Since 2022, eMedia Investments and MultiChoice had been undergoing a carriage dispute with the Competition Tribunal. After the p...
We have great news for our DStv customers!
MultiChoice will absorb the one% increase in VAT. We want to assist our customers by not increasing our prices further.
This means there will be no further change to our DStv fees that will come into effect on 1 April.
Customers can log on to their account on DStv.com or the DStv Now app to see what they will pay from 1 April 2018.
Glow TV’s contract with MultiChoice is coming to an end, which means the channel will stop airing on DStv from 31 March 2018.
Fans of Indian-specific content needn’t worry – DStv has ensured that there are plenty more telenovelas, talk shows, music and movies to watch on Zee World (DStv channel 166), Zee Bollywood Movies (DStv channel 114) and eBella (DStv channel 159 from 5 March 2018).
Customers can look forward to Baar Baar Dekho, Dangal, Kahaani 2 and London Dreams on Zee Bollywood Movies, Fire and Ice, Sacred Ties, Lies of the Heart on Zee World and Bin Kuch Kahe, Qubool Hai, India: A Love Story, Fatmagul and Tanto Amor on eBella. And on Telemundo Prisoners of Love (Telemundo, 1 March) and Lord of the Skies (Telemundo, 9 April).
Other channels on DStv that also offer Indian specific content include Zee World on DStv channel 166 – it’s available to customers from DStv Family upwards. All DStv customers also have access to some of the latest Bollywood blockbusters on BoxOffice.
DStv offers a DStv Indian package which is designed to cater for customers who would like to watch more Indian-specific content. This package includes popular channels like Star, Sony, Zee and Colours. It is available as a stand-alone package or can be added to an existing DStv package. More information here: https://campaign.dstv.com/indian/
The eFamily of channels on DStv is expanding, with an additional channel launching on 5 March 2018. eBella will launch on DStv channel 159, and offer DStv customers a mix of local and international content inspired by woman from across the world.
eBella is a female-centered channel reflecting the lives and stories of women around the world. Marlon Davids, MD of e.tv, says the new channel will bolster the¬¬offering the eFamily of channels has on DStv. “e.tv celebrates women through campaigns and programming and now we can extend this messaging into an entirely new channel,” he says. “eBella is a strong addition to DStv and we know that our viewers will enjoy the channel’s mix of speciality shows and telenovelas that empower and celebrate the female market,” said Davids.
eBella will feature much-loved telenovelas from around the world, including So Much Love aka Tanto Amor, Qubool Hai, and Fatmagul. There will also be a lifestyle and reality shows galore on the channel, with Secret Guide To Fabulous, Princess, The Dog Whisperer and Beverley’s Full House already available as the channel launches.
“Our focus is to offer our customers on all packages new and fresh entertainment – giving them access to the stories they want to hear. eBella is all about women and celebrating our influence on the global landscape as empowered and bold individuals,” commented Yolisa Phahle, CEO for General Entertainment, MultiChoice.
eBella will be available to DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family and Access customers in South Africa.
MultiChoice and Discovery Networks are pleased to announce that DStv customers will continue to enjoy their favourite Discovery channels on DStv – world-class factual entertainment and documentaries on Discovery Channel; great fashion and. lifestyle tips on TLC; the best in family entertainment on Discovery Family; and suspense-filled, real-life crime stories on Investigation Discovery (ID).
To complement the linear channels, the new agreement includes extended video-on-demand and Catch Up hours for Discovery’s entire portfolio (including for the first time, TLC, ID and Discovery Family shows). All four of Discovery’s channels will be available to launch on DStv Now from early 2018, meaning DStv customers will be able to enjoy the best of Discovery, anywhere, any time. On top of this, from early next year DStv customers will be able to watch both ID and Discovery Family in HD, while TLC will also launch in HD.
“Our customers love the Discovery family of channels and we’re pleased that we could renew this agreement, including offering this world-class content to our customers wherever they are, to watch whenever they are ready,” said Yolisa Phahle, CEO: General Entertainment, MultiChoice.
Animal Planet is not included in the new agreement and will stop airing on DStv on 30 December 2017. However, customers will not miss out, as some of the much-loved shows will be available on the other Discovery channels, including shows such as Treehouse Masters, which will move to Discovery Channel, while shows such as Tanked and Insane Pools: Off The Deep End will move to Discovery Family. Some of Discovery’s other popular animal and wildlife content will also be made available on a new channel to launch mid-2018, details of which will be announced in the new year.
“Our channels and content have been providing hours of enjoyment for DStv customers for many years and we’re thrilled to continue this legacy, with an unbeatable slate of programming across our portfolio which, thanks to this renewed agreement, DStv customers will now be able to access whenever and however it suits them. We look forward to making more announcements about our content offering on DStv in the new year,” said Dilek Doyran, VP and Country Manager for Africa, Discovery Networks CEEMEA.
Discovery’s network of channels promise an exciting line-up of new entertainment for DStv customers over the next few months.
Discovery Channel will serve up new season of Fast n’ Loud and Street Outlaws, and help you discover brand new shows like Riaan Manser: Pacific Honeymoon, Finding Escobar’s Millions, and Mutiny: Survival on the Oceans.
TLC’s brand-new shows include Dr Miami, Judge Jenkins, The Healer and Thando Bares All, while new wedding shows Diva Brides and Curvy Brides Boutique join returning seasons of 90 days to Wed and Surrounded by Daughters.
Discovery Family will serve up NASA’s Unexplained Files, The Carbonaro Effect, Freaks of Nature, Don’t Blink, and a new season of Finding Bigfoot.
Meanwhile, on Investigation Discovery (ID) new seasons of I speak for the dead, Deadline: Crime with Tamron Hall, and People Magazine Investigates, will join brand new shows including Son of Sam: Hunt for a Killer, The Dating Game Killer, and Shattered, ensuring DStv customers remain glued to their seats as the drama unfolds.
More information and schedules are available on the DStv website
It’s going to be a magical start to the new year when DStv Premium customers, say hello to 1Magic on 29 January 2018, DStv Channel 103! The channel will become the entertainment destination of choice for audiences who enjoy gripping local dramas, telenovelas, reality shows, movies and are also looking for the best in international reality, drama and movies.
Leading the charge will be the channel’s
flagship new telenovela, The River, which
boasts the crème de la crème of South African acting talent. Starting on 29 January 2018, it is spearheaded by a formidable cast made up of seasoned actors, Sindi Dlathu, Hlomhla Dandala, Moshidi Motshegwa, and newcomer, Larona Moagi. The River is about the deadly result that comes about when the greedy world of society’s upper crust collides with that of ordinary common folk. Driven by the themes of love across social classes, greed and a community fighting to survive, it’s a show that can’t be missed.
VUZU AMP audiences should not panic
because 1Magic will still be serving a mix of compelling, relevant and entertaining international programmes like The Fixer, How To Get Away with Murder, The Real Housewives, Power and later on in the year, latest seasons of Ballers, Queen Sugar and Insecure.
e.tv, eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra and eToonz are all now positioned in the world of the familiar red e, with each channel offering something different and unique for you, our audience. These channels are found on OpenView HD and DStv, with e.tv still being free to millions of households in South Africa.
Five Channels. One Colour. Unlimited Entertainment. This strong message is what the e family of channels stands for and we want our viewers to be part of, in creating the biggest entertainment destination in South Africa.
#OurWorldIsRed – Be a part of it.
WWE (NYSE: WWE) and SuperSport, Africa’s premier sports broadcaster announced a new, multi-year agreement to broadcast WWE programming live for the first time in more than 50 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Starting Monday, August 28, SuperSport will air WWE’s flagship shows Raw® and SmackDown® as well as WWE specials, including WrestleMania® and SummerSlam®.
“WWE is a global phenomenon, so securing the broadcast rights for SuperSport is a terrific coup,” said Gideon Khobane, chief executive of SuperSport. “The athletes involved are larger than life figures who command huge followings. At long last our viewers will get to share in this entertainment spectacle in high definition. I look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with WWE.”
“SuperSport is a best-in-class partner who shares our vision and passion for engaging with and entertaining our fans,” said Ed Wells, WWE Executive Vice President, International. “Televising WWE programming live in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time is an important milestone for us, and we look forward to working with SuperSport to cultivate new fans in the region.”
SuperSport channels S3, S4, S9 and SS10 will televise Raw on Tuesdays and SmackDown on Wednesdays, offering both live telecasts and same-day re-airs, and will broadcast all WWE specials live, including WrestleMania®, SummerSlam®, Survivor Series® and Royal Rumble®. All programs will be available with English commentary and on demand.
WWE programming will also be made available across some of DStv’s general entertainment channels.
To celebrate the new partnership, SuperSport will televise the prior week’s episodes of Raw and SmackDown on Monday, August 28.
The outrages reasons are now surfacing as to why Ezekiel Mutua, the censorship tsar of Kenya's censorship board, last week abruptly banned 7 cartoons on Nickelodeon (DStv 305), Disney XD (DStv 304) and Cartoon Network (DStv 301) for being homosexual (gay).
The bizarre reasons provided by Kenya's Film Classification Board (KFCB) it seemingly took straight from the internet without having actually watched and screened the various kids cartoons, are mind-bogglingly insane and shockingly unbelievable.
Ezekiel Mutua, KFCB CEO, told MultiChoice the 7 cartoons must be off the air on the DStv and GOtv satellite pay-TV platforms over seemingly foolish reasons, ranging from one character "who has a dick for a head", to two characters who go on an (unseen) "implied romantic vacation".
While on a superficial level Kenya's censorship and banning of kids cartoons might seem silly, it has systemic and operational real-world consequences for South African and African TV viewers far beyond the borders of the East African country.
Since channel distributors often only has one TV channel broadcast feed for Africa, a ban of content on a channel in one country, like Kenya or Nigeria - that a channel distributor then must agree to - means one of two things.
Either the whole channel must be completely blocked and be made unavailable in the affected country, or the content deemed offensive on the TV channel must be removed from the linear broadcast schedule.
Since we share one similar channel feed for more than one country, this means that the content is taken away not just from viewers in the country affected, but from millions of DStv subscribers right across several African countries, including South Africa.
The 7 cartoons are now abruptly banned, with the KFCB's shocking censorship that is creating problems for not just MultiChoice and DStv, but also the channel and content providers Walt Disney Africa, Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) and Turner Broadcasting EMEA that respectively run and programme the Disney XD, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network channels.
Some of the cartoons are not even airing anymore and ended years ago - for instance the now-banned The Legend of Korra that finished its run in 2014 (it would have aired on NickToons by now).
After responding to a media enquiry, the KFCB says the 7 cartoons - Loud House, The Legend of Korra, Hey Arnold, Clarence, Steven Universe, Adventure Time and Star vs the Forces of Evil are TV children programmes "with homosexual themes".
The KFCB says it doesn't matter that the shows don't include or show any overt on-screen "gayness".
If a show's creator said a character is gay - in the way that JR Rowling after the conclusion of the Harry Potter series said that Prof Dumbledore is gay - that is enough for Kenya's censors to order a ban on a kids cartoon on MultiChoice's DStv platform.
The KFCB says its "investigations focused on both current and previous programmes that are not suitable for children.
The KFCB - that said it banned the cartoons because it believes that the Nickelodeon, Disney XD and Cartoon Network shows "are intended to introduce children to deviant behaviour".
The KFCB says Kenya's constitution "only recognizes marriage between people of the opposite sex. From these references to the Kenya Constitution 2010, it is clear that homosexuality is not part of the culture, national values and the concept of a family."
"Further, it is important to note that South Africa is the only African country that recognizes same sex marriages. The Kenyan government has a responsibility to protect children against harmful exposure to negative media content and this is what the KFCB is doing as part of its mandate."
The KFCB provided the following reasons for why it banned each of the 7 cartoons on Nickelodeon, Disney XD and Cartoon Network:
The Loud House
The KFCB is so uninformed that it missed the announcement of self-censorship by VIMN Africa in mid-2016 when Viacom International "assured" DStv subscribers that it won't be broadcasting on television anywhere in Africa the "Overnight Success" episode on the Nickelodeon channel featuring the flash-appearance of two gay dads.
The KFCB has now banned the Loud House series over an episode that was never even broadcast in Kenya in the first place.
Star vs the Forces of Evil
KFCB would ban a cartoon that couldn't possibly have seen yet. Disney XD just started showing the second season of the show on the channel across Africa and is now at episode 8. It will be quite a while before episode 20, "Just Friends", makes it to actual TV screens that does contain a fleeting kiss - if you know where to pause and look closely in the background.
Legend of Korra
The KFCB decided to ban The Legend of Korra since the creator, after the conclusion of the show in 2014, said that two characters are lesbian. Yet nothing romantic during the duration of the show was ever shown on-screen.
Legend of Korra is banned although it isn't even showing on Nickelodeon currently.
Adventure Time
The KFCB decided to ban Adventure Time on fake reasons and alleges that "the creator said the two main characters are in a gay relationship".
Not only are Princess Bubblegum and Marceline not the main characters as the KFCB alleges, but the creator, Pendleton Ward, has never said anything to that effect ever.
The closest is actress Olivia Olsen voicing the character of Marceline, at a book signing, who said that in her personal opinion Marceline is likely lesbian but that the show will never venture into that territory since "in some countries where the show airs, it's sort of illegal".
Steven Universe
The KFCB found a correct quote from an interview with the website Movie Pilot with the show's creator. Ruby and Sapphire are indeed lesbians, according to the show's creator, but viewers will have to watch the show with that specific subtext to see that.
The KFCB however seems to read a lot of fanfiction. Is Pearl and Rose gay? The creator hasn't confirmed or mentioned anything.
Gravity Falls
Explaining why it banned this cartoon, the KFCB again lies and says a character calls someone "bitch". Nobody says this to another character and the word is never spoken.
What happens is that a character called Grunkle Stan once says "son of a ..." before the scene cuts away.
The KFCB lies when it says the characters watch porn. It's never happened. The show also finished in 2016 already. Like The Legend of Korra, the show's creator, after the conclusion of the series, said Sheriff Blubs and Deputy Durand are gay, although its never ever mentioned or explored in the show.
Hey Arnold
The KFCB says "Arnold is taught the wonders of sexual stamina and given stories about sex". Nowhere in the series does that ever happening.
As proof of these and other simply not there things, the KFCB seems to have found a website that tries to find so-called "dirty jokes" in the cartoon.
The KFCB says Arnold's grandpa "had a dick for a head – head is in the shape of a penis and somewhere in the scene there is a poster written 'try my sausage".
It's real, definitive proof according to the KFCB that Hey Arnold isn't meant for children.
Luckily Hey Arnold isn't even on Nickelodeon currently but was on NickToons until this whole thing happened, so the KFCB didn't have to bother.
Special thinks to TV with Thinus
SuperSport has introduced a new channel line up to give sport lovers a better viewing experience and make it easy for fans to find their favourite sport. DStv customers can look forward to 14 SuperSport and one eSports channel, with less duplication of sports across channels and more predictable scheduling.
DStv customers on all packages can look forward to a rebranded SuperSport Select, now on SS10, and DStv Extra customers will get more sports channels – SS7 and SS8.
Fans of football can follow La Liga on SS7 exclusively, and SS11 (new channel) and SS12 will become permanent events channels to be the home for overflow sport.
“We believe that these changes will give our customers an even better viewing experience, making it easier to navigate our wide variety of sports in the back-to-back channels. As there will be less duplication and repeats of sport, and no impact on live events, the overall sport viewing will be enhanced,” said Gideon Khobane, CEO for SuperSport.
eSports is growing in popularity, so GINX eSports TV that is currently available on DStv Now, will find a home on DStv channel 240. DStv Premium, Extra and Compact customers will be able to enjoy the action on this unique channel.
And of course, most of the channels will be in glorious HD – SS Blitz, SS1-9 and SS11 will be in HD, as will GINX eSports TV. SS8 is currently in SD and will change to HD.
Gideon reassured fans “SuperSport is still the home of the best sporting action on the African continent.”
The new channel line up will take effect on 4 July. Sports fans will start their viewing on Channel 200 on SuperSport Blitz through to SuperSport 12.
DStv customers can go to DStv.com or SuperSport.com to see how the sports are allocated across the different SuperSport channels.
And remember to tune in – at home on your decoder, or through DStv Now online or via the DStv Now app on your tablet or smartphone. DStv Now is available to our Compact, Extra and Premium customers at no extra charge. You don't have to miss a second of the action.
Summary of changes
SS7 and SS8 will go to DStv Extra customers
SS7 will be home of La Liga Football
SS Select will no longer exist on DStv – replaced with SS10 for all customers who currently get it including DStv Select customers
SS11 and SS12 will become permanent events channels – no more overflow channels
GINX eSport, currently available on DStv Now, will be on DStv channel 240
12 HD channels available – SS Blitz (to all DStv customers), SS1-9, SS11 and Ginx eSports. SS8, currently in SD, will become HD.
SuperSport Channel Optimisation FAQ’s
What is happening to the SuperSport channels?
SS7 and SS8 will go to DStv Extra customers
SS7 will be home of La Liga Football
SS Select will no longer exist on DStv – replaced with SS10 for all customers who currently get it including DStv Select customers
SS11 and SS12 will become permanent events channels – no more overflow channels
GINX eSport, currently available on DStv Now, will be on DStv channel 240
12 HD channels available – SS Blitz (to all DStv customers), SS1-9, SS11 and Ginx eSports
What is the benefits of the optimization to customers?
Fewer repeats and less duplication of sports
Predictable events channels on SS11 and SS12
Know which channel you can find your sports – SS7 dedicated to La Liga
Which channel will be rebranded?
SuperSport Select will now be called SS10. All customers who received SuperSport Select, will get SS10.
Which new channels are being added?
SS11 is being added as an event channel for overflow sport for live events.
Also GINX eSport is added to DStv channel 240.
Are any channels being changed?
SuperSport 12 - currently a 24-hour La Liga (Spanish football) channel - will become an events channel like SS11. La Liga will find a permanent home on SS7.
When do the changes come into effect?
The new line-up will come into effect on Tuesday, July 4.
Do customers need to do anything?
No need to do anything as the changes will happen automatically on 4 July. We encourage customers to go to DStv.com and SuperSport.com to familiarize themselves with where they will find their favourite sport.
What will be the total number of channels available on SuperSport after July 4?
14
Which DStv package will carry which channel?
Blitz: On all packages, Premium, Extra, Compact, Select 1, Select 2, Family, Access and Easy View.
SS1: Premium only
SS2: Premium only
SS3: Premium, Extra and Compact
SS4: Premium, Extra and Compact
SS5: Premium only
SS6: Premium only
SS7: Premium and Extra
SS8: Premium and Extra
SS9: Premium, Extra and Compact
SS10: Premium, Extra, Compact, Select 1, Select 2 and Family, Access.
SS11: Premium only
SS12: Premium only
Maximo: Premium only
GINX eSports: Premium, Extra and Compact
This means our Extra customers get 3 more sports channels – SS7, SS8 and GINX
Our Premium customers get 2 more sports channels – SS11 and GINX
Our Compact customers get 1 more sport channel - GINX
In the repurposing, will there be any SD channels upgraded to HD?
Yes. SS8 will be upgraded to an HD channel, this will bring the total number of HD channels available to 12.
On Wednesday, 17 May, DStv customers will get even more entertainment as we add four new e.tv channels to the DStv family. These channels are eMovies+ (Channel 138), eMovies Extra (Channel 140), eExtra (Channel 195) and eToonz+ (Channel 311). Three of thesre channels will be available in crystal clear HD: eMovies+, eMovies Extra and eExtra.
These channels offer a broad range of entertainment, which will give our customers a more expansive viewing experience. The shows will appeal to the entire family: eToonz+ offers a safe and sunny space for the kids; eMovies Extra packs a punch with robust action movies; eExtra gives mom a chance to tune into telenovelas and the rest of the family can enjoy sitcoms; while eMovies+ offers an escape with the stars.
“We’re always on the lookout for ways to add more value to each of our DStv packages – it’s about offering our customers the best entertainment in one place. These e.tv channels, of which three are in HD, will bring hours of viewing delight to the whole family,” commented Mark Rayner, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.
eMovies+ (Channel 138) and eMovies Extra (Channel 140) will be available to DStv Access, Family, Compact, Extra and Premium customers. eExtra (Channel 195) and eToonz+ (Channel 311) will be available to DStv EasyView, Access, Family, Compact, Extra and Premium customers.
The addition of three more HD channels means that customers on the DStv EasyView package will now have access to three HD channels, DStv Access customers will have seven, DStv Family 12, DStv Compact 21, DStv Extra 26 and DStv Premium 41.
The schedule for these channels will be available From Wednesday, 17 May on DStv.com or the TV Guide on your decoder.
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More about the channels
eExtra (in HD) will offer viewers an enticing variety of premium entertainment in HD – including sitcoms, drama series, reality, telenovelas, court shows, lifestyle and movies. While the channel is infused with a good measure of suspense, drama and action, a touch of comedy adds a light-hearted flavour to the line-up. eExtra can best be described as young, urban, modern and cosmopolitan.
eMovies Extra (in HD) is a premium movie channel playing big-name, high profile movies, with a skew towards ACTION in prime time. Loaded with enough shoot outs, shouts, kicks, punches, explosions and chases to delight even the most craven action junky, the channel also offers quieter quality moments along with family friendly fare in daytime. Find extra adventure, suspense, action and revenge on eMovies Extra.
With a movie to suit every taste eMovies+(in HD) is the go-to destination for wall to wall entertainment. Whether it’s romance, drama, action, a good fight, a good laugh or simply some family fun - eMovies+ offers it all in an easy to navigate package. Here the stars shine at all hours of the day and full-on escape is just a remote click away.
eToonz+ offers a safe and sunny space for kids aged 2 – 12 from which to explore the world. Programming is hand-picked to support the developmental needs of three age groups.
HIGHLIGHTS
eMovies+ May 2017 Highlights:
A Few Good Men - 17.05.17 at 19:30
Two Marines stand accused of murdering a member of their platoon during an unsanctioned disciplinary action. Hoping to obtain a quiet plea bargain, the Navy appoints young Lt. Daniel Kaffee to defend the accused Marines Starring Demi Moore, Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise.
In Time - 22.05.17 at 19:50
In a future where time is literally money and aging stops at 25, Will Salas teams up with a beautiful young heiress to destroy the corrupt system. Starring Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried, Cillian Murphy.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - 23.05.17 at 19:30
British pensioners on a tight budget move to a retirement home in India, and their adventures there give them a new lease on life. Starring Dev Patel, Judi Dench, Bill Nighy.
Life Of PI - 30.05.17 at 19:40
After a shipwreck, a young man embarks on an epic journey of discovery as he shares his lifeboat with the ship's only other survivor - a fearsome Bengal tiger, with whom he shares an unexpected connection. Starring Irfan Khan, Suraj Sharma.
eMovies+ June 2017 Highlights:
Digging For Fire - Tuesday 06.06.17 at 20:00
The discovery of a bone and a gun send a husband and wife on separate adventures over the course of a weekend. Starring Jake Johnson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sam Rockwell, Orlando Bloom.
The Kids Are All Right - Sunday 11:06.17 at 20:00
Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their biological father into their non-traditional family life. Starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo.
Garden State - Tuesday 13.06.17 20:00
A quietly troubled young man returns home for his mother's funeral after being estranged from his family for a decade. Starring Zach Braff, Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard.
Curse Of The Golden Flower - Wednesday 14:06.17 at 20:00
A dying love between two powerful people leads to deceit, infidelity, and conspiracy in this epic-scale historical drama. Starring Chow Yun Fat, Li Gong, Jay Chou.
Cleaner - Monday 19.06.17 at 20:00
A former cop who now earns a wage as a crime scene cleaner unknowingly participates in a cover-up at his latest job. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Eva Mendez.
Knight And Day - Wednesday 28:06.17 at 20:00
A single girl en route to a family wedding gets swept up in a fight between a rogue government agent and the FBI in this globe-trotting action comedy. Starring Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard.
eMovies Extra May 2017 Highlights:
The Big Year - Friday 19.05.17 at 20:00
An elite fervent breed of birdwatchers face off in a secret competition that will become the biggest year of their lives. Starring Jack Black, Steve Martin, Owen Wilson.
Braveheart - Saturday 20.05.17 at 20:00
In the late 13th century, William Wallace returns to a Scotland ruled by the ruthless Edward the Longshanks and leads a ramshackle yet courageous army determined to vanquish the greater English forces. Starring Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau.
Enough Said - Sunday 21.05.17 at 20:00
To help distract her while her beloved daughter prepares to leave the nest for college, a divorced masseuse starts dating a sweet but somewhat clueless man with whom she shares a fun rapport, only to discover that he's her new friend's ex-husband. Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini, Catherine Keener
Spider-Man 3 - Tuesday 23.05.17 at 20:00
A strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge. Starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Topher Grace
Independence Day - Tuesday 30.05.17 at 20:00
When extraterrestrials arrive on Earth and threaten to wipe out the human race, a handful of survivors armed only with inferior technology, wits and courage must stop them. Starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum.
eMovies Extra June 2017 Highlights:
Fantastic Four - Saturday 03.06.17 at 20:00
Based on Marvel's longest running comic book series, the film chronicles the superhero world’s most famous dysfunctional family. Starring Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd.
Gamer - Sunday 04.06.17 at 21:30
Set in a near future, as humans control each other in mass-scale, billionaire Ken Caste develops the shooter game, 'Slayers' which activates the humans' savage fantasies. Starring Gerard Butler, Ludacris, Michael C. Hall.
Poseidon - Monday 05.06.17 at 18:20
After luxury cruise ship is suddenly capsized by a huge wave, Dylan Johns and a small group are determined to fight their way to the surface as the Poseidon begins to sink. Starring Josh Lucas, Kurt Russell, Emmy Rossum.
Walking Tall - Thursday 08.06.17 at 20:00
A retired soldier returns to his hometown and is elected as Sheriff, to fight against crime, drugs and violence. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Johnny Knoxville, Neal McDonough.
Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer - Saturday 10.06.17 at 20:00
The Fantastic Four meet their greatest challenge yet as the enigmatic, intergalactic herald, The Silver Surfer, comes to Earth to prepare it for destruction. Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba
Prometheus - Saturday 24.06.17 at 20:00
A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, in the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. Starring Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Guy Pearce
eExtra June 2017 Highlights:
Cape Town – Local crime drama on Thursdays at 20h30 starting 22 June
Synopsis: Cape Town. Police captain Mat Joubert used to be the best, revered by the force for solving every case. But that before his wife Lara was murdered while working undercover, and Mat’s been on a downward spiral ever since, haunted by a blurred past, uncertain of how he did not keep her alive. Mat is assigned a new partner, Sanctus Snook, a former member of the elite HAWKS unit. When a successful businessman is found killed wearing an Albert Einstein mask, the two unlikely partners have a high profile murder investigation on their hands. When a second body is found wearing yet another mask, they realize they are tracking a serial killer. Gradually, Mat Joubert begins to overcome the ghosts of his past, but as he uncovers each layer of the investigation he must re-live his wife’s murder in order to stop the violence.
Charly’s Cake Angels – Local lifestyle show on Saturdays at 17h00 starting 03 June
Synopsis: Charly’s Cake Angels is a reality series which will take viewers down the rabbit hole, deep into a world jammed with screaming “Eat me!” cakes. Every week viewers will be treated to the Charly’s team tackling yet another impossible cake for a fabulous function. Our fearsome cakery will literally rise to the challenge, and lead the viewers on a journey in to the heart of the bakery – the promise, the frustration, the passionate arguments, the tears and the laughter… These are all the same ingredients which go into making a good life, and they’re the same things that go into making magical cakes and an unforgettable series!
Room 9 – Local Sci-fi investigative drama on Sundays 20h00 starting 18 June
Synopsis: In an alternate, parallel world eerily familiar to our own, and in a city that could be Johannesburg or Kampala, Nairobi or Lagos, a war is being waged; a war between light and dark, between good and evil. This is the New Azania. The provinces as we once knew them in South Africa are no more. Instead this new world is divided into Sectors. Standing in the way of perpetual darkness is a ragtag team, a special, under-the-radar division of the NAPD the New Azanian Police Department who deal exclusively with the paranormal, the supernatural, the sacrilegious, the twisted, and the unexplainable.
LOCAL COMEDY MOVIES:
Mama Jack - Saturday 03 June 20h00
Synopsis: Complications arise when a fugitive (Leon Schuster), who's masquerading as a woman, falls in love with his pretty boss (Mary-Anne Barlow).
Mr Bones - Saturday 10 June 20h00
Synopsis: A medicine man is sent looking for the son of his tribal king, and brings back an American golfer and a host of goons intent on keeping him in the golf tournament.
Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past - Saturday 17 June 20h00
Synopsis: Follow the story of Hekule, the King of Kuvukiland who is given a cursed gemstone. It is up to Mr. Bones to get rid of this cursed stone by travelling 130 years into the future, to the city of Durban where the duo encounter a beautiful woman and an unexpected adventure.
The Millenium Menace - Saturday 24 June 20h00
Synopsis: Leon Schuster’s Millennium Menace caught even himself by surprise. A series filmed as candid camera television inserts became an instant hit with viewers and created such an hysterically funny reaction at a viewing that it was the natural decision to release the film theatrically. South African’s have been waiting for another Schuster movie for almost three years (since Panic Mechanic) and have been begging for some comic relief from the “King of Candid Camera.”
eExtra May 2017 Highlights:
Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce – International drama series on Tuesdays at 20:30 starting 16 May
Synopsis: "Bravo’s first original scripted series, ""Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,"" follows Abby McCarthy (Lisa Edelstein, ""House""), a self-help book author and guru of all things family, who shocks the world when she reveals that her seemingly perfect life has all been a lie. After publicly admitting that she has separated from her husband, Jake (Paul Adelstein, ""Private Practice""), America’s once-favorite girlfriend finds her career and marriage in a free fall. As she starts to navigate life as a single woman in her 40s, Abby turns to her new divorced friends, rather than her married ones, for advice. Embarking on startling adventures with friends Lyla (Janeane Garofalo, “"Reality Bites"") and Phoebe (Beau Garrett, ""Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior""), Abby finds herself on a journey of self-discovery as she attempts to salvage her career, get back in the dating game and figure out her new identity as a single woman.
COMEDY MOVIES:
Jack And Jill - Saturday 06 May at 20h00
Synopsis: Jack and Jill is a comedy focusing on Jack Sadelstein (Adam Sandler), a successful advertising executive in Los Angeles with a beautiful wife and kids, who dreads one event each year: the Thanksgiving visit of his identical twin sister Jill (also Adam Sandler). Jill's neediness and passive-aggressiveness is maddening to Jack, turning his normally tranquil life upside down. Katie Holmes plays Erin, Jack's wife.
The Perfect Catch aka Fever Pitch - Saturday 13 May at 20h00
Synopsis: It's a love triangle - but with a twist. Instead of revolving around three people, this story involves twenty-eight: a man, a woman, and a Major League baseball team. High-school teacher Ben Wrightman (Jimmy Fallon) is a good catch. He's charming, funny and great with kids. When he meets Lindsey Meeks (Drew Barrymore), an ambitious business consultant whose spirit is as luminous as her beauty, their attraction is immediate. Sure, they have their differences. She's a workaholic; he loves his summers off. He lives and breathes the Red Sox; she doesn't know Carl Yastrzemski from Johnny Damon. But true love overcomes all - at least until Red Sox spring training rolls around. As Ben's beloved Bosox launch one of the most incredible seasons in baseball history, Ben and Lindsey must decide if they, as a couple, will strike out or fight to keep love alive through extra innings.
The Ugly Truth - Saturday 20 May at 20h00
Synopsis: A romantically challenged morning show producer (Heigl) is reluctantly embroiled in a series of outrageous tests by her chauvinistic correspondent (Butler) to prove his theories on relationships and help her find love. His clever ploys, however, lead to an unexpected result.
Why Did I Get Married? - Saturday 27 May at 20h00
Synopsis: A group of married college friends go to Colorado for their annual week-long reunion. On the surface, it appears it will be like all the previous reunions they have had over the years, but the mood shifts when one couples infidelity comes to light.
eToonz+ May 2017 Highlights:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Wednesdays at 17h30 starting 31 May
Synopsis: The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series is funnier and "ninja-ier" than ever before, as Nickelodeon reintroduces the wildly popular band of reptile brothers to a whole new generation of fans. The action comedy explores the camaraderie of four teenage brothers learning to rely on one another as they unravel the mystery of their existence and train to become the heroes they're destined to be.
Tickety Toc - Thursdays at 14h15 starting 04 May
Synopsis: Inside an old clock shop is wall full of clocks. Big clocks, little clocks, silly clocks and sensible clocks. All of them ticking away to themselves and keeping perfect time. And right in the middle is one very special clock. This is the Tickety Toc Clock. As every hour passes, the Tic Toc Clock springs into life to chime in the time. It all happens as regular as clockwork! But chiming the time isn’t as easy as it seems! For behind the face of the Tickety Toc Clock lies an extraordinary wooden world where things definitely don’t always run so smoothly. This slapstick show centres on our inseparable heroes, Tommy and Tallulah, and their remarkable friends as they race against time to keep the clock ticking. In this beautifully crafted series, the pressure is always on and every madcap minute counts!
Little Spirou - Thursdays at 16h25
Synopsis: After "Spirou and Fantasio" series' amazing success, discover in « Little Spirou » the crafty 8 year-old kid he was.From how to deal with arriving at school in slippers to how to survive a trip to the swimming pool without one's bathing suit, Little Spirou always finds a witty alternative solution to save the day.Clever and full of mischief, he's always ready to get into trouble as long as he can work his way out make someone laugh!With Little Spirou, crafty kids always come out on top.
eToonz+ June 2017 Highlights:
Julius Jr - Mondays at 14h00 starting on 26 June
Synopsis: Julius Jr. is a funky monkey with a penchant for invention. Together with his best pals, Worry Bear, Sheree, Clancy and Ping, they build a playhouse out of a simple cardboard box. But when they walk inside, to their surprise and delight, they discover that ordinary objects magically come to life and amazing adventures are just a door away.
Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom - Mondays at 14h45 starting 12 June
Synopsis: Holly, a young Fairy Princess, is still learning how to fly and her magic doesn’t always go quite according to plan. Her best friend, Ben the Elf, doesn’t have wings and he doesn’t do magic. But elves are very good at making things - especially toys. They live in the Little Kingdom – a tiny land where flowers and grass rise above the tallest towers.
Johnny Test - Fridays at 18h00 starting 23 June
Synopsis: Johnny is the ultimate test pilot where no mission is too insane, no challenge is too great, no villain is too menacing - and no sister-created concoction is too wild. As long as his dog Dukey can come along, Johnny gives it a go!
Power Rangers: Dino Super Charge - Fridays at 16h30 starting 02 June
Synopsis: With new weapons, new allies, new zords, and the new T-Rex Super Charge mode, the Rangers are ready to settle the score against one of their most dangerous enemies.
Geoff D - here is your 4 new channels. Is e.tv's adding its additional TV channels on OpenView HD to DStv? Here is what happened and why it looks like a possibility.
Is e.tv's additional TV channels available on Platco Digital's OpenView HD free-to-air satellite being added soon to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform?
A reader reported this and sources asked, after a reader showed how e.tv's website mentioned and added the additional channels packaged by e.tv, as suddenly now also being available on DStv.
Of course e.tv in high definition (HD) is
already available on DStv, and the addition of the other or more channels from e.tv's stable are not that far-fetched an idea.
On Digital Media (ODM) and StarTimes Media South Africa already added and carry the eKasi+ (now rebranded as eExtra) channel on the StarSat satellite pay-TV platform.
Looking up all of the individual e.tv channels with their own websites, they all suddenly listed their OpenView HD (OVHD) channel number, but now also a DStv channel number.
Surprise - the DStv channel numbers listed for the various channels were a perfect fit for open and unused DStv channels within the specific genre number sets:
eToonz+ DStv 311
eMovies+ DStv 138
eMovies Extra DStv 140
eExtra DStv 195
Following a media enquiry, this information has now been removed from the various e.tv channels' webpages on Wednesday.
e.tv gave a feedback stating it was a mistake. But what was the mistake?
Listing the DStv channel numbers, or listing the DStv channel numbers perhaps too early?
Both e.tv and MultiChoice - when asked if e.tv's additional channels packaged for OVHD is being added to DStv - responded by only saying negotiations are ongoing around the carriage agreement for the 24-hour TV news channel eNCA (DStv 403).
eNCA of course is also a channel produced and supplied by e.tv.
The question arises of how e.tv would know these virtually perfect channel numbers to choose and list on DStv without any input from MultiChoice. Is this just co-incidence?
Why would somebody take the time to do that if there was no reason to?
On Wednesday another reader noticed this eToonz+ on DStv in the 1-plate
It's not really that far-fetched a stretch to think that in the renegotiation of the eNCA channel, the other channels from eMedia Investments could be lumped together in a bigger, more comprehensive deal.
It was after all the plan with StarSat which would at one point have had eToonz+ and some of the other channels besides eKasi+ before negotiations between OVHD and StarSat didn't work out.
Since late 2014 till now DStv has found many alternatives of improving our viewing to offer the best entertainment with additional channels, extensions which results to minor losses.
2014-2015:
-Launch of Lifetime, BET International, NickToons and Nick Jr. in 2015 later in 2015 BET International became BET 2 for lower packages while BET was for premium packages which later converted back into one BET channel.
-Launching of two premium channels M-Net Edge and Vuzu AMP.
-Launch of Eva, Itv Choice, Zee World, M-Net City and M-Net Family for the first part of 2015.
-The second part of 2015 BBC Entertainment and Knowledge were dumped and replaced by BBC Brit and Earth with an additional channel BBC First later it was announced that BBC World News and Cbeebies may not continue which would be available to stream on an app then an ongoing protest commenced to save them both.
-The launch of an Afrikaans lifestyle channel Via.
2016-present:
-People's Weather moved to a new channel number as well as TLC Entertainment.
-M-Net Movies Family, Romance and Comedy were dumped and replaced with M-Net Movies Smile.
-Fashion TV, Rhema TV, KykNet Musiek, Discovery ID, Discovery World and FOX Crime and Trace Sports Stars were dumped for Fashion One, TBN, KykNet Nou, ID Xtra, Discovery Family, FOX Life and Trace Africa.
-CBS Action, CBS Drama, AMC and True Movies 1 were dumped due to the underperformance and deduction of repeats.
-Eva+ and ROK were launched everywhere in Africa excluding South Africa till December were we saw the launch of ROK, Soundcity and Spice TV in South Africa.
-In 2017, we had the launch of CGTN News, Zee Bollymovies and GOD TV.
-The termination of M-Net Edge, M-Net Family and M-Net Movies Showcase.
-Mentions about Ginx tv Esports Channel and its programming will also be generated with Supersport.
It maybe a way to spice up our offering but this is too much, theres nothing wrong with the new but as time goes by you lately miss the old, I understand that you're trying to enhance our viewing but we need a bit of old back, try to adding more repeats for example:
General Entertainment
-M-Net Movies Action and All Stars they should consider adding more present movies like etv.
-Pop up channels, they aren't a bad idea but you could try and add content that haven't been seen on premium packages and first time for local packages.
-FOX Life has more local and reality shows it more international series and you could air older seasons of The Simpsons.
-Universal Channel has a lack of series to air weekdays at 6am CAT.
-Sony Channel and Sony Max need a little more programs. It usually feel like a rerun channel at this point at time. Sony Channel needs movies. It is better if you replace it with Adult Swim.
-Telemundo needs more action-packed series like Lord of the Skies(El Senor De Los Cielos), Darling of the Centaur(La Querida Del Centauro) and El Chema so far only Woman of Steel(Senora Acero) managed to arrive as well as movies that are Latin American.
-Lack of fashion channels like the discontinued Style Network.
-Instead of having an Eva+ you could have a Telemundo+ which airs the the telenovelas from below 2010 with telenovelas from above 2010.
-Since you dumped CBS Action, CBS Drama and AMC couldn't you have just try to make a general entertainment channel which supplied itself with programs and movies from these channels as well as CBS Reality.
-Isn't there a way to get WWE female targeted series on E! if you can't add Diva Universal.
Kids:
-Cartoon Network needs to bring some of its old shows back from 2010 while Boomerang has to bring back the Flintstones, Yogi Bear and Animaniacs.
-Disney Channel when most of girl targeted series are finished can't you put them on Disney XD and Junior.
-Disney XD should be available 24/7 but it still not available 24/7 everywhere else.
-Most of the shows on NickToons are new (acquired) I can accept that but you could try and bring Sanjay and Craig,Breadwinners and Legend of Korra if you have the time because after all they haven't aired yet on the channel and not everyone with a Compact package has access to Nickelodeon.
-There is need for more kids channels especially with its programming because Teen Titans (Not GO!) didn't air on Cartoon Network thats why there is a need for Toonami even for Anime while Samurai Jack Season 5 and Robot Chicken is only available on Adult Swim. Boing is like Cartoon Network Too.
-TeenNick is needed not because we want it but because we have NickToons to watch all our animated Nick and other animated shows not live-action like True Jackson, Big Time Rush and All That.
Music:
-Lack of genres such as Pop, Rock and Electronic.
-Too much local music.
-Theres tracks that launched with music videos for certain artists and bands such as Keke Palmer, Skillet, Bridgit Mendler and Red that haven't shown on Trace Urban, MTV Base, Channel O and Soundcity.
-Most of the music channels air the same type of music.
In a first for South Africa, DStv and the UK-based GINX.tv will be launching a full 24/7 Esports and Gaming network, to be available over DStv Now and SuperSport website from 1st May 2017, with SuperSport also set to simulcast games over their DStv channels. It was revealed that SuperSport and DStv, and new partners GINX.tv, were working on some sort of Esports channel.
Now there's further details of the channel as well as when it will be available to the nation. In a email conversation with Gideon Khobane, CEO of SuperSport, Khobane spoke of the benefits of the the new partnership saying: “The deal with GINX is a massive leap forward and signals our intention to embrace the newest sport out there. There is a real buzz around eSports and we want to be part of that.” With Esports continuing to grow at such a rapid rate worldwide, news of this kind of exposure on a local front is extremely exciting and should assist in further fueling the growth of the sector as the extra exposure will surely please potential sponsors, who will be more inclined to inject even more money into the industry, resulting in more tournaments, more incentive to grow talent pools and thus feeding back into the entire ecosystem.
Telkom Gaming reached out to GINX.tv CEO Michiel Bakker for more information on the channel, which is set to be available from 1 May 2017:
Telkom Gaming (TG): What titles and games do DStv and GINX (you) plan to broadcast?
Michiel Bakker: “One of our earliest mantras at GINX esports TV was “All the games, All the time”! It really is still at the heart of who we are and everything we do. We aim to be a broad church for our esports audience and we focus on the current games at the centre of the biggest esport events as well as those nibbling on the edges. Right now we are covering Activision’s Call Of Duty World League (CWL) as well as Blizzard’s APEX Overwatch tournament from Korea and gearing up for Valve’s DOTA 2 Kiev Major.
GINX esports TV has recently covered CS:GO, Overwatch, League of Legends,
World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, StarCraft II, FIFA and Street Fighter V as well as titles such as SMITE, Paladins, Rocket League, Smash Bros., Heroes of the Storm and Vainglory. So our collective mission is to continue to walk that talk.” An extremely impressive amount of titles to be covered, even if I am a predominantly CS:GO fan, and this is still a giant leap forward for our local gamers and fans. Being able to watch esports on TV will not only increase viewers, but will also promote growth in our own South African competitive scene.
TG: Are there any South African or African matches you are going to cover?
Bakker: “As a consequence of our launch in Africa, we’d love to get more involved in the local African esports world. We haven’t covered South African matches so far, but we’d love to consider the option if given appropriate access and opportunity. It is very much in our DNA to cover global as well as local events and showcase local events on our international feeds. We are just as interested in grassroots esports events as we are in covering the Majors.”
TG: What is the initial plan or schedule for broadcasting? Will it be game highlights or live services?
Bakker: “Our initial agreement with DStv involves the delivery of our channel as a linear 24/7 service. Our channel includes live tournament coverage and tournament highlight programming from events such as the Call of Duty World League, ELEAGUE and Dota 2 Majors for example. We also produce many hours of esports entertainment programming such as The First Hour twice weekly live studio show ‘The Bridge’. Our agreement also includes a provision for some of our content to be showcased on one of the Supersport channels.”This would not be the first time SuperSport has tried their hand at Esports, having broadcast highlights from last year’s IEM Katowice CS:GO event on the channel last year, though this only left true fans begging for more. This time, it seems, we will be getting the full coverage we hoped and dreamed about.
TG: Will there be a whole separate channel dedicated to esports?
Bakker: “Yes! GINX esports TV is a 7-day-a-week, 24-hour-a-day TV channel dedicated to esports, coming to DSTV! I don’t think we have been allocated an EPG number (Electronic Programing Guide) yet, but news on that will follow shortly. Right now we are making the necessary technical preparations to deliver the channel to DSTV’s uplink in SA.”
TG: Are you working with any other African brands to promote esports?
Bakker: “It is early days, but we are really keen to explore local collaborations. We’d love to work with African as well as with international brands to promote esports locally as well as around the world. On top of our new DSTV households in Africa, GINX esports TV reaches over 36 million homes worldwide, so we are hopeful there will be many opportunities to work with local partners to grow the esports ecosystem. We are open to explore cross-media partnerships with African online esports media, hopefully including your good selves. Being on TV brings a different, more mainstream, audience into esports, which should be complementary to existing media.”
GINX eSports TV will be available to DStv Access, Family, Compact, Extra and Premium customers, as well as to Compact, Extra and Premium customers on the DStv Now service online and on the application.
This is the golden age of television and as South Africa’s leading authority on on-screen entertainment, DStv brings you larger-than-life series…With everything from movies adapted for television to “guilty-pleasure” reality TV, there’s bound to be something for everyone in 2017.
Reality
MTV’s Real World in the 1990s, Survivor in the 2000s, and Big Brother in the same decade, are shows credited with changing the face of television and popularising the modern reality series format. Contestants’ spontaneous, unscripted interactions with one another and the world around them, mixed with drama, personal conflict and entertainment are the ingredients that make this genre so popular. A few years ago you would’ve never publicly admitted that you’re a reality series fan, but today the genre encompasses makeovers; celebrity exposes; dating shows; talent competitions; lifestyle changing shows and unscripted dramas that will keep you glued to your screens. A pop-culture phenomenon currently on DStv, E! Entertainment’s reality success story Keeping Up with the Kardashians has become one of the longest-running reality television series in the USA; celebrating its tenth year on the air with season 13 due to start later in March 2017. US hit show The Bachelorette returns to VUZU AMP for a 13 season in May; LA Hair season five in June; Real Housewives of New Jersey season seven is due to start in August and Tamar and Vince season five in November. On BBC Lifestyle catch Mary Berry Everyday Cooking as well as Jamie Oliver’s Super Food Family Classics in June. Food Network will be cooking with the kids in April with first seasons of both Chopped Junior and Kids BBQ Championships; Smollet Eats season one will air in June and Siba’s Table returns for a third season in July.
Lifetime’s Little Women Atlanta continues, as well as local reality hit, Married at First Sight SA ; while E! Entertainment’s E! Host Search concluded in a glamorous finale on 8 March.
Kids
Parents are eager to entertain their kids, but kids shape their own viewing habits – their preferred choice of content, as well as where, when and how they want to consume it. With ten kids’ channels and a dedicated section on the DStv Now App, the little ones will have countless hours entertainment in the company of DStv. These future customers see the world differently and for them the digital, multi-screen environment is already the norm. Encouraged by their parents, kids increasingly stream TV on mobile devices – binge watching and rewatching their favourite shows on any device, including tablets, computers and phones. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, adapted from the movie with the same title, will be coming to Boomerang in May, and Dorothy of Oz in September. Current Disney Channel favourites Jessie ; Lab Rats; Miles from Tomorrow ; Girl Meets World and Violetta will continue; with exciting new edition Mickey and the Roadster Racers starting on Disney Junior in April. Sofia the First as well as Doc McStuffins will be returning to the channel in June. New shows on Cartoon Network include: Yokai Watch in April, The Amazing World of Gumball in May, Lego Nexo Knights in June and Transformers: Robots in Disguise in July; while shows returning to the channel include The Powerpuff Girls in April; Ben 10 in May and We Bare Bears in August. Coming to Nickelodeon in April are Pig Goat Banana Cricket as well as Rufus 2 and NRDD ; with Game Shakers in May. Blaze and the Monster Machines will air on Nick Jr in May and Shimmer and Shine in June. Nicktoons’ My Life as a Teenage Robot is scheduled to air in June and My Little Pony in July.
Despite the rise of on-demand internet streaming services, television remains content king! In the pop-culture landscape, this is still the most popular way to watch content and in South Africa, DStv takes the lead in the content provider pack. Series have become the new movies with popular storytellers, directors and actors making their appearance on the small screen. TV shows are now filmed like movies, with great writing, creative storylines, talented actors, beautiful scenery, and complicated characters viewers can relate to.
Supersized Entertainment
DStv customers can now tune in to their favourite series when it suits them, thanks to DStv’s multi-platform viewing environment. Whether you’re a fan of fast-paced, adrenaline-fuelled action; emotionally-laden drama; a gritty crime saga; sword-fighting epics; or sidesplitting comedy, we’ve got you covered.
M-Net’s magical entertainment does not stop, with first seasons of brand new blockbuster series Taken (started 9 March), Training Day (starts 18 May), Powerless (starts 3 July), American Housewife (starts 14 June), Kevin Can Wait (starts 3 May), Man With a Plan (starts 31 May), Trial and Error (starts 10 April), and Vice Principal (starts 15 September). Twin Peaks: The Return season one will be broadcast in May. Returning series on M-Net include The Catch season two (starts 13 March), season 13 of Criminal Minds (starts in May), and Ray Donovan season six, Mr Robot and Better Call Saul – both season three. Watch out for The Magicians season two, The Blacklist: Redemption which replaces The Blacklist season four while it’s on a production break, Major Crimes season five, and My Kitchen Rules season seven. Catch Marlon and Battle of the Besties season one on VUZU AMP, as well as returning seasons of Ballers, The Flash , Supergirl, Quantico , Crazy Ex-girlfriend and SuperStore ; The Mick season one on Fox, as well as Outcast season two; Tina and Bobby season one on ITV Choice; Bosch season three on Universal Channel in April; and MTV Shuga: Down South on MTV in March. kykNET’s take on Our Perfect Wedding , Ons Sprokiesbruilof , as well as season two of crime drama, Die Boland Moorde, will continue to enthral viewers. BBC First will screen first seasons of The Collection and The A Word from April, with Ripper Street returning for a fifth season in June. ITV Choice’s Tennison season one will air in April; with Victoria season two airing from June, as well as Poldark season three, Grantchester season two, Cold Feet season two and Doc Martin season eight.
Doccies
What makes a documentary successful? Was it expertly crafted, influential, impactful, beloved, form-defining, a hit at the box office? The best documentaries leave viewers in
that Aha! moment, long after the credits have rolled – strangely fulfilled and armed with new knowledge. Audiences yearn for the truth; the facts; the real world documented in an educational way – and that’s exactly what they get from the conversation-starting, often controversial, award-winning documentary series on DStv.
Watch out for Royal Season on ITV Choice; Genius , the story of Albert Einstein on Fox in April; Origins as well as The Story of God season two on Nat Geo. Fans of the true crime genre can look forward to Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery, Murder Calls, and Scene of the Crime with Tony Harris – all on ID Xtra in April; 24 to Life season one and World’s Toughest Prisons on Crime+Investigation. Also in April, Discovery Channel brings you First in Humans and Cooper’s Treasure ; and Escobar’s Millions in July. The Lion Queen will return to Animal Planet in April for a second season and BBC Earth’s spectacular natural history show, Planet Earth II will continue, with Human Season coming to screens in May.
MultiChoice is to expand its variety of faith-based programming with the launch of global network, GOD TV on 3 April 2017. The new channel will be available on DStv channel 344 providing a unique blend of contemporary Christian content with a British edge and African flavour. GOD TV, which started in the UK in 1995, broadcasts worldwide from Israel and has been established in Africa for 15 years with offices in Cape Town. The channel will now be available to approximately 10 million DStv viewers in South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, and Mozambique.
Encounter God differently GOD TV Africa is led by Marcel Olivier and a dynamic team in Cape Town who are passionate about the people of Africa, Africa’s immense potential and vast resources. “We want to invite viewers to experience God in fresh ways, bringing a message of hope to people of all walks of life,” said the network’s regional director for Africa, Marcel Olivier.
While GOD TV broadcasts many leading Christian voices, it also offers new and emerging voices. A key feature of its schedule is an emphasis on premier events from across the globe, giving viewers front row seats to conferences, crusades and gatherings that bring the world to Africa.
GOD TV will be available to all DStv customers across all packages. GOD TV’s 24-hour schedule aims to be unconventional, with a focus on revival and reformation and with a mix of live and local programming.
It’s content is nondenominational presenting a wide range of Christian ministries. For more information about GOD TV visit the GOD TV website
Our customers have spoken… and
we’re listening. DStv Premium
customers can soon look forward to
more fresh series with fewer movies
and series repeats from M-Net.
MultiChoice and M-Net will be
making key changes to some of the
M-Net channels to improve DStv
customers’ viewing experience.
Supersized M-Net 101
The ever-popular M-Net Edge
(channel 102) will be integrated into
M-Net 101 from 1 April 2017. This will
give customers a supersized channel
with bumper-to-bumper
entertainment ranging from the latest
shows from M-Net 101 to the edgier
entertainment previously on M-Net
Edge. Customers can look forward to
an extended prime time on M-Net 101
from 18:00 to midnight every day.
This means fewer repeats on M-Net,
which will now be the one
destination for the best and newest
shows from the US, alongside some
great local shows.
Customers can tune in to sitcom fun
at 18:00, followed by the latest
blockbuster international reality
shows at 18:30 and top-notch drama,
crime, comedy or action series from
19:30 onwards. Once the kids are
safely in bed – between 21:30 and
midnight – customers can enjoy
critically acclaimed edgier
entertainment like Billions season 2,
Magicians season 2; The Leftovers
season 3, Bates Motel season 5,
Broadchurch season 3, Mad Dogs
season 1, Detour season 2 and more.
To top it off, M-Net will pull out all
the stops to give our customers great
entertainment on Saturdays. The
reality show repeats will be dropped
on Saturdays and Sundays, in favour
of fresh sitcoms and dramas which
will air on Saturdays from 18:00.
Brand new series like cutting-edge
medical drama Pure Genius (Augustus
Prew, Dermot Mulroney, and Odette
Annable), dark comedy Imposters
(Inbar Lavi, Parker Young and
Stephen Bishop) and the epic event
limited series When We Rise (Guy
Pearce, Mary-Louise Parker and
Rachel Griffiths) can be seen during
prime time on Saturdays.
“The entertainment landscape is
changing faster than ever - we’ve
made these changes based on what
our customers have told us. We know
they want to see the best new and
returning series, and that is exactly
what they will get,” says Group
General Manager for M-Net SA,
Nkateko Mabaso.
More fresh movies more often
M-Net want to show fewer older
movies and repeats so DStv
customers can enjoy more fresh and
newer movies more often. This is why
M-Net Movies Showcase (channel
107) will be dropped in favour of more
themed movie pop-up channels and
movie festivals on existing M-Net
movie channels.
“Our pop-up channels are extremely
popular,” says Mabaso. “Viewers love
the fact that they can easily find a
collection of their favourite movies
packaged under a specific theme on
one channel. They enjoyed the Star
Wars and Harry Potter pop-up
channels – and we’re planning
several more throughout the year.”
The recently launched M-Net Movies
Collection also adds to the breadth of
M-Net’s movie offering. The M-Net
Movies Collection comprise more
than 1000 movies and is available on
DStv Catch Up Plus, accessible to
customers when they connect their
DStv Explora to the internet. The
collection is also accessible on the
Catch Up section on DStv Now online
and on the app. DStv Premium
customers can choose what movie
they would like to watch, when it
suits them best.
DStv Family customers gets VUZU
There is also good news about fewer
repeats for DStv Family customers.
From April, VUZU (channel 116) will
move into their family of channels.
VUZU will replace M-Net Family
(channel 162) which has not
performed as well as expected. VUZU
carries many of the popular family
and celebrity reality shows that our
DStv Family customers enjoy.
Reset your recordings
Leading up to the integration of M-
Net Edge and M-Net 101, DStv
Premium customers can enjoy two,
three or four back-to-back episodes
of their favourite shows in the next
couple of weeks.
Customers with Exploras and PVRs
are reminded to reset their recordings
as their favourite shows find their
new home on M-Net 101. These
shows include Elementary, Major
Crimes and Grimm, as well as Express
from the US shows Crashing, Girls,
Homeland, Last Week Tonight with
John Oliver and Lucifer. Remember to
also keep an eye on the Catch Up
calendar available on DStv.com.
For the latest information regarding
these changes please consult your
on-screen TV guide, find the online
schedules at MNet.tv or DStv.com, or
the TV Guide on the DStv Now app.
Experience the pearl of Asia.
When it comes to passion, conceit,
desperate love or bitter betrayal, no
one does it quite like Bollywood.
Their tales of joy and sorrow
intermingled with spectacular
dancing, dazzling outfits and precise
choreography have been setting
screens alight for 117 years.
MultiChoice is proud to announce
that DStv Premium , DStv Extra and
DStv Compact customers will soon
get to experience the pearl of Asia as
never before. On Wednesday 1 March
2017, Zee Bollymovies (114) – a 24-
hour, English-dubbed Bollywood-
movies-only channel will launch!
Customers will be treated to epic,
award-winning tales of the fragile
human condition. Take Rustom for
example. Naval officer Rustom Pavri
(Akshay Kumar ) has just found out
that his wife, Cynthia Pavri (Ileana
D’Cruz ), has been having an affair
with his best friend, Vikram Makhija
(Arjan Bajwa ).
While this particular story dates back
to the late 1950s, Rustom was
penned by the hugely talented Vipul
K Rawal and directed by Tinu Suresh
Desai . Desai won Most Promising
Debut Director at the recent Star
Screen Awards held in India last year,
which speaks to the caliber of
movies you can expect to see. Be
sure to catch the undulating saga of
Rustom on channel 114 on 1 March
at 18:00.
DStv already carries Zee World on
channel 166, and its success – along
with a growing appetite for all things
Bollywood – has led to this launch.
Zee Bollymovies is a channel geared
specifically for South African tastes
and we’re sure it will keep you
entertained and enthralled.
As from 1 December 2016, [ED] will no longer be available on DStv. The channel, which is currently on DStv Channel 190 and GOtv channel 65.
Station Manager for [ED], Roberto Carletti says, “Thanks to our loyal [ED] valued viewers and advertisers for their continued support over the years. Through our content, our viewers have remained curious and been inspired.”
[ED], which is managed and produced by Urban Brew Studios, will stop airing on both DStv and GOtv at midnight on Wednesday 30 November, 2016.
FAQs
Why is [ED] being discontinued?
The contract with the channel has come to an end and will not be renewed.
When will [ED] be removed from DStv?
On Wednesday, 30 November 2016 at midnight.
What will you be replacing the channel with?
At this stage there are no plans to replace [ED] with another channel.
Will you give me a discount now that I have fewer channels on my package?
We only review our DStv prices once a year at the end of our financial year – we don’t adjust prices mid-year for channels that have been added or taken away.
DStv is adding a Harry Potter pop-up channel from M-Net to DStv from 4 November while its lowering DStv subscription prices in several African countries.
MultiChoice announced that it will be lowering monthly DStv subscription fees from 1 November in several African countries where the DStv prices were inaccurate with the average and will add a temporary Harry Potter pop-up channel from M-Net. DStv will also add several TV channels to lower-tiered bouquets in several countries and make more soccer viewing available on SuperSport channels given to its lower-tiered offerings, to boost the content offering for cheaper DStv packages and to add content value.Excluding South Africa and Nigeria it's two biggest markets in the country.
Subscribers will see a reduction in monthly DStv subscription fees from 1 November. The DStv price reduction comes as tough economic conditions facing consumers and greater competition in the pay-TV market have seen the pan-African pay-TV operator decide to lower prices to try and attract new and returning customers back on DStv and to avoid customers cancelling subscriptions due to monthly fees.
New channels added outside of South Africa are Eva+, a sister channel to the telenovela channel Eva, will be added to DStv, along with the Nigerian entertainment channel ROK from ROK Studios, with several channels that will be upgraded to high definition (HD) like South Africa.
While DStv Premium subscribers across the continent and including South Africa can watch the pop-up M-Net channel M-Net Movies BlockParty on DStv channel 109, DStv subscribers can look forward to more exciting pop-up channels in the coming months like the M-Net Movies Harry Potter pop-up channel which will run from 4 to 14 November and FliekNet and M-Net Inspire for the December holidays.
The Harry Potter pop-up channel will show all of the Harry Potter movies before the debut of the first movie in the new spin-off film series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that is scheduled for a worldwide release on 18 November.
The price of DStv in South Africa as well as some of the other markets including Nigeria compare favourably with the pricing in the countries where subscription prices are currently being reviewed downwards.
Multichoice spokesperson in Kenya said they realized that it increasing subscriptions all the time won't help the country grow sustainably because in future you can't pay R1800pm for the little you have on DStv Premium while DStv Compact pays R1325pm and the lowest package Easyview ends up paying R750pm. On the other hand, people will not afford our services if they continue this way.
MultiChoice Africa in a statement that was slightly adjusted for each African country where DStv price reductions are being introduced. These changes are not only a defining moment in MultiChoice story, but also a defining moment in the African entertainment landscape and pushing as hard as they can to delight every television entertainment fan in Africa.
No price reduction is expected in South Africa.
MultiChoice in South Africa says South African DStv subscribers won't see a price reduction and that the price of DStv Premium in South Africa compares favourably with the pricing in other African countries. Their prices for next year will be announced before 1 April 2017.
If you DStv knows what value for money the only way DStv can gain more subscribers and positive reviews is to give the audience what they want add more value to the packages especially South Africa like:
DStv Premium, Extra and Compact Plus remains the same
DStv Compact - Comedy Central, E!, Lifetime, Nick Jr and Cbeebies
DStv Family - Studio Universal, BET, Comedy Central, CBS Reality and Cbeebies
DStv Access - BET, Eva and CBS Reality
DStv Easyview - Telemundo/Eva, CBS Reality and Disney Junior
Bring back AMC and FOX Crime along with other recently dumped channels that the audience. The female channels are really slow on offering in lower bouquets
Try adding these new channels that I picked up as well as everyone else:
Diva Universal - NBC female channel airs programs such as Tia and Tamera, How Do I Look, Life In The Red Carpet and WWE Total Divas along with Telemundo telenovelas like Precious Rose and Aurora.
Syfy Universal - more male focused from NBC airs programs such as Haven, Dark Matter, The Librarians, WWE and reality shows such as Face Off.
TNT - owned by Turner Broadcasting System an TCM entertainment channel airs programming from CBS Studios and NBC.
FOX Movies - owned by FOX Network Group offers classic and modern movies from FOX.
Toonami - Superhero kids channel targets kids 8-12 years (boy focused) owned by Turner Broadcasting System. Programs such as Teen Titans (which didn't air on Cartoon Network Africa), Young Justice, Superman, Batman, Justice League as well as some Cartoon Network favourites Secret Saturday, Ben 10 (2005) and Thundercats and Japanese series such as Dragonball, Yu Gi Oh, Naruto and One Piece.
Boing - Resemblance to the underrated pop-up channel Hoole (From DStv) from Turner Broadcasting System. Programs from Cartoon Network Archives such as The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Johnny Bravo, YoKai Watch, Ed Edd'n Eddy and expect Toonami series such as Green Lantern, Fantastic Four and more only Marvels.
Adult Swim - owned by Turner Broadcasting System. Targets an audience between the ages of 18-49 years. Programs such as ever popular Robot and Chicken, American Dad, Futurama, Mission Hill, Son Of Zorn and more.
MondoFOX - a FOX telenovela channel from FOX Network Group.
TeenNick owned by Viacom International Media Networks offers programs for the youth such as iCarly, Sam and Cat, Victorious, Big Time Rush and True Jackson along with classic favourites such as Drake and Josh, Unfabulous and The Amanda Show, All That and animated such as All Grown Up and Legend of Korra and acquired programming such as What I Like About You and How I Met Your Mother
Splat - Latest addition to Viacom International Media Networks portfolio offers classic animated and live-action programming such as CatDog, As Told By Ginger, The Mighty B!, Doug, Drake and Josh, Marvin Marvin and All That.
ToonCast - a family kids channel owned by Turner Broadcasting an older version of Boomerang with Cartoon Network classics programs such as Dexter Laboratory, The Jetsons, Johnny Bravo, The Flintstones, Time Squad, Sheep In The Big City and many more.
Cartoonito - Turner Broadcasting System preschool channel - not 24 hour channel and airs programs such as Ha Ha Hairies, Bananas in Pyjamas, Jelly Jam, Gerald McBoing Boing and Lazytown along with Cartoonito originals.
DStv Premium - Adult Swim, MondoFOX, Syfy Universal, Diva Universal, Toonami, TNT, ToonCast, Splat, FOX Movies, TeenNick and Cartoonito (replace JimJam)
DStv Extra/Compact Plus - Syfy Universal, Diva Universal, FOX Movies, Splat, TeenNick, Toonami, TNT, ToonCast and Cartoonito (replace JimJam)
DStv Compact - Syfy Universal, Diva Universal, FOX Movies, Toonami, Splat, TeenNick, TNT, ToonCast and Cartoonito (replace JimJam)
DStv Family - TNT, FOX Movies, TeenNick, ToonCast, Splat, Cartoonito (replace JimJam) and Boing
DStv Access - TNT, Splat, Cartoonito (replace JimJam) and ToonCast
DStv Easyview - TNT (replaces AMC), Cartoonito (replace JimJam) and ToonCast (retro programming)
