BayTV Is Now Known As Mpuma Kapa TV

After 7 years, Bay TV has been scrapped for a more stronger and at close at home branding, Mpuma Kapa TV.

Bay TV launched as a free-to-air community television channel in Port Elizabeth and surrounding areas in Eastern Cape before making its way to DStv. It features local news, sport, youth, children, women's issues, current affairs, education, music and local culture.

The channel lost their analogue licence years back that's why it can only be found on DStv besides that they also need the funds to stay open.

Before it's rebrand, the channel was mostly carrying pastor and church based programming like a few other community channels on DStv. This new brand has opened up their doors for content proposals.

Mpuma Kapa TV will more likely be no different to Bay TV at launch. The channel will still be representing Eastern Cape hopefully with more variety and not only church shows.

MultiChoice South Africa On The Catholic Channel, EWTN

EWTN offers family-oriented, spiritually-enriching programming from a Catholic point of view. The Networks’ diverse programs include live talk shows, news programs, original series and documentaries, teaching series with noted theologians, children’s shows, live coverage of the Pope, a live daily Mass, and much more.

The channel launched 9 years ago for the rest of Africa on MultiChoice's DStv excluding South Africa. EWTN is also available on StarTimes (ROA) and StarSat (South Africa).

During those nine years, A lot of angry DStv customers approached MultiChoice over the possibility of adding EWTN to DStv's South African platform and as always we'll forward your suggestion to a relevant department.

They even created a petition and page to help get the channel to the market seeing as StarSat which is located in South Africa also packages the channel.

Two years ago, I contacted someone with regards to the channel and this is what DStv told them and what they're trying to do:
DStv: Currently it is VERY expensive to get
EWTN on DSTV
The Individual: I have made contact with a representative from EWTN in USA to see how we can get this going, he is currently meeting with the powers that may be to see how we can get the funds available and if it is viable to do so in South Africa.

And two years have passed and EWTN is only available on StarSat. Do you believe MultiChoice South Africa will get this channel they were able to get Da Vinci Kids and AfricaNews on board so anything is possible.

Ebonylife Is Being Removed From MultiChoice's DStv From The End Of July, StarSat And StarTimes Might Follow

TV show host, Mo Abudu has revealed that EbonyLife TV will no longer function as it is now becoming a video-on-demand service called EbonyLife ON.

She also revealed that most of the contents offered by the channel will now be uploaded EbonyLife ON which will be available on iOS stores and Google.

She said: “Remember when we used to wait a whole week to watch our favourite TV shows? Well, those days are gone forever! Now, we can binge on the whole series if we want to. Therefore, we have decided that EbonyLife TV will no longer be available on DStv from 31st July 2020.”

EbonyLife TV was launched by Multichoice in 2013 and operated on DSTV. The deal ended in 2018 and Mo Abudu partnered with Startimes to broadcast the channel.

If you read the first paragraph nicely the channel will no longer function as it used to. They recently signed a content deal with Netflix and with it going dark on DStv in the rest of Africa.

Apparently Ebonylife made the choice to can the channel from DStv so it's likely that StarTimes (ROA) and StarSat will follow as well since Ebonylife might transition into becoming an online platform once their contract expires.

New Channel Alert: Kix Coming Soon To DStv

KIX is the ultimate destination for Asian action entertainment. KIX offers action fans a mix of heart-pumping action movies, fun celebrity game shows, compelling reality series and Asian-focused fight events, bringing on-screen excitement to every home!

The channel is owned by Celestial Tiger Entertainment . Its programming is targeted towards 18- to 45-year-old adults. The channel airs a combination of Asian content (notably Korean shows) with Western programs and attracts a core target audience of international viewers skewed toward male viewers.

This was one of the channels being hyped about from MultiChoice including the the four local channels alongside Netflix and Amazon partnership.

According to the info provided by MultiChoice, they describe it as an action movie channel. So ir might be used for englEng dubbed Japanese action movies or action movies in general. There's no details on when the channel is expected to launch on the platform or channel number

MultiChoice To Add Netflix And Amazon Video Prime Streaming Services For Subscribers And Plans To Launch More Channels

MultiChoice will soon add both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video as global video streamers to its DStv platform, with the pay-TV operator that continues to show growth - adding roughly another 900 000 DStv and GOtv subscribers over its last financial year.

The subscriber tally according to its latest 2019/2020 financial results released on Wednesday, is now 19.5 million.

MultiChoice already runs Showmax its own subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) streaming service.

By adding international streaming services to it's existing DStv platform MultiChoice has now clearly decided that it will go the "super aggregator" way, similar to what pay-TV services ranging from the United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand have done over the past year.

In this way, existing subscribers get access to further streaming services through DStv, paying their monthly bill in local currency for the add-ons, lessening payment friction and providing one place for subscribers to find and watch the content they like.

"We have long been a content aggregator, and this is proof of our aggregator model at work – providing simplicity, choice and convenience for our customers," says Calvo Mawela, MultiChoice CEO.

"As our industry evolves, we believe that we are well-positioned to benefit from both worlds – a large, growing pay-TV market in Africa, as well as an emerging over-the-top (OTT) opportunity, where our own OTT services and aggregation capabilities can drive success."

MultiChoice has shown a 5% increase in subscriber growth in its 2019/2020 financial year, taking its total pay-TV subscriber base to 19.5 million households.

South Africa still represents MultiChoice's biggest and most powerful market, with 8.4 million pay-TV households, while the rest of Africa combined represents 11.1 million households.

Besides adding two global streaming services, MultiChoice is also getting ready to roll-out and launch its as-yet-unnamed "DStv dishless", stand-alone DStv streaming service that will mimic its existing direct-to-Home (DTH) service but without the need for any installation.

MultiChoice added that over the last financial year it has produced 3 850 additional hours of local content with its local content library that now exceeds 56 800 hours. This means local content now accounts for 40% of its total content spend.

The company plans on doing two new co-productions, Blood Psalms and Rogue, launch four new local content TV channels including a new action movie channel and plans to further ramp up local content production in 2021.

ViacomCBS Will Be Launching A New Channel Carrying Content From BET And Showtime, Will This Perhaps Get Added On StarSat Or Serve As A Replacement To BET Africa On DStv?

ViacomCBS is to launch SHO*BET by the end of the year to do that it's taking up Showtime's Showcase channel in the United States.

The company is planning to relaunch the channel, which currently airs films, documentaries and comedy specials, with scripted series from both Showtime and BET.

It is the latest example of synergies between Viacom and CBS since its merger in December.

President and CEO Bob Bakish, speaking on the company’s investor call following its fourth-quarter financials, said, “We see an even bigger opportunity to grow Showtime subscribers by making better use of its plex channels, some of which are currently underutilized. To that end, we will be rebranding and relaunching Showcase as SHO*BET this summer featuring AA scripted series from Showtime and BET.”

He added, “We see this as a compelling value creation play that will allow us to benefit from the growing demand for premium, African American content across platforms.

Now in Africa, where the channel can be seen through MultiChoice's DStv platform. It's currently stuffed with movies leaving less space for all the crappy and decent programming.

BET Africa, has become a strong brand in the market with its local productions like Black Tax and iSono so the chances of them replacing it is very little at the same time these brands merged so anything is possible.

Toonami Has Been Added To Startimes Or StarSat Few Weeks After The Channel Stopped Airing On MultiChoice's DStv

As you already know DStv had Toonami running as a month long pop-up channel on the DStv platform to almost all DStv customers until the end of April even after its removal the channel still had an ongoing schedule for the rest of May.

For some reason the channel has been added to the Startimes (or StarSat) platform without any explanation or clarification from the platform on the duration of the channel or whether they plan to keep it full-time which seems unlikely.

Toonami which is owned by WarnerMedia targets the same audience as Cartoon Network the only difference is the channel is catered for superheroes. The channel carries action, drama and adventure.

The channel airs repeats of old DC Animation that once aired on Cartoon Network such as Batman, Green Lantern, Superman and Young Justice along with DC Movies.

This channel is just ripping off Superhero HQ for those of you who had DStv Compact back in March of last year at the time the channel was already ripping off the full-time Toonami channel on Kwesé TV till the brand shut down it's pay-tv service along with the full-time channel that had anime and selected Cartoon Network series at the time before being reduced to nothing but a pop-up channel.

It wouldn't surprise me if the channel eventually resurfaces again on DStv even after the channel's removal people still want the channel if it was on Compact you'd some happy faces over the channel's removal but since they made it more accessible more people grew attached to it cancelling out those that recieved the channel already under another name.

Da Vinci Kids Becomes A Permanent Channel On DStv In South Africa

As we stay true to our promise of looking at different aspects, what we believe is a key aspect to a child’s development and link these to different programming, with shows  balancing education and entertainment, we are proud to be bringing you the Da Vinci channel to our valued South African subscribers on DStv channel 318.

Da Vinci will be available to subscribers of DStv Premium, DStv Compact Plus, and DStv Compact & Family packages.

It is inspirational artist, scientist and inventor, Leonardo Da Vinci - the Germany-based channel aspires to illustrate the beauty and wonders of human curiosity and its explorations, be it in science, arts or innovation 24/7. The new edutainment channel will amaze and delight DStv kiddies viewers – at home and on the go via DStv Now – with a range of fun educational programming for kids and the whole family alike filled with humour, imagination and meaningful, educational takeaways that cover Science, Math and Technology, and moreover Play & Make; History & Personalities; Culture; Life & Nature and Sports & Leisure.

“What we’ve done is provide a safe space for children and parents to choose from a range of age-appropriate content that is entertaining and educational for both. As a trusted partner for parents on the journey of raising children we strive to create moments of family, we’re bonding millions of homes daily. The launch of this channel is in  line with our commitment to delivering content that caters and resonates with the whole family, while enriching their lives by delivering programming that educates, informs and entertains,” concluded Thabisa Mkhwanazi, Executive Head of Marketing at DStv.

For more information on the programming and to access the daily TV Guide on the programming, please visit: www.dstv.co.za

SA Youth TV Rumored To Debut On DStv In June

According to sources, SA Youth TV is set to debut later in June (youth month) on DStv even though there's no official confirmation from either MultiChoice, SA Youth TV or its founder EDK Media.

The subscription and advert funded television channel has been working around the clock to get the brand up and running since then they have been going around schools, churches and colleges across the province. From February, they were building their subcommittees as they begin their activation across the province.

Several of their brand ambassadors provided some more info on the type of programming you'd expect from the channel so far only Zen Foundation and Naledi Kwezi Films managed to share some info about their programming which also includes Women in Prison Tour documentary and a music based series titled I Am.

More details regarding the channel is expected to be announced on Vibe FM the following week so maybe they might enlighten us with a possible launch date for now June aka youth month has been swirling around.

New Channel Alert On DStv (Rumor): Another KykNet Channel

Over the weekend where some may not be at home, others may scroll through the channels checking for something different then if they're lucky something appears that's what happened at the moment.

A viewer apparently noticed another Afrikaans Channel thinking it could be Via, KykNet or its sister channel only for the channel to have a different format it begs to wonder if MultiChoice plans to expand the Afrikaans lineup soon.

This untitled channel has programming such as Binnelanders, Suidooster, Kom Ons Karaoke and Die Laaste Wals. Content which air on KykNet already which seems natural for a possible "new" channel.

Maybe it's another KykNet channel set to replace KykNet Nou or Kie (doubt it) or maybe its coming as an additional channel for customers without any Afrikaans programming either way the channel seems more like Discovery's Real Time (repeats).

More details regarding the channel might be unveiled in a few weeks time including the channel's name, package and release date. If it happens to be another Real Time/SABC Encore type channel it will probably be more beneficial to Access or Easyview customers.

More Details Regarding The Upcoming Youth Channel On DStv - SA Youth TV

As the channel preps up it's launch the crew have been visiting schools, colleges, churches and lounges across South Africa to spread awareness. They even had a session asking youth what they'd hope to see when the channel finally debuts.

Later this month, they are building subcommittees to continue engaging with province and the future endeavours that this platform has in store for future fans.

With regards to programming SA Youth TV intends to have 80% programming produced by the youth of this country but here's what was mentioned from them and other sources so far:
-They will have programs focusing on business development and employment.
-They will have news which touches a lot of things affecting the youth of the country.
-They will broadcast developmental sports tournaments which will make it easy for scouts to recognise young talents in sports without them going there physically.
-They will have reality shows as university lifestyle.
-They will assist script writers but lack resources by lending them resources to so that they can produce quality programming
-Something all channels can't avoid is repeats with SA Youth TV they'll definitely have repeats but try to keep that to a minimum to keep viewers interested in their programming.

Confirmed/Rumored Programs
I Am
This show is for people who want to be DJ's so yeah SA Youth TV is giving you music as promised there could be more. Handled by Zen Foundation.
Women In Prison Tour
This documentary illustrates the lives of female inmates and their struggles.
Behind The Hustle
Live Your Dream SA

NBCUniversal Launches A New News Channel Called Sky World News Globally, Question Arise On Whether This Channel Will Replace Sky News On DStv?

A new NBC Sky World News channel will go live this summer across global TV networks, as well as on the Peacock streaming service which will not be available in South Africa.

The channel will mark Comcast’s first effort to unite its brands since its $30 billion acquisition of Sky in 2018.

Andy Lack, chairman of NBC News, told the FT that the service will target English-speaking audiences, and will draw on a 3,500-strong combined workforce and hire 100-200 dedicated staff. Ten new bureaus will open worldwide, extending the NBC-Sky reporting footprint by some 50 per cent.

The operation will be led by British TV executive Deborah Turness, who ran NBC News between 2013 and 2017 before being given responsibility for developing its international arm.

On launch, the television channel will reach an estimated 130 million households, and will seek to take on the likes of CNN and BBC in the global world news market. Since then MultiChoice and Sky News have been silent on the matter.

“We’ve longed for an international channel,” Lack said to the FT . “Going back to the Gulf war when CNN essentially came on to the scene, we knew then at NBC that if you weren’t in the 24-hour news business globally, you weren’t really in the news business. So when I first went to NBC in 1993 it was like, goddamn, how do we get one of those?” That opportunity seemingly finally arose following the acquistion of Sky.

WWE And SuperSport Expand Partnership In Africa

WWE and SuperSport, Africa’s premier sports broadcaster, today announced a multi-year extension to continue delivering WWE’s weekly flagship programming live in more than 50 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, while expanding the partnership to include a dedicated WWE channel on DStv.

The new WWE channel will air Raw, SmackDown and NXT live each week
and will feature premium WWE programming including 205 Live, Ride Along, WWE Chronicle and Table for 3.

The 24/7 channel launches on DStv channel 128 beginning Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, and builds on the success of the WWE pop-up channel that launched this year. 

SuperSport channels will continue to air Raw, SmackDown and NXT live each week and be home to all of WWE’s monthly pay-per-view events.

“The fans of the WWE universe asked for it, and we are delighted to deliver,” said Gideon Khobane, chief executive of SuperSport. “WWE programming has proven to be compelling content with riveting storylines and insane action, which our viewers absolutely love. This is a big step and a great start to the new year.”

“SuperSport is a valued partner who shares our approach to engaging and entertaining our fans,” said Stefan Kastenmüller, WWE Senior Vice President & Group General Manager, EMEA. “We are thrilled to expand our partnership with a new, 24/7 WWE channel which will super-serve our passionate fans in the region.”

Here's A Sneak Peek Of Everything You Can Expect From Your DStv In 2020

A new decade is dawning and DStv customers are in for the best entertainment from Africa and the world. Here is sneak peek of everything you can expect from your DStv in 2020.
You no doubt remember Back to the Future II, the popular sequel to the classic flick that catapulted Michael J. Fox to superstardom. Released in 1989 and set in 2015, the film introduced audiences to a future where humans operate remote-controlled litterbins and dog walkers, TV screens replace waiters and Marty McFly rocks size-adjustable, self-drying jackets.
We know now the real 2015 didn’t resemble the one depicted in that movie. What is clear, though, is that the future is now. We are living in days that entertainers of the past pictured for decades. Movies like The Blade Runner (1982), The Running Man (1987) and Edge of Tomorrow (2014) were set in 2019 and depicted a world created by the out-of-this-world imaginations of their scriptwriters and film producers.
Just as these iconic movies were all birthed from the minds of creatives, it’s undeniable that the ringing in of the new decade brings with it limitless possibilities that will stretch our imaginations with more entertainment, more technology, more magical moments and more power to our screens than we ever thought possible.
They say hindsight is 20/20 but at DStv, our foresight for the 2020s is crystal clear - as Africa’s leading storyteller, DStv is committed to maintaining the highest-quality content offering our customers expect. From new channels and brand new shows, to increased local entertainment and even more trending conversation starters, we’ve set up a gigantic year of the most explosive content.
Here is everything you can look forward to in 2020 on DStv:

1. Brand new telenovela for Mzansi Magic
The start of the 2010s brought with it the launch of Mzansi Magic (161). Launched with the intention to boost the production of local content, the channel has grown to become the home of some of the most popular content on South African television.
Mzansi telenovelas like The Queen, Isithembiso and Isibaya, have captivated audiences everywhere, and are regular constantly trending topics on Twitter. Fans love these shows so much, in fact, that they started a petition to bring back SK Khoza’s character Shaka on The Queen.
As part of our ongoing commitment to invest in the local television industry, Mzansi Magic (161) will introduce a new telenovela in April 2020. This new show will complement Mzansi’s existing local entertainment offering, bolstering the riveting nightly Mzansi telenovela slot that our customers have come to love. More details on this new show will follow so keep checking back for more news, hot off the press.

2. Even more local entertainment
In our journey to contribute to the growth of the local entertainment industry, we have watched with pride as South Africans became increasingly gravitated to local content. Series such as The Real Housewives of Johannesburg, Survivor South Africa and many of the shows on the 1Magic channel have pushed numerous boundaries, resulting in tremendous growth in both local viewership and production.
Going forward, we will continue to bolster our local offering across all of our channels. The Bachelor South Africa, for example, returns to M-Net (101) on 13 February at 21:00 with a second season and there will be a surprising spin-off of the runaway hit show Real Housewives of Johannesburg, Madame, that will be all the rage when it launches along with the new show; The Single Wives South Africa, that tracks the lives of newly divorced women looking for the next (and maybe final) husband.
In addition, KykNet (144), South Africa’s leading Afrikaans entertainment channel, will introduce three dramas from January 2020; a new season of Sara se Geheim, the second season of Die Byl and, brand new, Projek Dina. This is particularly exciting because KykNet has never launched multiple tent-pole dramas simultaneously.

If that’s not enough, we’ve got even more local content ready to entertain the whole family. We’ll have more of the out-of-this-world entertainment that makes Moja Love (157) a consistent fan favourite and the second half of the hilarious Celebrity Game Night on E! (124) in January, while BET (129) welcomes brand new shows early next year; Black Tax and Boity – Own Your Throne.

3. Taking African stories to the world
Trackers Season 1, produced by M-Net (101) in collaboration with Cinemax and ZDF, was the biggest original drama co-production in African history and quickly became one of the most talked-about weekly events on African television. By the time season 1 finale aired on Sunday 24 November 2019, it was already the most-watched television series on M-Net – surpassing the likes of Game of Thrones, Big Little Lies and the much-loved Sunday 20:00 movie.
Following the magnificent success of Trackers, M-Net 101 will boost its broadcast schedule with a host of exhilarating local series in 202 and beyond. First among them, is a 13-part family drama, Still Breathing. Starting Thursday 27 February at 20:00, Still Breathing tells the tale of a group of old friends who have drifted apart as they have grown older, but are then brought together when tragedy strikes. The drama unfolds as old wounds burst open, old flames of passion rekindle and secrets that have lay buried, are finally uncovered. This powerful series is directed by SAFTA award winner Johnny Barbuzano (The River, The Gift, Isozo Connection), with his wife Tiffany serving as Scriptwriter and Co-Producer. The impressive cast also includes formidable leading ladies Kate Liquorish (Catching Feelings, Eye in the Sky), Lorcia Khumalo (Lockdown, Zulu Wedding, The Queen) and Shannon Esra (The Throne, The Queen).
4. International content you won’t find anywhere else
DStv has been the home of the world’s best entertainment for decades, and this trend will continue in the 2020s. From pop-up channels that bring together the best of the best, to shows like Prodigal Son (premiering Wednesday, 19 February on M-Net 101 at 21:00) that are produced by one of the world’s leading television studios, the content on DStv has been specially selected to feed the interests of our diverse customer base. Prodigal Son, in fact, is set to become one of the most talked-about shows on SA television in 2020 and beyond. The series centers on Malcolm Bright (The Walking Dead’s Tom Payne), a profiler for the NYPD who also happens to be the son of infamous serial killer Martin Whitly (Michael Sheen). As Malcolm helps the NYPD investigate bizarre and gruesome murders, he must also deal with the psychological impact of reuniting with his father.
Is there any more iconic movie franchise that Rocky, spanning decades and delivering quote upon quote, fans will have the opportunity to binge all eight Rocky movies, in chronological order, all on one channel in January. And speaking of legends, in February, movies led by the baddest leading men of all time; Denzel Washington, Samuel L Jackson, Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Idris Elba, Michael B Jordan and more, in M-Net Movies’ second Blackout pop-up channel (109). Tom Cruise fans will be excited to hear that there will be an entire festival dedicated to this action superstar in March.

If you’re into factual entertainment, we’ve got everything you need on DStv. Feed your guilty pleasure with Dr. Pimple Popper on TLC (135), enjoy the hilarious antics of Gordon Ramsay in 24 Hours to Hell and Back on BBC Lifestyle (174) and learn about the historic Watergate scandal on HISTORY (186) all in January. Then in February, it’s all about Big Cat Month on Nat Geo (181) before March becomes Snake Month. David Attenborough has always been the voice of the nature documentary but now, as he is looking to pass the baton of planetary responsibility to all of humanity, he has also become a Social Media phenomenon. In March we will experience his most spectacular show yet, Seven Worlds, One Planet, tracking the birth of the world as Pangea ripped apart to create the continents of the modern world to the reality of the challenges faced by animals today as they face the challenges created by humankind.

5. Your kids’ favourite stop: This is the School of Laughter
Kids love DStv, and with non-stop kids entertainment across multiple channels, it’s easy to see why. At the same time, DStv loves kids so much that we’re going to school with them! On the first day of the 2020 academic year, the DStv School of Laughter in partnership with 947 will visit one lucky Grade 1’s school for an epic #1stDayTakeover. We’re taking goodie bags for all the kids plus R10 000 in cash for one lucky parents.

Throughout 2020, we’ll continue to lead the kids entertainment offering in Africa with brand new shows like Young Dylan and Wonderpark coming to Nickelodeon (305) in February, Spongebob The Musical Special, Jojo D.R.E.A.M Concert Special air on Nicktoons (308) in February and the Kids Choice Awards returns with all of the slime in March, also on Nicktoons (308).

It may be the start of a new decade - but at DStv, the promise remains the same. We will remain the trusted source of entertainment for content lovers in South Africa and the rest of the continent, celebrating and investing in homegrown talent while bringing the best of the world to your screens.

With more entertainment than ever before and unmatchable selections for our customers to choose from, we’re ensuring our audience never misses an opportunity to feel every moment with DStv

DStv Family Customers To Get Three New Channels

WWE fans can enjoy even more family-friendly action and entertainment from their favourite WWE Superstars like Roman Reigns™, Seth Rollins™ and Becky Lynch™ when DStv OFFICIALLY launches SuperSlam from Tuesday 17 December permanently. Yes, you read correctly Superslam will not close 31st December as advertised and will now be available on DStv Family for now Access customers have an open window for the channel.

SuperSport 7 is the home of La Liga matches live and repeats of previously played matches, highlights, Liga news and La Liga match analysis. It's available permanently on DStv Family permanently a year after Compact.

Trace Gospel is the 24-hour channel will showcase both local and international gospel, which includes contemporary gospel, urban gospel, worship gospel and traditional gospel. Programmes will include Sounds of South Africa, Urban Vibes, Hits 30, US Hit 10 and Praise Vibes. The channel launches 18 December.

VIMN Africa And MultiChoice Renew Distribution Partnership

Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) and MultiChoice Group have announced that the renewal of their distribution partnership which highlights the investment in local content, bringing audiences programming that showcases the best of Africa’s creativity and talent. VIMN Africa’s channel brands BET, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV Base, MTV Music 24, Nickelodeon, NickToons and Nick Jr. collectively offer a broad range of original entertainment content across every age demographic.

“This continued partnership demonstrates the shared commitment between VIMN Africa and MultiChoice to invest in local and international content that resonates with our audiences across the continent. We truly value our collaboration with MultiChoice as it also enables us to consistently deliver great African productions,” said Alex Okosi, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for VIMN Africa and BET International.

“As Africa’s most-loved storyteller, we are pleased to share this market announcement of VIMN Africa. Our content offering ensures that we provide our partners platforms to tell their own stories in an authentic way. We invest over R2,5 billion in local content to keep bringing exciting and engaging African content to market and the industry.” said Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO for General Entertainment.

VIMN Africa’s channel brands collectively deliver exciting drama, comedy, music, animation, biopic and reality shows. On BET, the brand continues to celebrate black excellence with a locally produced biopic that portrays one of South Africa’s most legendary stars in Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story featuring a joint lead cast of KB Motsilanyane and Bahumi Madisakwane. In the new year, BET will also welcome its first locally produced sitcom, Black Tax, which will bring laughter to their audiences. The Behind the Story series with Pearl Thusi also returns for an additional season. Tyler Perry’s studio productions, Sistas and The Oval,  have made their debut on the channel. 

Comedy Central continues to make life funnier and keep audiences laughing with a deep history of local productions from The Roast franchise to Most Ridiculous featuring the hilarious internet sensation, SuzelleDIY. Comedy Central is the exclusive home to The Daily Show with Trevor Noah giving audiences the best in satire and comedy. Other entertaining shows on the channel include Impractical Jokers, Key and Peele, Alternatino, Crank Yankers, The Other Two and South Park to name a few. The channel also caters for viewer favourites Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Two and A Half Men.

On MTV, the channel builds on its successful local reality series Lasizwe, with the introduction of Have Faith, showcasing socialite and businesswoman Faith Nketsi’s flamboyant lifestyle. The Guy Code and Girl Code comedy series on the channel feature popular comics, athletes and entertainers who bring viewers jaw dropping how-to manuals about the wonders and woes of brotherhood and sisterhood.

MTV Base, the best music and youth-lifestyle brand on the continent, is now available on DStv Access in South Africa and Nigeria and continues to entertain audiences with trendsetting music from genres such as Afrobeats, Amapiano, Hip Hop and Gqom. The channel’s investment in local content includes Celeb Living, Musicology, Slayed or Shade and the recently launched cutting-edge series, Behind The Label, which unearths never before told stories and casts a lens on the turbulent relations between record labels and musicians.

This year, Nickelodeon celebrated the 20th anniversary of its most iconic and recognizable character in history, SpongeBob SquarePants. The channel together with the LEGO group also launches the new series, LEGO City Adventures, which is aimed at children aged 8 to 12 years and is loaded with hysterical, action-packed and often absurd slices of urban life. Nickelodeon additionally welcomes the brand-new animated pre-school series of the adventurous Paddington Bear who makes a return to TV. The channel line-up will also include The Casagrandes and the series format adaptation of Wonder Park. NickToons will deliver an exclusive format of SpongeBob the Musical Live! for audiences and a behind-the-scenes special of JoJo's D.R.E.A.M. concert. Rounding off the kids’ entertainment brands, Nick Jr. will launch a new series, Becca’s Bunch, while continuing to deliver popular favourites with all new episodes of Paw Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machine, Nella the Princess Knight and Sunny Day.  

In addition to its powerful slate of content, VIMN Africa brands also showcase the widest array of hit international tentpoles such as MTV EMAs, MTV VMAs, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Black Girls Rock!, Comedy Central Roast and Nickelodeon’s KCAs.

VIMN Africa And MultiChoice Renew Distribution Partnership

Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) and MultiChoice Group have announced the renewal of their distribution partnership which highlights the investment in local content, bringing audiences programming that showcases the best of Africa’s creativity and talent. VIMN Africa’s channel brands BET, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV Base, MTV Music 24, Nickelodeon, NickToons and Nick Jr. collectively offer a broad range of original entertainment content across every age demographic.

“This continued partnership demonstrates the shared commitment between VIMN Africa and MultiChoice to invest in local and international content that resonates with our audiences across the continent. We truly value our collaboration with MultiChoice as it also enables us to consistently deliver great African productions,” said Alex Okosi, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for VIMN Africa and BET International.

“As Africa’s most-loved storyteller, we are pleased to share this market announcement of VIMN Africa. Our content offering ensures that we provide our partners platforms to tell their own stories in an authentic way. We invest over R2,5 billion in local content to keep bringing exciting and engaging African content to market and the industry.” said Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice CEO for General Entertainment.

VIMN Africa’s channel brands collectively deliver exciting drama, comedy, music, animation, biopic and reality shows. On BET, the brand continues to celebrate black excellence with a locally produced biopic that portrays one of South Africa’s most legendary stars in Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story featuring a joint lead cast of KB Motsilanyane and Bahumi Madisakwane. In the new year, BET will also welcome its first locally produced sitcom, Black Tax, which will bring laughter to their audiences. The Behind the Story series with Pearl Thusi also returns for an additional season. Tyler Perry’s studio productions, Sistas and The Oval,  have made their debut on the channel. 

Comedy Central continues to make life funnier and keep audiences laughing with a deep history of local productions from The Roast franchise to Most Ridiculous featuring the hilarious internet sensation, SuzelleDIY. Comedy Central is the exclusive home to The Daily Show with Trevor Noah giving audiences the best in satire and comedy. Other entertaining shows on the channel include Impractical Jokers, Key and Peele, Alternatino, Crank Yankers, The Other Two and South Park to name a few. The channel also caters for viewer favourites Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Two and A Half Men.

On MTV, the channel builds on its successful local reality series Lasizwe, with the introduction of Have Faith, showcasing socialite and businesswoman Faith Nketsi’s flamboyant lifestyle. The Guy Code and Girl Code comedy series on the channel feature popular comics, athletes and entertainers who bring viewers jaw dropping how-to manuals about the wonders and woes of brotherhood and sisterhood.

MTV Base, the best music and youth-lifestyle brand on the continent, is now available on DStv Access in South Africa and Nigeria and continues to entertain audiences with trendsetting music from genres such as Afrobeats, Amapiano, Hip Hop and Gqom. The channel’s investment in local content includes Celeb Living, Musicology, Slayed or Shade and the recently launched cutting-edge series, Behind The Label, which unearths never before told stories and casts a lens on the turbulent relations between record labels and musicians.

This year, Nickelodeon celebrated the 20th anniversary of its most iconic and recognizable character in history, SpongeBob SquarePants. The channel together with the LEGO group also launches the new series, LEGO City Adventures, which is aimed at children aged 8 to 12 years and is loaded with hysterical, action-packed and often absurd slices of urban life. Nickelodeon additionally welcomes the brand-new animated pre-school series of the adventurous Paddington Bear who makes a return to TV. The channel line-up will also include The Casagrandes and the series format adaptation of Wonder Park. NickToons will deliver an exclusive format of SpongeBob the Musical Live! for audiences and a behind-the-scenes special of JoJo's D.R.E.A.M. concert. Rounding off the kids’ entertainment brands, Nick Jr. will launch a new series, Becca’s Bunch, while continuing to deliver popular favourites with all new episodes of Paw Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machine, Nella the Princess Knight and Sunny Day.  

In addition to its powerful slate of content, VIMN Africa brands also showcase the widest array of hit international tentpoles such as MTV EMAs, MTV VMAs, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Black Girls Rock!, Comedy Central Roast and Nickelodeon’s KCAs.

Rumor: Curiosity Stream Coming Soon To DStv?

Curiosity Stream, home to world-class original documentary films and series exploring science, technology, history, nature, health, human interest and more is today announcing significant developments in distribution, promotion, pricing, and sponsorships.

Launched by Discovery Communications founder and media visionary John Hendricks, CuriosityStream is the award-winning documentary streaming and on-demand service where viewers of all ages can fuel their passions and explore new ones.

"Our documentary series and features cover every topic from space exploration to adventure to global food and culture with stunning visuals and unrivaled storytelling to demystify science, nature, history, technology, society, and lifestyle. With over 2,400 titles, many in Ultra HD 4K, including exclusive originals, CuriosityStream is available worldwide to watch on TV, desktop, mobile and tablets."

In addition to offering CuriosityStream subscriptions as part of an a la carte premium service, CuriosityStream and many of its distribution partners are exploring potential " bundling"opportunities that could provide Curiosity Stream subscriptions to significant portions or all of a distributor's customers. In addition, CuriosityStream is now able to deliver a linear channel feed for distributors who desire a CuriosityStream Channel to accompany the premium CuriosityStream SVOD service.

Yes, I did some digging and this could be one of the two new channels MultiChoice is set to launch soon.

Rumor: Da Vinci Kids Coming Soon To DStv

A Berlin-based media company that offers Da Vinci Kids (as TV channel and VOD app) with hours of handpicked educational entertainment available 24/7, and Da Vinci
Learning (as TV channel) with award-winning science documentaries that parents and adults can enjoy in the evening.

Available in over 90 territories in Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa and Asia and broadcast in 18 languages. Founded in 2007, today Da Vinci reaches more than 30 million homes with fresh and stimulating content from around the globe combining fun and knowledge for curious kids and adults.

With 2500+ videos that can be safely viewed
anytime of the day, Da Vinci inspires the
audience to make their life bigger and more
extraordinary. The channel turns complex
knowledge topics into enthralling and
entertaining adventures of the mind, using
creative visualisation techniques and
integrating a meaningful educational takeout.

Showing programmes which are smart,
experiential, thought provoking, trustworthy and enriching. Creating an environment for families to share their adventures in learning.

This could be one of the two new channels DStv said they'll announce soon around the time Crime & Investigation, History and Lifetime announced that the channels will go dark at the end of October.

GINX Esports TV Undergoes Changes On The DStv Platform

GINX Esports TV, the leading TV channel dedicated to esports across the globe, is to move from 240 to 127 on DStv.

From June 25th, the esports TV channel will move from its current position in the sports section of the EPG (Electronic Program guide) to a new home among entertainment and lifestyle channels, channel 127.

Neighbouring channels include global lifestyle channels, BET and MTV. GINX Esports TV is expecting this change to make it easier for new viewers to discover the channel.

“GINX Esports TV’s community is growing every day, especially in South Africa. With this change we expect even more people to discover the channel” said Julia Robson, GINX Esports TV’s Esport Correspondent for Africa.

GINX Esports TV provides unique round-the-clock esports and lifestyle coverage, catering to all esports communities. Some of its iconic programmes include The First Hour, This Week in Esports or Daily Download, a daily light-hearted chat show about what’s happening in the world of esports and gaming.

For more info about the channel and how to watch, visit ginx.tv

About GINX Esports TV
GINX Esports TV is the world’s largest esports tv network and is available in over 40 countries in 55+ million homes internationally including: UK, France, Scandinavia, Middle East, South Africa and a partnership with Super Channel in Canada.

The linear 24/7 channel aims to extend esports’ reach into television and to provide a more mainstream voice in the esports ecosystem. GINX Esports TV is the home of esports on TV.

GINX - Facebook / Twitter

About MultiChoice
MultiChoice Group is Africa's leading multi-channel digital satellite and pay-television destination, offering its 14 million customers access to a world of entertainment, anywhere, anytime. MultiChoice has been in operation for the past 20 years and through its flagship product brand, DStv, the company delivers the latest and most compelling local and international content to millions of households across Africa. The company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and technology advancement resulted in the creation of its iconic high definition PVR decoder, the DStv Explora – which won the Product of the Year for 2015. Through its corporate social investment, MultiChoice actively participates in social transformation, ongoing investment in local content, job creation and skills development - which in turn strengthens the television and broadcasting industry and contributes to the South African economy.