April 2026 On Discovery Channel, TLC, HGTV And Food Network Across Africa | Channel Premiere: Neighborhood Watch | Returning Shows Including Bad Skin Clinic | More

Discovery Channel 

CHORNOBYL: DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD

BRAND NEW

The Chernobyl meltdown remains the world’s worst nuclear accident. Today, the disaster still haunts survivors, while the clean-up operation will continue for another 40 years. Days that Shocked the World explores the most iconic disasters of the last 50 years, combining eye-witness testimony with powerful archive footage, to learn how each tragedy changed both the lives of individuals and the world.

First TX: 26 April

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 26 April

Returning shows include OUTBACK OPAL HUNTERS S8B from 7 April at 20:05 and SALVAGE HUNTERS S19A from 23 April at 20:05.

TLC

* for the rest of Africa 

Homes Gone Wild S1

NEW TO CHANNEL 

Jack McBrayer tours some of America's wackiest and wildest homes that have recently been on the real estate market.

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 17 May

* Star vs. Food: Malaysia S1 & S2

NEW TO CHANNEL

Malaysian celebrities learn to cook with some of the

most well-known restaurant chefs for their private

dinner parties with friends or family.

First TX: 7 April

TX Day: Tuesday

TX Time: 21:00

Last TX: 26 May

Returning shows include My Strange Addiction S7 from 4 April at 21:00, Welcome to Plathville S8 from 6 April at 20:00, Seeking Sister Wife S6 from 21 April at 20:00 and *The Bad Skin Clinic S8 from 24 April at 21:00.

HGTV

Neighborhood Watch S1

BRAND NEW

Take a front-row seat to the wild and unexpected events that unfold as home cameras record hilarious, shocking, and downright bizarre moments.

First TX: 20 April

TX Day: Monday

TX Time: 22:00

Last TX: 8 June

Anything But Gray S1

BRAND NEW

Designer Gray Benko, along with her dad Grumpy and design partner Chelcie, creates stunning home makeovers using bold color and Southern charm.

First TX: 28 April

TX Day: Tuesday

TX Time: 22:00

Last TX: 2 June

Returning shows include Home Town S9 from 8 April at 21:00.

Food Network

Food Trail: South Africa S1

Brand New

Warren Mendes sets out on a culinary journey through the regions of South Africa, exploring the flavours and culture on offer from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

First TX: 26 April

TX Day: Sunday

TX Time: 11:30

Last TX: 21 June

Maneet's Eats S1

Brand New

Chef Maneet Chauhan breaks down how to make all the most craveable Indian dishes, from the market to the dinner table.

First TX: 9 April

TX Day: Thursday

TX Time: 16:05

Last TX: 23 April

Returning shows include Chopped S62 from 29 April at 16:05 and Be My Guest with Ina Garten S6 & S7 from 9 April at 17:00.

April 2026 On TNT Across Africa | Fam-Tastic Weekend With Channel Premiere: Paddington | Offbeat Heroes With Channel Premiere: Diablo | More

* Channel premieres in bold

Fam-Tastic Weekend

Stunt

Celebrate the long weekend with TNT Africa’s Fam-Tastic mix of comedy, action, and feel-good fun - four days of family-friendly entertainment perfect for cosy holiday co-viewing.

Friday, 3 April

15:40 The Boss Baby (2017)

17:20 Kung Fu Panda (2008)

18:55 Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)

20:30 Paddington (2014)

Saturday, 4 April

15:10 Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008)

16:45 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (2012)

18:20 Shrek The Third (2007)

20:00 Rat Race (2001)

Sunday, 5 April

14:55 Penguins of Madagascar (2014)

16:30 Happy Feet (2006)

18:20 The Croods (2013)

20:00 Legendary (2010)

Monday, 6 April

15:35 Despicable Me (2010)

17:10 Despicable Me 2 (2013)

18:55 Despicable Me 3 (2017)

20:30 Sky Kids (2008)

Offbeat Heroes

Stunt

Meet the heroes who don’t play by the rules. Every Thursday, TNT Africa brings a double dose of sharp action, bold attitude, and unpredictable energy - perfect for fans of characters who stand out.

Thursday, 2 April

18:50 Emily The Criminal (2022)

20:30 Non-Stop (2013)

Thursday 9, April

18:50 Guns Akimbo (2019)

20:30 Beast of Burden (2018)

Thursday, 16 April

18:25 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

20:30 Diablo (2025)

Thursday, 23 April

18:45 Kick-Ass 2 (2000)

20:30 Total Recall (1990)

Thursday, 30 April

18:30 American Made (2017)

20:30 Bull (2021)

Chasing Freedom

Stunt

Celebrate Freedom Day with gripping tales of survival, courage, and the fight to break free. Chasing Freedom brings intense, inspiring movies that honour the strength it takes to rise above.

Monday, 27 April

14:50 I am Legend (2007)

16:35 First Blood (1982)

18:10 Apocalypto (2006)

20:30 The Revenant (2015)

TNT Hit

Stunt

Synopsis: On the hunt for a fabled treasure of gold, a band of warriors, assassins, and a

rogue British soldier descend upon a village in feudal China, where a humble blacksmith looks

to defend himself and his fellow villagers.

Saturday, 11 April

20:00 The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

Canal+ May Look To Add Adult Entertainment Channels To MultiChoice's DStv

Almost a decade ago, StarSat served as one of the few pay-tv providers to offer adult entertainment channels to viewers in Africa. Before it's closure in South Africa, they had attempted to offer Hustlers TV and a bundle of channels until they got the axe.

Despite StarSat playing it safe ensuring it was only broadcast between 20:00 to 05:00, even requiring subscribers to add parental control to ensure minors don't have access to such material. The backlash and legal rambling wasn't enough to keep it on air.

ICASA was even involved throughout the whole process and even gave StarSat the greenlight to distribute the content as an add-on in South Africa.

MultiChoice at one point attempted to offer an adult entertainment channel and even did market research before going against it. Then again, their former CEO stated that some people misinterpreted the idea on how it would be distributed.

Now MultiChoice's new owners Canal+ is exploring the possibility of rolling out the following to DStv consumers:

* Hustler TV: Owned by the famous Hustler brand, this channel airs a mix of adult movies, including hardcore features and parodies.

* Vixen TV: This channel focuses on high-end, "cinematic" adult content that often has higher production values than typical adult films.

* Private TV: A long-standing European brand known for high-budget, "blockbuster" style adult movies with more of a focus on storytelling.

* Penthouse TV: Linked to the famous magazine, this channel typically features high-quality adult films and erotic specials. 

Canal+ Africa's CEO David Mignot stated Canal+ has always offered adult entertainment channels, but added that the idea is to comply with each country’s local regulations and sensitivities.

As mentioned, there's no laws that prohibit such content from being broadcast in South Africa as ICASA is involved throughout the whole process. But the backlash and legal rambling (or should I say "sensitivities") makes it a no no for South Africa.

Although some reports from late 2025 suggest certain adult sites had more viewers in South Africa than News24 whose peak comes during elections or national crises. 

More DStv Channels Coming Soon To Canal+ Afrique

Canal+ Afrique which serves as MultiChoice's French equivalent in Africa has distributed various DStv channels like Zee World, Studio Universal and Africa Magic Igbo. This is because MultiChoice was acquired by Canal+ Afrique's owners in late 2025.

This gave Canal+ Afrique access to M-Net's local archives as well as brands like Telemundo and Universal TV whose availability was exclusive to only MultiChoice consumers.

In exchange, MultiChoice was given access to Canal+'s local endeavours with Pulaayu and Zacu Entertainment alongside StudioCanal.

During the year, it was reported that Canal+ Afrique's DStv English Plus consumers had gained access to WWE, La Liga and Studio Universal. It appears that the broadcaster is looking to expand on this with Fishing TV, History and Comedy Central.

HISTORY: It broadcasts documentaries and shows about historical events, ancient civilizations, wars, mysteries, biographies, and factual entertainment.

Comedy Central: It specializes in comedy — stand-up specials, sitcoms (like South Park, The Office reruns, or local adaptations), sketch shows, and humorous series.

Fishing TV: A niche channel dedicated to fishing and angling. It features fishing shows, tutorials, documentaries, competitions, travel to fishing spots worldwide, and content for recreational anglers (freshwater, saltwater, fly fishing, etc.).

Canal+ is adding more sports channels 

Also on the cards is SuperSport Events, Variety, Africa 1 and 2 which builds onto speculation that Canal+ Afrique may be looking to distribute SuperSport's entire offering. This is due to Grandstand's presence on the platform.

MultiChoice distributes Grandstand exclusively to its top paying clients on DStv Premium. If it were to resurface on Canal+ Afrique perhaps a lot cheaper it would diminish the value for the brand.

S-Events: This is a sports events channel. It focuses on major live sports broadcasts, special events, and key matches or competitions (often football, rugby, or other high-profile games that don't fit on the main Canal+ Sport channel).

Grandstand: A dedicated sports channel, similar to "Grandstand" formats elsewhere (like SuperSport Grandstand). It provides extensive live sports coverage, multi-event switching, highlights, and analysis — ideal for following several games or tournaments at once.

Africa: This channel features African-focused content, including local and pan-African movies, series, music, cultural shows, news, and entertainment tailored to African audiences.

Africa 2: A companion to Africa, offering more African programming — often additional movies, series, or variety content from across the continent (sometimes with a slightly different emphasis, like more Nollywood-style films or regional shows).

Variety 1: A general entertainment and variety channel. It typically airs a mix of movies, series, talk shows, music, reality TV, and lighter programming for broad appeal.

Canal+ Madagascar shared the news on their social platforms on April 1st (APRIL FOOLS) before taking it down and I doubt Canal+ would go through all that work and just lie. It could be that it was announced too early or they're still trying to finalize things.

Dr. Aarambhi, Brand New Medical Drama Launches On Star Khanya

Star Khanya, a Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel offering a variety of series and movies will be adding a new medical drama, Dr. Aarambhi. It will air daily at 17:30 from 22 April replacing Elinye Ithuba.

Synopsis for Dr. Aarambhi 

Aarambhi lives within a powerful medical family where her husband, Dr. Vishwas, is the public face of their legacy. While he appears to be an ideal, progressive husband to the world, he is secretly controlling and manipulative, eroding Aarambhi's confidence until she doubts her own intelligence.

Aarambhi discovers that Vishwas has been unfaithful and is involved with Dr. Avantika. The plot thickens when she overhears Vishwas plotting to eliminate her to end a potential custody battle so he can marry Avantika.

Instead of seeking revenge, Aarambhi focuses on a "restart." She defies her husband’s control to pursue her long-lost dream of practicing medicine, aiming to prove her worth both professionally and as a mother.

Dr. Aarambhi premiered on Colors TV (from 27 January 2026) a few months ago and joins a slate of Colors TV shows to have launched during the year including Mannat and You Are My Love.

The series starred Aishwarya Khare as Dr. Aarambhi, Aditya Redij as Dr. Vishwas, Anjuum Faakih as Dr. Avantika, Abhishek Verma as Dr. Raj, Sumit Singh as Dr. Manmeet and Lubna Salim Dr. Dimple.

Ungapheli Amandla, A Brand New Series Launches On Star Khanya

Star Khanya, a Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel offering a variety of series and movies will be adding a new drama, Ungapheli Amandla. It will broadcast daily at 21:00 from 24 April replacing Unami Na? once it ends.

Synopsis for Ungapheli Amandla 

It follows the story of a woman’s resilience against abandonment and a later generational saga following her daughter's quest for justice.

Megha marries Manoj Kohli, an NRI who presents himself as her "Prince Charming". However, the marriage is a fraud; Manoj is a conman who abandons her shortly after the wedding to flee with her family's savings.

Instead of succumbing to societal pressure or grief, Megha resolves to track him down. She finds an ally in Arjun Talwar, an IAS officer who is already investigating a series of NRI marriage scams.

It is eventually revealed that Manoj is not just a petty con artist but the head of a major criminal organization. 

Known in India as Megha Barsenge, it was broadcast on Colors TV from 6 August 2024 and concluded on 26 June 2025. It starred Neha Rana as Megha Arjun Talwar and Megha "Mannu" Talwar; Neil Bhatt as Arjun Talwar and Kabir Khanna.

Development Alert: Kelders Van Geheime Will Broadcast An Hour Early On e.tv As It Moves From 7PM To 6PM

 With e.tv looking to allocate the eVOD limited series Phoenix to e.tv there was questions on what is become of the remainder of Kelders Van Geheime. As it was confirmed by the broadcaster that it would be cancelled after two seasons.

To no one's surprise, e.tv will be adjusting their schedule yet again by removing Judge Judy from its 4PM timeslot again and having Sout Van Die Aarde start 30 minutes early. With Yosef that will come after Sout Van Die Aarde now at 5PM.

Kelders Van Geheime will move to 6PM after going through multiple timeslot changes last year. It was stated by e.tv that by moving Kelders Van Geheime to a later timeslot would give more viewers a chance to watch the show.

Now they're going back on that promise and making it difficult for some viewers to watch during primetime. 

In other developments, Chrysalis will be concluding on eExtra later in the month with Bloedspoor set to return for a second season. Dokter Ali is also said to be concluding during the month with a rebroadcast of Bittersoet set to replace the show.

DStv Stream Becomes The New Home To Showmax Originals

At a glance:

• Showmax Originals move to DStv Stream, bringing streaming, live TV and sport together in one app

• DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers already have access to thousands of hours of Showmax Originals on DStv Stream 

• Showmax subscribers to get trial access to DStv Stream Compact until end May

• Stay active on Stream and continue at $6 per month for 12 months – up to 75% off standard pricing

DStv has announced that eligible Showmax subscribers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact for a limited period, as part of the move to a single streaming home on DStv Stream.

This move brings Showmax Originals together with live TV, sport and a broader range of entertainment in one app. After the trial period, qualifying customers can continue on DStv Stream Compact at a special price of $6 per month for 12 months, provided the subscription remains active throughout and payments are up to date.

The offer gives Showmax customers access to a significantly expanded content experience, including international series and movies, kids’ content and live sport via SuperSport, available on mobile devices and smart TVs. DStv Stream also includes features such as Watch From Start, offline downloads and data management tools.

The business priority is to ensure customers continue to have a home for the stories they love. By bringing thousands of hours of Showmax Originals and a deeper on-demand library into DStv Stream, we are creating a more holistic experience where live sport, news, the best international content and award-winning local drama live together.

DStv Compact, Compact Plus and Premium customers will benefit from access to Showmax content on DStv Stream at no additional cost.

How the trial access works

Eligible Showmax subscribers will receive trial access to DStv Stream Compact until the end of May. The offer and details on how to take up the offer will be communicated directly via the email address linked to their Showmax account.

After the trial period, customers can continue on DStv Stream Compact at $6 per month for 12 months, provided payments remain up to date.

The offer applies to qualifying customers, including Showmax subscribers who do not have an active DStv subscription and who subscribe directly to Showmax. It excludes existing DStv customers who already receive Showmax content as part of their package or who add Showmax to their DStv bill.

• Eligibility is confirmed via email sent to the Showmax account address

• Includes all Showmax plans, including Showmax Premier League

• Eligible customers receive free access until end May, then pay $6 per month for 12 months – a saving of up to 75% compared to standard DStv • Compact Stream pricing – as long as payments remain up to date.

• Standard pricing for DStv Stream Compact is from $32 per month.

Showmax subscriptions will not migrate automatically. Customers who wish to continue watching will need to follow the simple sign-up process for DStv Stream shared via email, and create a new profile, all of which takes less than five minutes.

Customers who choose not to move to DStv Stream may request a refund for any unused portion of their Showmax subscription, subject to standard terms and conditions. Autopayments to Showmax will stop automatically once the service is discontinued.

The Showmax platform will be discontinued on 30 April 2026, with Showmax Originals continuing on DStv Stream.

What to watch on DStv Stream

Alongside thousands of hours of Showmax Originals, look out for the highly anticipated true-crime series, The People vs VBS, which is available to binge on DStv Stream from 1 April, as well as the finale of Die Kantoor, the Afrikaans adaptation of the global sensation mockumentary, The Office, coming 14 April. Law, Love and Betrayal will continue weekly episodes of the thrilling legal drama, and football lovers can livestream the epic Soweto Derby, on a big screen, on 26 April on DStv Stream.

Development Alert: Cacau Returns To Telemundo For A Season 2 Across Africa

Telemundo, an Spanish based entertainment channel that offers telenovelas from Latin America and Mexico has announced the return of Cacau. Season 2 will be broadcast from 4 May at 22:00 CAT replacing The Woman In Charge.

Recap on Cacau

The series focuses on intense kidnappings, deep family secrets, and romance on cocoa plantations, with the second part expected to resolve cliffhangers involving characters like Cacau, Tiago, and villainous plots.

The previous season concluded with Tiago seeking advice from his mother, Júlia, and essentially deciding to step back or leave to give himself—and Cacau—space, unaware that he was leaving his own child behind.

Sal, who reconciled with Cacau at that final dinner, becomes the one person who might actually help bridge the gap between Cacau and Tiago, as she has no loyalty left for her mother, Simone.

Justino’s death (which follows shortly after that dinner) triggers a legal war.

In a major reveal, the character Baobá finally breaks her long-held oath of silence, providing key testimony that impacts the other characters. 

It starred Matilde Reymão as Clara Cacau Coutinho/Vaz Pereira, José Condessa as Tiago Saavedra, Alexandra Lencastre as Simone Vaz Pereira and Carolina Amaral Salomé "Sal" Eugénia Vaz Pereira.

MultiChoice Might Be Looking To Revive The 1Max Channel As Showmax Cutoff Date Draws Near

After Canal+'s MultiChoice decided to shutter the struggling Showmax streaming service in the African market by the end of April. It looks like 1Max could be making a comeback to DStv likely as a pop-up channel.

Canal+ is in the process of deploying its own streaming service in MultiChoice territories as Showmax gets consolidated under DStv Stream. The plan is to have a dedicated section for the former streamer and make it accessible to Compact.

A test card for 1Max had been spotted through DStv Stream and in an enquiry to MultiChoice only responded to say "more content will be added on".

If anyone has to guess, MultiChoice is probably planning to revive 1Max to promote this dedicated section on DStv Stream. It might also serve as some tribute channel seeing as Showmax will be going dark soon.

MultiChoice had begun moving remaining Showmax Originals to Mzansi Magic, KykNET and Africa Magic. It's likely that the relaunched 1Max will lean toward Showmax's older library of content.

By the time Canal+ deploys it's streaming app, don't be surprised if 1Max disappeared again and this section on DStv Stream. Then again, Canal+ could morph this into a TV channel for its streaming app when it goes live later in the year.

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.

Development Alert: Onesipho 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 also air shows from Zee Zonke. With Onesipho being another entry to consumers in SA following uMakhwapheni.

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 Onesipho launches on 30th March at 6PM CAT.

Synopsis for Onesipho

The story follows Nayan, a simple small-town girl who is born with the gift of premonition—the ability to see visions of the future before they happen. While many in her village view her powers with suspicion, she often uses them to help others.

Through a series of unexpected events, Nayan marries Devansh, a wealthy man whose life is constantly in danger.

Nayan discovers that her visions are meant to protect Devansh. She becomes his "shield" against various threats, most notably from his own family.

The primary villain is Devansh's stepmother, Rita. Driven by greed, Rita repeatedly plots to kill Devansh so she can inherit his vast property. She is frequently assisted by her brother, Pompy.

Known in India as Nayan - Jo Vekhe Unvekha, Onesipho launches on Zee One from 30th March at 6PM CAT.

This Is Love, Former Glow TV Series Will Be Dubbed In IsiZulu And Broadcast On Star Khanya As Uthando Lento

Star Khanya, a Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel operated by JioStar had picked up rights to the Bollywood drama Uthando Lento. Known as Yeh Hai Mohabbatein (This Is Love) in India, the series airs on weeknights at 20:30 from 2nd April.

To South African audiences, Uthando Lento had already been broadcast on the defunct Glow TV brand as This Is Love. Now Star Khanya will be giving DStv consumers the opportunity to complete the show 7 years after it ended.

To recap, Glow TV was removed from DStv as part of extensive review carried out by MultiChoice. This was before any of the shows on Glow TV could wrap productions.

Consumers had to rely on alternatives just to watch Uthando Lento for which there was Openview as it once carried Glow TV. Then there was DStv Indian which featured shows from Glow TV suppliers such as StarPlus, Colors TV and Sony Max.

Now the catch here is that This Is Love is coming back to South African audiences but as Uthando Lento. It's not being picked up by Star Life which aired it's spinoff and has wider reach but is being alienated from most parts of Africa.

It's not airing in English and Hindi which is what would have been the case if it aired on Star Life but Zulu as that is Star Khanya's target market.

Synopsis for Uthando Lento 

The story begins with Ishita Iyer, a kind-hearted Tamil dentist who is unable to have children. She forms a deep bond with her neighbour's daughter, Ruhi Bhalla, who is often neglected by her hot-headed Punjabi father, Raman Bhalla. 

Raman is embroiled in a bitter custody battle with his ex-wife, Shagun, who left him for his business rival, Ashok Khanna.

To ensure Ruhi stays with a loving mother figure, Raman and Ishita enter into a "marriage of convenience" despite their constant bickering and cultural differences. As they live together, Ishita helps Raman heal from his past. 

Uthando Lento will air daily at 20:30 from 2nd April.

Channel Premiere: Play Room Unveils Fast & Furious: Spy Racers From DreamWorks Animation

Play Room, a South African based children's channel operated by Ngwato Nkosi Group that offers content in English and Zulu will rollout its first new series, Fast & Furious: Spy Racers. It will broadcast on the channel daily at 17:30 from 1st April.

Synopsis for Fast & Furious: Spy Racers 

Teenager Tony Toretto follows in the footsteps of his cousin Dom when he and his friends are recruited by a government agency to infiltrate an elite racing league serving as a front for a nefarious crime organization called SH1FT3R bent on world domination.

The series is executive produced by Vin Diesel, Neal H. Moritz, Chris Morgan, Tim Hedrick (Voltron Legendary Defender) and Bret Haaland (All Hail King Julien). Diesel, Moritz and Morgan also served as producers on the live-action Fast & Furious film franchise.

The cast features Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf) as Dom’s younger cousin turned spy racer Tony Toretto; Camille Ramsey as Layla Gray, a notable underground racer who works for SH1FT3R and Luke Youngblood (Harry Potter) as Frostee Benson, a 13-year old tech genius.

Prior to its broadcast on Play Room, Fast & Furious: Spy Racers was also broadcast on eToonz (South Africa), Showmax (Africa) and Netflix (international).

Fast & Furious: Spy Racers has yet to be made available on DreamWorks Channel as most of its later shows are available on these outlets. With the only exception being Play Room as this is their first with others like Rio and Shrek being films.

Athletics South Africa Exits SuperSport After 4 Years With Further Matches Set To Be Broadcast On SABC

DStv consumers have to brace for more bad news as Athletics SA had announced that their agreement with SuperSport had come to an end after 4 years. As the new owners Canal+ are busy aggressively slashing costs at MultiChoice.

Canal+ stripped SuperSport of its acquisition power with decisions over what to broadcast made in Paris. Since then, DStv consumers had missed out on various events like World Darts Championship, Winter Olympics and now Athletics SA.

According to Cash N Sport, Athletics SA was in talks with the SABC and SuperSport but couldn't come to an agreement over which events would air on either broadcaster. They were aiming to restructure their broadcasting agreement with SuperSport.

After SuperSport and Athletics SA formed an alliance to have these matches broadcast exclusively on DStv. The plan was to make a non-exclusive agreement which would give them a cheque and increased exposure from the SABC. 

With Athletics SA losing a major broadcaster like SuperSport, there's growing fear about how they'll plan to accommodate it's staff and put on races. Advertising alone can't accommodate sports as opposed to general entertainment.

Even though these matches would be broadcast on SABC, the broadcaster has fallen on troubled times and relied on sponsors to cover such events. With them losing out on SuperSport, the quality of these matches will see further diminish.

 

Could MultiChoice Look To Replace BET As Canal+ Afrique Might Have A Suitor For Paramount Network France?

Last year, Paramount closed its doors in Africa and various parts of Europe affecting brands like BET, MTV Base and Paramount Network. These channels were distributed in Canal+ Afrique and MultiChoice territories that started the year with less channels.

Prior to their exist, MultiChoice had stated that at this stage they weren't looking to replace these channels. Looking at the number of channels to have exited their platforms it was believed that they weren't interested in replacing them.

They had widened the reach of Trace TV's remaining channels like Gospel and Ngoma (formerly Africa) to its DStv Access subscribers. To some this was probably their way of compensating for MTV Base but that was not the case here.

During the month, MultiChoice had launched Base Pulse in the same frequency as MTV Base. Oddly enough some of Paramount's staff are now seen on this newest addition by Pulse Entertainment.

Prior to its addition, they were whispers of an MTV Base revival and all of this was likely pointing toward Base Pulse. As both brands have "Base" in the name aside from channel number, staff and heavy focus on Amapiano vibes.

Canal+ Afrique had also been test running a TV channel with Paramount Network's frequency and it's a safe bet that like Base Pulse maybe some of the content will resurface on this channel. Unless it could as well be another Canal+ branded channel.

Following the acquisition of MultiChoice, they have access to M-Net's local archives so they might as well dust out some old IPs and introduce them to these consumers. As mentioned, it's just speculation as tests are still underway.

As for MultiChoice, I haven't seen any signs that they're looking to replace BET however a duplicate feed for Moja 9.9. is currently being tested. Sometimes when a duplicate feed is placed it's usually just a placeholder for another TV channel.

In rare cases, they're just making upgrades which I doubt as there's an SD and HD feed, and I also doubt they're launching a localised feed. These are usually reserved for flagship brands like Moja Love as rerun channels aren't prioritised for such in this instance.

MultiChoice has localised feeds for M-Net, M-Net Movies 1, Disney Channel and TLC but not for your M-Net Movies 2-4, Disney Junior and Real Time.