Recap To Last Month: Purged Programming From Former DStv Channel NWTV Launches On Soweto TV

A few months ago, MultiChoice had axed two provincial channels on the DStv platform, One Freestate Televisual and NWTV. After residing on the platform for less than 3 months, MultiChoice had silently axed the channels without any prior notice.

Since then, One Freestate Televisual remained on StarSat with the TV channel that had attempted to negotiate a new agreement with MultiChoice. NWTV on the other hand is not viewable anywhere in Africa thus concluding its run as a linear channel.

MultiChoice in these endeavors had removed seven additional channels: 1Magic, Me, People's Weather, Emmanuel TV, B4U Movies, Ginx eSports TV and Deutsche Welle. Since then only select shows from a minority from these brands were available for viewing. 

As seen through the programme guide, Soweto TV scooped up rights to one of the few programs from NWTV, The Girl. It followed a young girl named Belky who grew up in a jungle after being abducted had escaped years later and united with her family. 

The problem pertaining to The Girl's return on TV screens would be the broadcaster, Soweto TV. NWTV was catered to multiple countries within Southern Africa while Soweto TV is only situated in South Africa therefore alienating an audience from programming. 

The Girl airs daily at 08:30 and 17:30 on Soweto TV. 

One Freestate Televisual And NWTV Exit On DStv Explained

By late October, MultiChoice added two provincial channels to the DStv platform, One Freestate Televisual and NWTV. One was based in Bloemfontein and catered for Free State while the other was based in the North West but catered for Southern Africa.

Both channels offered a mixture of content ranging from reality shows, news, cartoons and drama series. But as seen earlier in the month none of these channels currently reside with DStv with One Freestate Televisual that is also seen on StarSat.

At the time of publishing MultiChoice remained hush hush on why these channels suddenly went dark in the first place. From what other sources gathered, MultiChoice had added both NWTV and One Freestate Televisual on a trial run basis which took about 3 months.

One Freestate Televisual has been trying to negotiate with MultiChoice on a new agreement while NWTV is no more. These talks are said to be still in discussion so it remains to be determined whether this channel would return.

Prior to this, MultiChoice was said to in negotiation with Limpopo TV over possibly adding the channel in 2021 before plans fell flat. According to the channel itself, MultiChoice had a different content strategy and this limited the amount of provincial stations on the platform.

Channel Termination: One Freestate Televisual And NWTV No Longer Available On DStv

One Freestate Televisual was a community channel based in Bloemfontein embracing the culture of the Free State while NWTV catered for the North West and Southern Africa. Both channels featured a variety of programs ranging from news, reality shows and drama series.

As seen this past week, MultiChoice has opted to discontinue carriage of One Freestate Televisual (channel 264) and NWTV (channel 266) after residing on the platform for less than 3 months. Both channels had shared different statements regarding their removal.

Statement from NWTV

Good day, NWTV viewers and supporters.

It is with sadness that we announce that DStv/Multichoice has opted to switch NWTV off. We thank you for your support, and we're honoured to have served you for this short time.

Basically, producers and other crew members will be left unemployed and MultiChoice doesn't mention what will happen to existing local content viewed on NWTV. If we had to guess, the latter might surface on existing community channels particularly Soweto TV as seen with Faith Cooking.

Statement from One Freestate Televisual

According to One Freestate Televisual, they're currently having a carriage dispute with MultiChoice. They hope to resolve the matter and return to the platform soon but as of right now the channel can only be found on StarSat.

One Freestate Televisual and NWTV closures comes a few days after B4U Movies had left the platform following its troubleshooting issues last year. This would be the third and fourth TV channel to have exited the platform in under a month with Emmanuel TV being the first.

MultiChoice doesn't outline a reason for the sudden closures of NWTV or One Freestate Televisual. Prior to this, MultiChoice had planned to axe two other channels from their platforms, 1Magic and Me. 

What To Expect On DStv's Newest Addition, NWTV?

During the month, it was reported MultiChoice was working on yet another community station for the DStv platform. From what we were able to uncover this channel would be airing a variety of international content part of which trace back to Soweto TV alongside various local content.

Not long ago, North West TV (NWTV) was unveiled and to our surprise this channel matched the description of the upcoming TV channel MultiChoice was working on for several weeks as seen on their website: blockbuster movies, lifestyle and culture and exclusive series.

Here's a sneak peek to what's expected from this channel

TRAVELLING UNPLUGGED

Genre: Lifestyle, Travel

DINGO UNTAMED

Genre: Wildlife, Actuality

From the world's most dangerous animals to wildest of adventures, Dingo Untamed is the show for high octane animal & nature encounters.

BIKER MICE FROM MARS

Genre: Animation, Children

When three alien motorcycle riding mice are forced to leave their home planet of Mars thanks to the evil mining Plutarkians, they rebel against their enemies on planet Earth and the city of Chicago.

DORK HUNTERS FROM OUTER SPACE

Genre: Animation, Children

Alien Dorks disguise themselves as humans to use Earth as a base to take over the universe, but they face opposition from unlikely teenage heroes.

THE GIRL

Genre: Telenovela

Eight-year-old Belky is kidnapped by guerrillas in her brother's stead and brought up in the jungle. Years later, she manages to escape and is reunited with her family, but as a different person.

LAKEHILL

Genre: Drama Series

Set up on the shore of Lake Kariba. It is driven by the journey of Mr. KABWE KABWE, popularly known as KK. We meet him at Lake Hill Lodge where he serves as the General Manager and husband to the owner of the establishment.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER: THE RED BARON

Genre: Documentary, Film

Officially labeled 'The greatest driver Formula One has ever seen', Schumacher has redefined this elite sport through his ability, dedication, media presence and appeal. The first German to ever win the Formula One World Championship, Michael Schumacher is revered and single-handedly credited with popularizing this sport in his country and beyond.

SKIN DEEP: ANGELINA JOLIE

Genre: Documentary, Film

Angelina Jolie has already lived a life that few could rival. She is the third actress in history to earn 20 million US dollars for a single film. She is driven by a genuine commitment to help those less fortunate. This quest runs skin deep in this remarkably loving individual.

New Channel Alert: MultiChoice To Add Second Community Based Channel On DStv In The Month, NWTV

NWTV is set to premiere on DStv channel 266 from Thursday, 30 November 2023 on DStv Premium, Compact+, Compact, Family, Access and EasyView.

NWTV, a community channel deeply rooted in its commitment to local heritage, proudly announces its mission to be the beacon of local and national entertainment. With its reach spanning from the North West province in South Africa to notable coverage across Southern Africa, NWTV is poised to inspire, educate, and entertain viewers from all walks of life, celebrating the heroes within our midst.

NWTV is more than a channel: it is a community general entertainment platform that embraces its enriched roots within the landscapes of the North West province. It's a tribute to the vibrant culture and remarkable stories of the region, yet it extends its appeal to the Republic of South Africa and Southern Africa, touching hearts with its stories and narratives.

“At NWTV, we believe in the power of storytelling to inspire and uplift, to celebrate our very own iconic role models and influential storytellers," says Maximus Magwaza, Chief Operating Officer at NWTV. "No matter where you are, be it the platinum streets of the North West Province or the luscious landscapes of the Southern African Region, NWTV is here to cater to your entertainment needs."

“We happily welcome NWTV on our platform as it speaks to our continued effort to strengthen the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of our country,” says Georginah Machiridza, Executive Head of General Entertainment Channels at MultiChoice Group. “We also understand the important role that community TV stations take within our local economy, this partnership allows us to enrich lives of the communities we operate in through job creation and skills development."

In the coming months, NWTV is set to offer a diverse range of family-friendly programming, enriching the hearts and minds of its viewers. NWTV's content not only entertains but also educates, informs, and narrates the captivating stories that define our communities.

No matter who you are or where you are, NWTV has you covered.  We are your go-to destination where you will find stories for the people, that are about the people and created by the people.