Development Alert: As Expected, The Home Channel Is In Glorious High Definition, Rolls Out An On-Air Look

The Home Channel, South Africa’s favourite design and décor TV destination, is getting a makeover all of its own.

But it’s not just a fresh new look for the well-loved brand.

From this week the channel will also be upgraded to full HD on DStv 176.

“HD is going to make a big difference to our viewers and advertisers,” said channel head Michael Porter.

“Décor and design is all about the detail. Now our viewers can experience the most stunning homes, gardens and renovations as if they were there.”

The revamped branding, from Mauritius-based designers Aestetika Studios, blends everyday home images with rich tones and bold colours to create warmth and a sense of familiarity.

The key content pillars of décor, gardening, food, DIY, property and health are colour-coded to help viewers navigate their way.

 To celebrate the relaunch, a slate of new show and new episodes of old favourites will roll out from June.

Escape to the Chateau  — A maverick British couple with two young children give up their life in the UK to take on the renovation of a neglected 45-room French chateau.

Impossible Builds — From sub-aquatic homes to futuristic towers, complex construction projects stand tall as a testament to cutting-edge technology and vision.

Design For You — Pilani Bubu and her guests give you the best practical décor and design tips you can use in your own home.

Property Brothers: Forever Home — Twins Jonathan and Drew Scott help families transform their houses into forever homes where they can put down roots for life.  

Dream Home Makeovers with Sophie Robinson  — Interior designer Sophie Robinson helps homeowners overcome their design doubts and dilemmas.

The Gardener —  A firm favourite with viewers, Tanya Visser has the greenest fingers around and she’ll get you gardening successfully in no time.

Finest Homes  — A show that takes you on a tour of some of the most magnificent homes in South Africa.

The Home Channel, owned by Arena Broadcast, started as a weekends-only channel in 2005. Due to its popularity it expanded to a full 24/7 service in 2007.

“We are delighted by the success and longevity of the channel,” said Arena Broadcast head Vernon Matzopoulos, “and we hope to inspire and delight new generations of homeowners for years to come”.

Rumour: The Home Channel To Become The First TV Channel To Go High Definition On DStv

The Home Channel (DStv 176) is a South African based TV channel owned by Arena Holdings alongside Ignition positions itself as the home of the latest decor trends and home improvement ideas. It was the market's first channel dedicated for home based programming.

Since it's inception in October 2007, the channel has produced a number of original content including Colour with Panache, Finest Homes and Nadiya's Time and sourced a number of shows such as Selling House, My Dream Home and Coast Vs. Country.

Since 2022, The Home Channel is currently operating on the Openview platform through The Home Channel+ in a seperate agreement with eMedia Investments.

Later that year, MultiChoice had begun work on a high definition feed for The Home Channel. Other channels involved were TLNovelas (DStv 133) and TBN (DStv 342). Since then only TLNovelas was made HD but plans for that fell flat to consumers in South Africa.

As seen a while ago, MultiChoice resumed production of The Home Channel HD as they have the 24 hour lineup available which is very much identical to the SD feed and this could be an indicator that the pay-tv platform could be rolling it out soon.

Interesting enough when TLNovelas was switched to high definition it was made available to more DStv customers in the rest of Africa on top of being one of the only 4 pop-up channels at the time to remain onboard on the platform in place of AMC International's EVA.

Zambia's Power TV was also upgraded to HD and made available to more African consumers which could mean that more news might accompany The Home Channel or as seen earlier in the month Ignition's expansion to DStv Access amidst the price hike.

New Channel Alert: Ignition TV Expands To DStv Access

Ignition TV, South Africa’s leading TV channel for car fanatics and petrolheads, is shifting a gear. From this week, it is included in DStv’s Access platform, broadcasting on the DStv 189 channel.

Ignition TV promises some of the best motoring content from around the globe, as well as a compelling slate of local content, including tuning, car reviews, spinning, advice for buyers, biking, kasi culture, and 4 x 4.

“From supercars to spinning, bikes to bakkies, Kyalami to the Kasi – if it has wheels, we cover it,” says Ignition executive producer Brandon Maary. “And we have some great new shows lined up for our Access kick-off.”

Some of the shows are:

Richard Hammond’s Workshop – a new series featuring the ex-Top Gear star trying to start his own business.

Rhythm & Smoke – a local spinning show that tracks the lives of Mzansi legends DJ Maphorisa and Stacey Lee May.

Celeb Rides – DJ Sabby and Ney-the-Bae ride shotgun with local stars and get to know them a little better through their cars.

Kasi Car Culture – S’bu Skosana and Zee Masethe celebrate the passion behind SA’s vibrant local car culture.

Tuned in SA – Vic Pardal and Kriya Gangiah show some of the fastest, most tricked-out custom builds in the country.

The Fast Lane – puts the spotlight on the lifestyles, scandals and controversies of Formula 1 racers.

Ignition, owned by Arena Broadcast, started as a weekends-only channel in 2008 and, due to its popularity, expanded to a full 24/7 service in 2014.

“South Africans are car-crazy,” says Arena Broadcast head Vernon Matzopoulos. “We’d sooner upgrade our wheels than buy a home. Ignition taps into that passion, and we’re delighted to now be able to share this with Access viewers.”

Rumour: MultiChoice To Upgrade 3 Channels To High Definition

This year, MultiChoice had made several changes to their entertainment offering while as sourcing out new content for its consumers while some of the older offerings get a boost which is the case for these 3 channels as an HD feed is currently underway on the DStv platform.

As outlined but MultiChoice on HD channels:

"It depends on whether at that specific moment we have capacity - satellite capacity in the sky - and depending on where we launch."

"Sometimes we might have capacity on IS20 - which is a satellite that sits over Southern Africa - but we don't have over Eutelsat 36B which sits over the rest of sub-Saharan Africa - that's the complication of it."

"Secondly, but actually most importantly, does the content lend itself to display HD in the best possible way?...," explained Aletta Alberts.
"Sometimes when we launch a regional channel it probably won't be in HD. It depends on the channel."

Which is the case for these trio that are rumoured to take that leap into the digital world.

Only available in Zambia and the only regional channel on the list is Power TV Zambia's youth entertainment channel which features mainly music and reality shows is the first on the list go to high definition.

The Home Channel, South Africa's first in command to offer reality programming based on real estate and home improvement will be the second channel to join the HD trio. This comes after eMedia Investments launched the duplicate, The Home Channel+ on the Openview platform.

Last but not least, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) the 24 hour commercial-free channel that offers inspirational programming that appeal to people in a wide variety of Protestant, Catholic and Messianic Jewish denominations will be the first religious channel on DStv to recieve HD capability.