya TV could as well be looking to build up localised feed if not rollout a separate channel.

MultiChoice has a bunch of TV channels with localised feeds including M-Net, M-Net Movies 1, TLC, Zee World, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.

It's kind of alarming that there's a separate feed to Moja 9.9. in development if anything it would have made more sense if it was Moja Love. As its usually flagship brands that get this type of 5 star treatment not subordinates.

Maybe Moja 9.9. is just serving as a placeholder for the actual channel that MultiChoice is looking to add soon. It's also possible that this channel may never launch as Media24's Via went through a similar scenario a few years back.

Reminder: Bloedspoor Crawls It's Way Back To eExtra For A Second Season

eExtra, a general entertainment channel operated by eMedia Investments that offers telenovelas from Turkey and around the world has announced the return of Bloedspoor. The second season is scheduled to replace Chrysalis on 13 April at 21:00.

Synopsis for Bloedspoor S2

This season shifts from the investigation of a single murder to a broader, more psychological series of interlocking crimes that test the marriage of Ilgaz Kaya and Ceylin Erguvan. It begins with the discovery of four bodies in a well, setting off a dark new investigation. 

Ilgaz theorizes that the "Well Killer" is attempting to create a "target family" by abducting specific people to play roles in a twisted psychological game. Ceylin becomes one of the abducted targets and is held captive with others, forced to fight for survival while Ilgaz frantically searches for her.

It also explores the death of Serdar (a recurring antagonist from Season 1) shocks both families. Ceylin finds herself torn between protecting her family and her belief in justice when her niece, Parla, confesses to the crime.

Kaan Urgancıoğlu (Ilgaz Kaya) and Pınar Deniz (Ceylin Erguvan Kaya) reprise their roles in this season. This season will star Doğaç Yıldız as Ömer Tilmen/Yakup Atamer, Samet Kaan Kuyucu as Burak Yıldırım and Emir Özden as Tolga Çırmak.

Canal+ Might Look To Reduce Local Commentary At SuperSport

As some people may have heard, the Competition Commission is monitoring Canal+ following it's acquisition of MultiChoice in 2025. This includes the company's decision to shut down Showmax with voluntarily retrenchments also underway.

According to Rapport, there's growing fear amongst the media that Canal+ could look to reduce local commentary at SuperSport. This is because the French giant can't retrench staff and are looking for ways to save money.

One way they could look to save up on costs is by scrapping Afrikaans commentary during cricket matches. Especially if there's not much people using this option when the games are broadcast.

Not long ago, Solidarity had questioned SuperSport, on its decision for not providing Afrikaans commentary for the New Zealand series. Their claim was later rebuffed after it was revealed that no local commentary was done at all.

This was because of the low viewership count for these matches and even when they do broadcast matches with SA teams. It's normal for some matches to not be dubbed while others that do usually cover several local languages.

There was also concerns about Canal+ scaling back on locally produced shows for more dubbed series as seen with the American drama, Landman. 

It was stated by them that it would make no sense in scaling back this offering as it serves as a core component in their strategy. Making Landman available in Afrikaans only helps broaden the reach of this offering to more consumers.

Why A Revival Of M-Net's 1Magic And Me Is Unlikely?

Two years ago, MultiChoice and NBCUniversal unveiled the revamped Showmax streaming service which served as a distribution outlet for Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation and Telemundo. It even bolstered originals like Youngins and Adulting.

During that time, MultiChoice and M-Net also made the decision to do away with Me and 1Magic as part of its efforts to get more people onto Showmax. This had yielded lackluster success as Canal+ deemed the streamer a "commercial failure".

Under the Naspers regime, MultiChoice had put a lot of hopes in creating a rival for Netflix since 2024 but the losses continued to double each year. That Canal+ made the decision to discontinue Showmax and deploy its own streaming app in these markets.

With MultiChoice doing away with Showmax, there's several DStv consumers that are probably wondering if these means we'll getting back our M-Net Essentials (Me) and 1Magic.

If I had to be honest this kind of seems unlikely.

DStv had been in decline for several years with the consumer base that once hit the 20 million mark under 15 million. The losses spread across all areas of DStv with Canal+ looking to restructure these packages in order to gain more consumers.

Another reason I don't see anything like these channels coming  has to do with their streamlining endeavours post the relaunch of Showmax.

When 1Magic was first introduced a lot of people in the media didn't like the fact that MultiChoice was creating competition and diluting value from Mzansi Magic. Same goes for Me, reviving it would only dilute the value of Universal TV and Bravo.

Universal TV has got a lot more purpose after the cancellation of Me with The Equalizer, Hudson & Rex and NCIS. Same for Bravo, if 1Magic existed, people wouldn't dare watch to have watched The Real Housewives as the later season was on 1Magic.

Even under Canal+, it doesn't seem like they plan to launch any variants of these channels anytime soon. As Canal+ Afrique already distributes these channels for its Francophone Africa audiences through the DStv English Plus add-on.

However it appears they found new ways of getting these shows to more DStv consumers. As Landman had found its way onto KykNET after being made available exclusively on M-Net and I wouldn't be surprised if we got to see King & Conqueror.

Either way KykNET's induction into the international scene wouldn't dilute what's seen on Universal TV as they'd prioritise authenticity from Binnelanders and Tussen Ons.

Development Alert: uMakhwapheni To Make Its Freemium Debut On Zee One In South Africa

Zee One, an English dubbed Bollywood channel operated by Zee Entertainment Enterprises and spinoff to Zee World will now be importing shows from Zee Zonke. With uMakhwapheni being the first entry to consumers in South Africa.

Following Zee Zonke's successful launch on DStv, eMedia Investments had attempted to replicate this offering with the short lived Uzozisola Regrets. With JioStar that launched Star Khanya into the market as a rivalled broadcaster to the lineup.

With Zee Zonke being confined to DStv, Zee TV is using Zee One's existing footprint to increase its reach. Zee One will not only be competing with Star Life but also Star Khanya when uMakhwapheni launches on 30th March at 7PM CAT.

Synopsis for uMakhwapheni 

The story follows Radhika, a devoted and somewhat overprotective wife, whose life is turned upside down when she discovers her husband, Gurunath (often called "Garry"), is having an affair with his trendy colleague, Shanaya. 

Gurunath leaves Radhika for Shanaya, even attempting to kick Radhika out of their home.

Instead of giving up, Radhika undergoes a massive transformation. With the support of her friend Saumitra, she works hard to build her own business, eventually founding a successful spice company called Radhika Masale.

In a major twist, Radhika becomes the boss of the very company where Gurunath and Shanaya work, leaving them shocked by her success.

As the drama unfolds, Shanaya eventually realizes Gurunath's true nature and switches sides to help Radhika. Radhika moves on from her toxic marriage and eventually finds true love and happiness with Saumitra. 

Known in India as Majhya Navaryachi Bayko, uMakhwapheni launches on Zee One from 30th March at 6PM CAT.