New Channel Alert: FilmBox Action And Kartoon Channel Coming Soon To StarSat With Qwest TV On DStv

For several years, StarTimes has been losing a bouquet of premium international channels ranging from The Smithsonian Channel, Love Nature, DreamWorks, Real Time and Investigation Discovery with the much needed alternatives almost nowhere in site.

Now the pay-tv platform seems to be picking up the cracks as they unveiled two new channels for their consumers: FilmBox Action and Kartoon Channel.

FilmBox Action is a general entertainment channel basically SPI International's version of M-Net Movies 2 and KIX with a limited amount of series. Some of the stars include Steven Seagal, Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, Al Pacino and many others from U.S. and global.

StarSat:
- The Smithsonian Channel closing down in the UK
- Delayed SABC channel launch on StarSat explained
- Russia Today to launch South African hub
- StarSat trying to be DStv friendly

Kartoon Channel is an kids entertainment channel and not to be mistaken for Cartoon Network. It is owned by Genius Brands International with its core audience being 2-12 years with content like Angry Birds, Stan Lee's Superhero Kindergarten and Rainbow Light Brigade.

FilmBox Action is allocated on channel 140 on the Smart bouquet while Kartoon Channel on 307 and on the Basic package on channel 358. There's no confirmation on whether this includes the South African feed but it might as well launch.

As outlined, StarSat across Africa lost a bouquet of channels and FilmBox Action in a way helps the lossen the pain left by FOX which was scrapped by The Walt Disney Company internationally while Kartoon Channel might as well be a replacement for DreamWorks.

DStv:
- MultiChoice might lose yet another two channels
- Could Russia Today be removed from the DStv platform?
- Qwest TV coming soon to Showmax
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on the DStv platform

In other developments, MultiChoice will be allocating their first channel later in the month titled Qwest TV which has been in development for several months owned by multi award winning artist Quincy Jones is Jazz infused channel.

It was unveiled alongside Moonbug Kids at the DStv Showcase, according to sources it was meant to launch last year but for some reason that never happened so it's gearing up for an early 2023 to replace MTV Hits in South Africa and serve as an additional channel everywhere else. Qwest TV is said to be accompanied alongside another channel sources won't share.

Disclosure: Kartoon Channel was also rumoured to launch on another platform alongside DStv.

New Channel Alert (Rumour): FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Family And FilmBox Action Coming Soon To StarSat + New Prices For Each Package

StarSat has lost over 20 channels during the past years ranging from from FOX, Discovery Family, Investigation Discovery, The Smithsonian Channel, Fine Living, SA Music, Soul Music, DreamWorks and St Eyethu. Since then, several channels have made way to the platform.

You have channels like Russia Today, Zee Bollymovies, C12 TV and Fashion TV while some may come off as useless to most consumers none of these brands can fill up the void of the above mentioned channels.

 

MultiChoice, a rival to the pay-tv platform had undergone the same procedure with customers expressing their dissatisfaction for almost a month I mean they've got new channels in place with 6 more coming in the near future but just like StarSat they too have got negative feedback.

While MultiChoice let the cat out of the bag with some upcoming channels with StarTimes you could hardly get them to crack as they're usually discreet about these things but thanks to the StarTimes app we got to view potential new channels.

FilmBox Africa, FilmBox Action and FilmBox Family hail from SPI International the company in charge of the top entertainment channel Timeless Dizi Channel. These channels are said to be on a trial phase.

 

FilmBox Africa - A premium entertainment channel carrying series as well as adrenaline-pumping movies from Bruce Willis, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Jet Li, Jackie Chan and many others. Suitable candidate to FOX.

FilmBox Action - targets action lovers with the likes of Cinema legends Steven Seagal, Al Pacino, Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Jason Statham and many others. Another suitable candidate to FOX.

FilmBox Family - Popular movies for the entire family appealing to both children and adults: great adventures, comedies, fantasy movies, popular series and entertainment programs. An added bonus.

 

On top of the possible new channels here are the prices consumers will pay from July:

- StarSat Special Package will now be R120 previously R109.
- StarSat Super Package will now be R230 previously R209.
- StarSat Max Package will now be R330 previously R299.