February 2024 On Qwest TV | James Brown - Live In Georgia | Solomon Burke - Avo Session | Buddy Guy - Baloise Session | Kool And The Gang - Baloise Session

James Brown - Live in Georgia, 1985

James Brown, James Brown, James Brown." His name is repeated like a mantra at the Chastain Park

Amphitheatre, as if people were calling a Messiah who had swapped Christianity for funk. Although

this 1985 concert’s grainy images and editing are deliciously dated and incredibly vintage (it was the

pre-smartphone time when people got out lighters during ballads), the Godfather of Soul’s music

sounds downright timeless. Before his fellow citizens of Georgia, the man from Augusta doesn’t look his 52 years when he puts the pedal to the metal on "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Get on the Good Foot." Afterwards, when he throws himself into a split for "Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag," he comes

back up as if it’s nothing.

As usual, James Brown sees his concert as choreography. While pushing the limits of his vocal cords, the American waves his arms to lead his band (where we find his regulars, Martha High, Maceo

Parker, and St. Clair Pinckney) and get them to dance. He covers the whole length and breadth of the stage. Dressed in electric blue for the first half of the show, he changes into bright red after a

surprising version of the local anthem, "Georgia on My Mind." And when he mimes his departure at the

end of "Please, Please, Please" like a boxer in his robe, he returns all of a sudden to shake the

audience’s hands like a campaigning politician. Singer, dancer, composer, band leader, politician,

boxer, godfather, and messiah: James Brown was all of these thing at the same time. And even more.

Solomon Burke - Avo Session

The roses, throne, and sequined costume that adorn the 158 kilos of the king and pioneer of soul

during the golden age of Atlantic Records perfectly complement his gripping charisma and his voice

filled with rhythm'n' blues and gospel; he was James Brown's rival back in the day.

All his life, from the church pews to the Apollo Theater in Harlem, Solomon Burke was this preacher,

entrepreneur, and performer who, when he died in 2010, left behind 21 children, about 40 albums, and

classics such as "Cry to Me" and "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love." At the time of his last

performances, Solomon Burke offers his audience an electric, brass-filled celebration where the

standards of Ray Charles, Joe Tex, Little Richard and Nat King Cole are also invited. Hallelujah!

Buddy Guy - Baloise Session

Presented as the star he is, Buddy Guy was introduced to the Baloise Sessions stage at the age of eighty-two, a full sixty years after the recording of his first album (1958 - 2018). The acclaimed artist

introduced the session with "I Got the Blues." This sentiment couldn't be more true, as the blues has

accompanied him all his life, since he was 13 years old, when he played every night on a two-string

guitar on his porch before a neighbour finally offered him a new guitar. This act, without it being clear

at the time, sent him on the path to be one of the greatest blues figures. He would go on to emigrate

to Chicago where he found a little more freedom than in the segregationist south and took the most

important steps of his career: to be noticed by Muddy Waters, to play with BB King, Otis Rush, to open a club... Here he is again delivering a show in full control, like the legend he is, playing with his torso, guitar turned away, or with a drum stick and towel, surfing with style on the classic "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man"...What is there to say, if not that we would have loved to have been there!

Kool And The Gang - Baloise Session

A monument of Great Black Music, Kool & the Gang bring back to life the jazz-funk verve of their glory

years, the soundtrack of an entire era, with the on-stage groove and flamboyance that made them

successful from the 1970s onwards.

Although the group has replaced some of its members over the years—including the charismatic

James Taylor and his animal voice—its pillars, such as Robert "Kool" Bell, Michael Ray, and Curtis

Williams, supported by a new guard and a very strong brass section, still prove that they have not sold nearly 80 million records by chance. "Get Down on it, "Ladies Night," "Celebration," and "Hollywood

Swinging": Kool & the Gang gives these timeless hits a second life with just the right amount of glitter

and nostalgia. 

January 2024 On Qwest TV Across Africa | Ray Charles | Al Mckay’s Earth Wind & Fire Experience | Meshell Ndegeocello | More

RAY CHARLES

Let the good times roll. By 1961, Ray Charles had already scored major hits such as “I Got A Woman” and “What'd I Say”. He had been definitively adopted by the European white youth, who were seduced by his rants, which preceded the arrival of soul music at the end of the decade. In his exchanges with the Raelettes, he delivered the frenzy of gospel, always supported by the riffs of an excellent formation (three saxophones, two trumpets and a rhythm section). Additionally, his instrumentalists revealed their musical prowess during pure instrumental pieces, where Ray Charles simply deployed his unique piano playing, thus acknowledging the valuable percussive aspect of his music.

As it is not really necessary to dwell on the talent of the "Genius", we take the liberty of underlining the impact of the Raelettes, a vocal backing set up in 1958 with Darlene McCrea, Pat Lyles, Gwendolyn Berry and Margie Hendrix. Their powerful and raspy voices are widely prominent during the concert. We will also highlight the presence of saxophonist and flautist Dave "Fathead" Newman, (on “Georgia On My Mind”) who also played with Lowell Fulson and T-Bone Walker and transpired an invigorating blues.

AL MCKAY’S EARTH WIND & FIRE EXPERIENCE

In 2019, left-handed guitarist Al McKay assembled his All Stars to be one of the headliners at the 50th anniversary of the Jazzwoche Burghausen festival in Germany. His band, a collective of many of the best session musicians in L.A., brings back the infective soul, R&B, funk of the ‘70s radio-friendly superstar group Earth, Wind & Fire with many of the band’s greatest hits. It’s highlighted by the funk-grooved “Shining Star.” That was the band’s top hit, charting for several weeks in 1976. Another massive hit revisited is the catchy McKay composition “September,” fired by muscular lyricism that made it to No. 1 on the R&B Charts. But in interviews, McKay, a star in the group from 1973-81, stresses that they are not duplicating EWF but bringing a vital, fresh view to the legacy of the band. As such they are an homage band celebrating the band’s innovative soul-funk-r&b sounds in the ’70s that expressed the power of dance-filled black music at the time. For this Earth, Wind & Fire Experience show, McKay fills the stage with three vocalists (who also dance in step), four horn players, two keyboardists and a rhythm section of percussion, bass and drums. It’s a soul feast with McKay’s funky wah-wah rhythm guitar power. From the cool soul of “Sun Goddess” to the full-tilt beats of “Jupiter,” the show is a high-spirited reminder of an era of music in the past. Yet McKay proves that this fun still sparkles with compelling potency—evidenced in the standing-ovation call for an encore which yielded more hits, including the dance crazy “Boogie Wonderland.”

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO

Meshell Ndegeocello is well renowned for her creativity. Since she first came into the spotlight around 30 years ago with Plantation Lullabies, an album signed to Maverick, the American bassist has continuously evolved in harmony with her inspirations. A distillation of her musical repertoire, the powerful album Ventriloquism covers tracks by 11 different musicians and groups, including Prince’s moving “Sometimes it Snows in April” and George Clinton’s contagious “Atomic Dog.” Released in 2023, the LP The Omichord Real Book received well-deserved acclaim from critics, reflecting Ndegeocello’s aptitude for bringing people together through music.

Alternating between electric bass and a Moog keyboard, Ndegeocello demonstrates her musical prowess here. This compact and magnetic performance seamlessly ventures into the realm of funk while also embracing other genres such as synth-rock and jazz. Mystical and vibrant, it even includes African sounds and riffs, a clear influence when you consider that the singer's stage comes directly from the Swahili language. Backed by Jebin Bruni on keys, Christopher Bruce on guitar and the excellent Abraham Rounds on drums (that broom-playing at the beginning…), Ndegeocello delivers a unique and evolving production––a state of mind that truly sets her apart.

LAURA MVULA

Laura Mvula's voice timbre, her unique writing, and her positioning between pop and R&B have made her a special case. Recorded at the Swiss Baloise Session festival in 2016, the British singer and keyboardist is promoting her second album, The Dreaming Room (with the collaboration of Nile Rodgers), the follow-up to Sing to the Moon in 2013.

Leading a group dominated by strings, synthesizers, and producer Troy Miller on drums, as well as a vocal trio that anchors several tracks in gospel, Laura Mvula expresses a strength of character that takes on its full dimension when she finds herself alone on stage, equipped with her keytar, on a song as beautiful as "Father, Father." In her writing as well as in her interpretation, we can see that she's the real deal.

What To Expect On Qwest TV Across Africa In November 2023?

BOKANI DYER TRIO

Proud to celebrate his South African heritage, Bokani Dyer has established himself as a rising star on the local jazz scene. After illustrious beginnings, it was in 2016 that he officially founded his own trio with Romy Brauteseth, a popular double bass player from Port Elizabeth, and Sphelelo Mazibuko, who comes from a family of drummers from Newcastle (South Africa). Thanks to the resounding success of their debut album, Neo Native, which has since won awards at the South African Music Awards, the group is turning heads on a global scale (winning praise from the New York Times and the London Jazz News).

We find the trio in 2021 at the Festival Jazz & Classical Encounters Vol. 3, during a performance dedicated to Sibongile Khumalo and Andre Petersen, two veterans of the South African scene who were victims of the global health crisis. Bokani combines classical, African and even Latin influences. The trio demonstrates a contagious joie de vivre and is above all born from a deep sense of complicity. The desire to distance themselves from the conventional sounds of jazz leads them to unexplored horizons– those of a new wave of ethno jazz. The trio thus offers the experience of a unifying message, engaging melodies, and unparalleled creativity.

TROMBONE SHORTY

The Olympia hall is getting a breath of fresh air: backed by the band Orleans Avenue, Trombone Shorty performs a particularly effective repertoire. Renowned for his open-mindedness (he worked in the past with Lenny Kravitz and contributed to the soundtrack of the excellent television series Treme), the trombonist, saxophonist and singer from Louisiana begins with "Buckjump," a composition whose electric dimension stuns the audience. Endowed with a captivating technique, Trombone Shorty then delivers a performance influenced by the insane interjections of Joe Bowie, the leader of Defunkt, and by the thick rhythms of the not-so-distant "Zigaboo" Modeliste, the drummer of the Meters. This phenomenon is noticeable when listening to the formidable "Suburbia" and the catchy "One Night Only" or "Encore".

Captured in October 2013 by Samuel Petit, this gig full of soul and rock sounds also allows itself a few forays into blues and jazz lands as indicated by "St. James Infirmary," a standard already played by Trombone Shorty at the White House for Mr and Mrs Obama. Organic as hell (and what a groove!), these different tracks announce above all the albums of the prodigal trumpeter for Don Was and the legendary Blue Note label: highly recommended...

MADE AND FEMI KUTI

At the dawn of the 21st century, a decade after the death of the "black president," Femi was the first son of Fela to take up the paternal torch. Since then, albums, collaborations and world tours have kept this body of work intimately linked to the Kuti family alive. Everything is thus in place to immerse you, even convert you with this beautifully captured concert whose final "Water No Get Enemy" (great classic of the golden age) suddenly makes you regret not having bought tickets for that night.

MAKAYA MCCRAVEN

Drummer extraordinaire Makaya McCraven brought his trio to open the 2021 La Rochelle Jazz Festival on October 13. A strong representative of the vibrant new American jazz scene, McCraven shapeshifts his five originals he presents for this show, using samplers at times, and generally taking the drums to a new place in the jazz legacy. He’s an inventive drummer who flies beyond swing, using a percussive, hip-hop styled improvisational thrust to the music. He deals in a riveting drive and a powerful groove in this set that features saxophonist/flutist De’Sean Jones who also blows an EWI to accentuate the jazz/electronic mix.

The France-born, Chicago-based, University of Massachusetts, Amherst-educated McCraven was mentored by such jazz icons as Archie Shepp, Marion Brown and Yusef Lateef which explains why he became so free to stretch beyond the norm to become an original voice. He’s earned the nickname 'Beat Scientist'. By the end of the set finale, “This Place, That Place,” McCraven showed how he cooks up a mean jazz experiment.

What To Expect On Qwest TV (On DStv) In September 2023?

BLACK MOTION – LIVE FROM CONSTITUTION HILL

Considered as the new Mecca of house music, and more specifically of deep house and afro house, South Africa is full of talent, including this duo from Pretoria: Black Motion.

Night had fallen on Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, South Africa when the duo took the stage. To commemorate the African diaspora on the occasion of Black History Month in February, Qwest TV co-organized an event - in support of the association Bridges for Music (click here to donate) - in this former prison, in which heroes like Mandela and Gandhi were locked up within its walls, now converted into a museum of the country’s road towards democracy and which also hosts the Constitutional Court.

Black Motion is the association of Bongani Mohasana aka DJ Murder and percussionist Thabo Mabogwame aka Smol, an original supercharged collaboration that earned them international recognition in 2010 thanks to the hit "Banane Makovo," in collaboration with the late Jah Rich. This was followed by four studio albums, one of which, Fortune Teller (2014), won a gold record and spearhead status on the African electronic scene. 2018 definitively established their reputation with “Pray for Rain,” a track that has spun extensively on the turntables of Ibiza and around the world.

Focused on percussion, Black Motion's set transports us to jazz with a horn section in the style of Fela Kuti (the Kristoff MX track "About Woman"), then skilfully switches to a Masters At Work-influenced house, and Latin influences at more acoustic or downright minimal moments. A real eclectic treat on a background of beat house and percussion, of course!

HUGH MASEKELA 

This concert is a wonderful testament to the talent, commitment, and generosity that flowed through the veins of Hugh Masekela, who passed away in January 2018. Five years earlier, at the Paris Jazz Festival, the South African trumpeter and singer appeared with a fantastic group (notably guitarist Cameron Ward) and a repertoire of his own standards, including "Bring Him Back Home", which became an anti-Apartheid anthem in 1987, and one of the most beautiful versions of "Coal Train" (Stimela) ever heard, as well as "Lady", composed by his friend, Fela Kuti.

Hugh Masekela was 14 when he picked up his first trumpet in a Johannesburg township, before showing such a gift that Louis Armstrong himself sent him an instrument from the United States. Since his career began in the end of the 1950s, side by side with Miriam Makeba, who would become his wife, his music–from jazz to pop by way of a range of African expressions–tirelessly accompanied the struggles of his people, despite his forced exile from 1960 until Nelson Mandela’s release in 1990. This fervent activism was a tight thread from the beginning to the end of this radiant concert. But the party was never far away. Hugh Masekela, whose enthusiasm burned into your retinas, displayed an infectious enthusiasm that brought the audience to its feet several times. It was love, and when he left the stage, everyone wanted to hug him.

RAY CHARLES -LIVE IN PARIS SALLE PLEYEL

Known for his rhythmic sequences, Ray Charles is also an outstanding melodist. As such, excerpts from his Parisian concerts at the Salle Pleyel highlight his complete approach to music. We get demonstrations of the catchy "The Bright Lights And You Girl," or with the monumental "Georgia On My Mind," a track where the Albany native sings his Southern heritage. Supported here by a formidable band, and in particular by the much sought-after Billy Preston on the organ, Ray Charles redoubles his energy in unison with the vocal quartet The Raelets. The audience is also privy to the phenomenon of "Tell All The World About You," from What'd I Say. Or again with "A Tear Fell," the gospel track where the genius sings his heart out like never before. “Eleanor Rigby" is a tour de force, recycling the Beatles' baroque arrangements into a different but equally effective soul format. Also, the version of "What'd I Say" is a hallucinating call and response extravaganza. It’s something to be seen over and over again.

A personal note from Quincy Jones:

Ray Charles was the best friend I could’ve ever dreamed of having. We met right after I moved to Seattle as a kid & I quickly learned he never allowed his limitations to be limitations. A titan of a musician, & he would tell me that music was a gigantic gumbo to be stirred, not something to be put into different bags. It was one of the most important lessons I ever had the pleasure of learning...seeing Ray’s outlook made me realize that it’s only when we stop confining ourselves to the restrictions that categories place on our creativity, that we can fully unlock the power of music in its purest form. And THAT is exactly what the spirit of my streaming platform Qwest TV, a channel that celebrates everything from bebop to soul to Indian ragas, was built on. So, please enjoy his performance.

PACO DI LUCIA – SHADE AND LIGHT

How did a guitarist who was obsessed with flamenco since childhood come to jazz? Michael Meert constructs an intimate portrait of Paco de Lucia (1947-2014). The archive images date back to his first television appearances. His family’s accounts remind us of the genius for whom the public wanted a prize to be created when there wasn’t one for someone his age. Each time period is punctuated by hand-clapping—”palmas”—that recalls flamenco’s rhythmic motifs. As a child, he woke to the sound of this music because the whole family played it, and he learned the guitar from his father, his brother Ramon, and then in the street. The family didn’t have the resources to send him to school, and flamenco was also a struggle for life in the working-class neighborhood of Algésiras where he was born. He owes his stage name to his mother, because the nickname Paco was common in the streets of Madrid. Being Lucia’s Paco was a way to differentiate himself.

The man claims to have hidden his shyness behind his instrument, but he would have liked to be a singer. An excerpt shows him in 1976 with Camarón de la Isla, his alter ego who passed away in 1992. “Flamenco is afraid of death,” he said. “This music is the will to live. It’s life.” The iconic titles “La Barossa,” “Jerez,” “Soleá,” and “Entre dos Aguas” remind us of the master, of his virtuosity. However, Paco de Lucia would take the risk of jazz and face making a bad impression by learning onstage and finding himself in competition with other musicians. In 1987, in Fribourg, with John McLaughlin, you could feel the tension, and then the unexpected happened, a special treat. “When you improvise, you have to know the harmony you are playing, without knowing which one you will be playing in a few minutes. It’s difficult to describe.”

What To Expect On Qwest TV Africa In July 2023?

JAMES BROWN – LIVE IN PARIS
Chorus remains a reference point in the French audiovisual landscape as a rock show to be reckoned with. Known for its incredible line-up (thanks to the Bazooka collective), the program (ran by Antoine de Caunes and the facetious Jacky leaves) left its habitual l’Empire venue in February 1981 to stage James Brown at the Hippodrome of Porte de Pantin.

An intense performance, the recording reveals a Mister Dynamite driven by lower currents of disco. We feel this perceptible influence via "Rapp Payback," a hedonistic remix of his 1973 funky manifesto, and again with "It's Too Funky In Here," a theme punctuated by haunting female choruses. Dedicated to Godfather classics, the second part of the set is notably punctuated by "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag," a sequence during which James Brown unveils his signature moves. Yet the highlight of this concert remains the incantatory version of "It’s a Man's Man's World." An iconic show, coupled with tributes to various performers including John Lennon, a legend murdered in New York only two months earlier. We finish with a minute’s silence and then the lights go out.

MANU DIBANGO – LIVE AT JAZZOPEN STUTTGART
At the 1995 Jazz Open Festival in Stuttgart, Manu Dibango is already in his sixties and "Soul Makossa" has been galvanizing dancefloors for two decades. In this concert, with Dibango at the helm, the impeccable band’s rhythm section comprises of Brice Wassy (bass) and the late Willy Nfor (drums), who died three years later. They begin with “Wakafrika”, a track whose name is shared by Dibango’s 1994 pan-African album that, notably, features Salif Keïta, Youssou N'Dour and King Sunny Ade. But besides a beautiful reggae version of "Malaïka" by Miriam Makeba, they perform an unusual repertoire. The Cameroonian saxophonist presents several new tracks as well as a cover of "La Javanaise", performed through a jazz-fusion prism. Their groove is crazy from start to finish!

BB KING – LICE AT ANTIBES JAZZ FESTIVAL
In 1996, back for the third time at the Jazz à Juan festival, B.B. King looked in great shape. Accompanied by an orchestra where each member is capable of delivering admirable solos, equipped with his Gibson "Lucille" guitar, King overflows with feeling, sincerity, virtuosity, bonhomie, fun and enthusiasm, which is a lot for one man, even if he is BB. On a repertoire covering a wide cross-section of his career ("Five Long Years," "Guess Who," "Rock Me, Baby" … ) and flanked by two prestigious heirs, Luther Allison and Gary Moore, the dashing septuagenarian concludes his concert with the traditional Louis Armstrong favorite "When The Saints Go Marching In." B.B. King stands at the head of a grand history.

ARCHIE SHEPP – GNAWA FIRE MUSIC
Alongside the biggest names in Gnawa music from Essaouira and Tangier (Mahmoud Gania, Malika Gania and Abdellah El Gourd), stands the great Archie Shepp, who, based on a sharp and happily transcendental jazz, never ceases to denounce injustices against black people.
On one side, Gnawa coming from Morocco and from the city of Essaouirra looking for trance by the means of their legendary percussion. On the other, one of the greatest saxophonists in jazz history. Their meeting has more than one meaning: the Gnawa brotherhoods descend from sub-Saharan slaves brought to Morocco from the twelfth century to serve the edification of the Maghreb Muslim empire. Jazz comes from the sons of African slaves into the United States.
Especially, if jazz does not, as opposed to Gnawa music, have a religious aspect, the two cross in their approaches as both free and strictly coded. In urgency, spontaneity, and in their meditative aspect. In dance as in trance.

Qwest TV Vs. DStv Music: Another Example Of Trash TV

Qwest TV is jazz infused channel owned by multi award winning artist Quincy Jones that launched on the DStv platform earlier in the year presenting live concerts, specials and documentaries on top of the already existing music offering from DStv.

For several years, MultiChoice has been feeding DStv consumers with the same content on Channel O, MTV Base and Trace Urban. Compared to the three, Trace Urban has more of an identity and variety as it isn't heavily reliant on Gqom or Amapiano.

MTV Base hit rock bottom at launch it was more of a censored version to the current Trace Urban now I find it hard to seperate from Channel O as they borrow each other's lineup and do what's common amongst DStv's portfolio - repeat.

Repeats are one aspect I'm not expecting to go away but this 320 section in particular needs some looking into I for one would target Channel O and MTV Base as there's not much variation going between the two.

As for the rest it's mostly garbage but I can see why they should get a stay of execution, Mzansi Music serves as the elderly counterpart to Channel O it's barely youth tiered and Trace Africa promotes hits from across the African continent.

As for the exemptions being Trace Urban, Trace Gospel, Qwest TV, One Gospel, Dumisa and DMX. I feel that is the only thing still kicking on the platform or worth exploring at this point. Not much duplication lurk around those areas as opposed to redundancy.

But honestly the whole music portfolio seems like an absolute mess perhaps the reason most channels are skewing towards local has to do promoting the market and finding ways to resonate with their viewers which doesn't seem like a bad thing.

If you're like me looking for something different there's always Apple Music, Spotify or JOOX. You don't have to let DStv control how you view content there's various reliable news outlets like Billboard, Pop Crave or Rap-Up providing updates on the things you love.

What To Expect On Qwest TV Africa In February 2023?

JAMES BROWN
Funk & Soul
They Called Him Mr. Dynamite
PRIMETIME ON FEBRUARY 4TH AT 9PM SAST

TRIBUTE TO FELA
Afrobeat
Feat. Seun Kuti, Talib Kweli, Ibeyi and Tony Allen
PRIMETIME ON FEBRUARY 10TH AT 11AM SAST

AL MCKAY'S EARTH, WIND & FIRE EXPERIENCE
Funk & Disco
The Earth, Wind & Fire Revival With Its Original Guitarist
PRIMETIME ON FEBRUARY 18TH AT 9PM SAST

BRAD MEHLADU
Jazz & Pop
The famous Jazz Pianist covers The Beatles
PRIMETIME ON FEBRUARY 23RD AT 9PM SAST

Just Like That, Qwest TV Becomes The First Channel To Join The List Of Errors MultiChoice Made In 2023

We're already halfway through the first month of 2023 and MultiChoice announced their first channel of the year, Qwest TV which is expected to launch on January 20th on both DStv and Showmax.

Unveiled at the unexpected showcase for the pay-tv company in 2022, Qwest TV is a jazz infused channel founded in 2017 by musical phenomenon Quincy Jones alongside TV and music producer Reza Ackbaraly.

Qwest TV is set to offer exclusive concerts from legendary and rising stars from across the globe, archived and unreleased material from the likes of Erykah Badu, Questlove, Salif Keita, Gregory Porter, Marcus Miller and Seun Kuti.

During the week, sources had mentioned that the channel would be made accessible to all DStv customers only for the same repetitive antics of last year to slide down in 2023 regarding its availability.

DStv:
- kykNET Lekker Opened To More DStv Customers For A Limited Time
- What Consumers Should Be Concerned About Regarding SABC's Yet To Be Launched Channels On DStv?
- Press Release: DStv Welcomes The Launch Of Quincy Jones’ QWEST TV Onto Screens This Month
- New Channel Alert: WildEarth To Launch In The UK Later In The Year

Last year, eMedia's 4 channels were set to exit the DStv platform with KIX and PBS Kids set to be made available to more DStv customers in March only for them to be offered three months later following the court proceedings with eMedia Investments.

Second INX Prime, a channel not a lot of DStv customers would have noticed with its consistent blackouts was set to launch by August 5th only for it to be delayed to August 24th.

Lastly, MultiChoice had mentioned that they were trying to hide brands like Magic Showcase and BBC UKTV from DStv customers on packages like Compact and Premium as they offer a lot of repeats yet they open kykNET Lekker for a limited time.

In short, something that is common with the likes of StarSat in terms of channels with content residing with Zuku TV had integrated onto MultiChoice. Just as you thought their customer care is worse imagine their PR department would resort to the same measures.

What happened to analysing your facts before making it available for media consumption? Now several customers are lost as the once announced Qwest TV which was set to rollout on all packages is in fact set to rot on the Premium package with Compact granted an open window from 20 January to 19 February.

Press Release: DStv Welcomes The Launch Of Quincy Jones’ QWEST TV Onto Screens This Month

Featuring Jazz, Soul, Blues, Hip-hop, Rnb, Afrobeats, and Dance - available only on DStv

With exclusive access to high-end music, great concerts, documentaries and never-seen archived interviews, the global music streaming platform QWEST TV will officially be DStv channel 330.

Music lovers will now be able to access QWEST TV via the DStv bouquet (channel 330) as well as on the Showmax platform. The Channel will be included in all the DStv packages in 44 countries across the continent.

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

Available exclusively to DStv customers, the channels offering includes:

- Exclusive concerts from legendary artists as well as Rising Stars from across the globe
- Premium music documentaries
- Archived artist footage
- Unreleased interviews with music icons including Erykah Badu, Questlove, Salif Keita, Gregory Porter, Marcus Miller, Seun Kuti, Kamasi Washington and Fatoumata Diawara

Founded in 2017 by musical genius, the legendary Quincy Jones, alongside TV and music producer and programmer Reza Ackbaraly,  Qwest TV plans to bring genre-agnostic musical content to the African continent.

“We are elated to be part of Multichoice family and to launch Qwest TV to the African market. We are expanding our mission to offer high end music to everyone. Africa is a land of traditions and music, and we’re very happy to build such a great partnership on this gorgeous continent !“ says CEO Reza Ackbaraly.

“I’m so proud to announce that Qwest TV is now available on Multichoice, Africa’s leading entertainment network. This means that my friends in South Africa, and forty-three more African territories, will have access to great, genre-defying music, 24/7. From African legends proudly proclaiming their heritage to jazz, classical, electronic and amazing deep-dive music documentaries, Africa is the source of music's heartbeat and the cradle of modern music. I'm looking forward to celebrating diverse sounds with y'all!” explains Quincy Jones, Qwest TV co-founder and music producer.

With the core focus of expanding the content offering for viewers with quality entertainment, Georginah Machiridza, Executive Head for General Entertainment Channels at MultiChoice Group harps on the importance of such partnerships.

DStv Flex:
- What to expect this January on Curiosity Channel?
- What to expect this January on The Home Channel?
- Reyka renewed for season 2 on M-Net
- What to expect this January on Qwest TV?

“What is key to us is that, whilst our audiences are driven by an appetite for homegrown content, we also complement it with the best in international content. To this end, we work with a selection of partners to ensure a comprehensive one stop shop for our customers. Our partnership with QWEST TV is one we are thrilled about, and we cannot wait for our DStv customers to experience it,” says Machiridza.

QWEST TV  will air on DStv channel 330 from 20 January 2023, for more information visit dstv.com.

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: M-Net Movies Blk All Stars And Qwest TV Coming Soon To DStv Alongside BBC UKTV Which Will Likely Rollout On Openview As Well

In September, MultiChoice held a showcase where they unveiled Qwest TV a jazz infused entertainment channel by Grammy Awarded Quincy Jones then a few months later an BBC UKTV from BBC Studios a channel which had since then been delayed on the Openview platform.

Now we have recieved updates from both brands, according to a press release shared by the pay-tv company, BBC UKTV will be made available from 15 December targeting Family, Access and Easyview customers on channel 134 - as predicted.

Easyview is finally getting some attention probably due to the success of Openview and it's upcoming pay-tv tier Openview+. Don't be surprised if they added an additional R10 to their monthly subscription.pp

BBC UKTV:
- Conspiracy Theory regarding BBC UKTV on DStv
- BBC UKTV to launch on the Openview platform
- BBC UKTV vs. BBC Brit: Recommendations and Improvements
- What to expect on BBC UKTV?
- Premium customers to lose out on purposed new channel
- Another attempt at promoting the BBC on DStv

Compact, Compact+ and Premium customers already have BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle, CBeebies and BBC World News. Of course, BBC Earth is a premium channel and while BBC UKTV will offer repeats to them other consumers have to rely on the retarded BBC Brit.

Programs confirmed for the channel include Strictly Come Dancing, Frozen Planet, My Family, Andy's Wild Adventures, Come Dine With Me South Africa basically repeats from the above-mentioned brands.

Qwest TV is also gearing up for a December release on channel 330 and if I had to guess the channel will be added to Premium, Compact+ and Compact customers but we all know how well that section performs within those packages but this is their way of evening out the odds.

Openview:
- Openview to come with monthly fees by next year
- Could Openview be losing more channels in future?
- SABC 1 title card has been registered for customers
- MultiChoice attempting to replicate eExtra's Kuiertyd with kykNET
- eMovies and eMovies Extra receive their first competitors on DStv Easyview
- The history of Star Life

Even better, Qwest TV will launch in HD while as the low tiered BBC UKTV will be available in standard definition and I know some consumers on Openview are probably wondering if it will be available at the same time as DStv and I have not doubts about that.

Qwest TV doesn't really some that exciting at all as the music section on DStv has lacked variety outside of DMX that I'm sure several consumers had already moved on. It could explain as to why M-Net Movies launched yet another repeat channel for a limited time.

M-Net Movies Blk All-Stars is basically M-Net Movies 2 which skewed toward black audiences with films like After Earth, Rush Hour and Lethal Weapon. It will be added on channel 111 to DStv Premium and AddMovies customers and judging by the lineup Compact and Compact+ customers as well.

DStv:
- Could Russia Today be removed from the DStv platform?
- Qwest TV coming soon to Showmax
- fliekNET to make a comeback this festive season
- Why DStv Premium customers might lose out on a certain new channel?
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on the DStv platform
- VH1 making a comeback on DStv

If there's something I'm curious about more than anything is about some of the current offerings which just like BBC UKTV and Magic Showcase are already viewable on the premium and compact bouquet.

MultiChoice has been doing a lot of quality control during the year part of which included eliminating non-performing or channels which offer too much repeats I mean they even went for Novela Magic which just leaves all the more curious as to what's to become of Real Time and Discovery Family.

What To Expect On Qwest TV Africa In January 2023?

DStv Flex:
- The Heartless coming soon to TLNovelas
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- What to expect this December on TNT?
- What to expect this December on The Home Channel?
- What to expect this December on Curiosity Channel?

ANDERSON.PAAK
Hip-Hop & R&B
Multiple Grammy Award Winner
PRIMETIME ON JANUARY 21ST AT 9PM SAST

TRIBUTE TO FELA
Afrobeat
Feat. Seun Kuti, Talib Kweli, Ibeyi and Tony Allen
PRIMETIME JANUARY 22ND AT 11AM SAST

HERBIE HANCOCK
Jazz
Piano Prodigy & Jazz Legend
PRIMETIME ON JANUARY 26TH AT 9PM SAST

JAMES BROWN
Funk & Soul
They Called Him Mr. Dynamite
PRIMETIME ON JANUARY 29TH AT 9PM SAST

New Channel Alert: Qwest TV Will Also Be Made Available To Stream On Showmax

In September, MultiChoice held a showcase where they unveiled several new content for their consumers. Alongside those developments came two new channels, Moonbug Kids and Qwest TV of which one is still awaiting release on the pay-tv platform.

Founded by Quincy Jones, Qwest TV is a jazz skewed destination celebrating the life of millenniums through concerts, documentaries and interviews. It works as a multimedia outlet as it comes with its own streaming service for which the linear channel sources it content.

For several months despite no channel, MultiChoice has been promoting various content for Qwest TV but from the looks of it their teams get the time allocation mixed up you find yourself promoting February 2022 when it should write October.

But from what's clear in this documents is that the channel will likely arrive by early 2023 and it's all thanks to Showmax as they have the first quarter of 2022 panned out for Qwest TV.

Interesting to note, MultiChoice never mentioned that Qwest TV was aligned to their digital approach kind of like newcomer Moonbug Kids which too bundles itself on Showmax. I mean it kind of makes sense considering how their last attempt at Jazz turned out.

From the looks of things it's possible MultiChoice is hellbent on making Qwest TV succeed where VH1, MTV Hits and BET Jazz all of which hail from Paramount Global failed to do so.

The three mentioned brands (probably BET Jazz) were as relevant internationally as seen with Qwest TV but all took the plunge. So who knows maybe this time around things will be different with Showmax tagging along regardless I stopped relying on DStv for music.

Comedy Central, MTV, Qwest TV And M-Net's Magic Showcase: Here's What We've Heard So Far About These DStv Channels

Earlier in the month, MultiChoice launched a new preschool channel Moonbug Kids home to YouTube sensations Blippi and CoComelon. They also plan to launch a new jazz infused channel Qwest TV by Quincy Jones by the end of the year.

BET which was exclusive to consumers on the Compact, Compact+ and Premium package has been added to consumers on the Family and Access packages. Now we got word from Paramount that more of their channels will find their way to more households.

To top it off, MultiChoice will be rolling out another new channel Magic Showcase ahead of the launch of Qwest TV. Here's a look at the 4 channels:

1. Comedy Central
Channels: 122
Current packages: Premium and Compact+
Additional packages: Compact from 1st November

Home to shows such as The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, viewers will also get access to The Carbonaro Effect, Impractical Jokers, Just For Laughs and Two And A Half Men.

2. MTV
Channels: 130
Current packages: Premium, Compact+ and Compact
Additional packages: Family from 1st November

Home to shows such as Ridiculousness, Catfish, The Challenge, Ex On The Beach, Teen Moms and Geordie Shore alongside award shows like the MTV EMAs and VMAs.

3. Magic Showcase *NEW*
Channels: 143
Packages: Premium, Compact+, CompactEasyview from 1st November

Basically another Real Time which gives certain DStv customers access to dramas such as Legacy, Rionaand The Imposter alongside reality shows such as The Marriage Counsellor, Being Bonang and Survivor SA.

4. Qwest TV *NEW*
Channels: 330
Packages: Premium, Compact+ and Compact by December 2022

A jazz infused channel home to legends such as Billie Holiday, Esperanza Spalding, Sun Ra, Kamasi Washington, Bill Evans and Flying Lotus. It also features documentaries, interviews, concerts and archived material.

MTV Hits Vs. Qwest TV: MultiChoice's Transition From Pop To Jazz

During the week, it was reported that MTV Hits will be the next channel to exit the DStv platform this comes after the close demise of Da Vinci Kids. On top of that, another channel Qwest TV is set to take its place within the following month.

MTV Hits was an international music brand operated by Paramount Global which also supplies channels like BET, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Qwest TV another foreigner was founded by American producer, musician and multi Grammy Award winner Quincy Jones.

MTV Hits dwells in the world of pop featuring hits from the likes of Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Drake. Qwest TV very much like the defunct Soul Music channel on the Openview platform is a jazz infused channel home to the likes of Herbie Hancock, Andersen Paak and Aretha Franklin.

MTV Hits seperated themselves from the rest of the pack's overrepetitive lifestyle but it too came with a lot of repetition. Just like it's predecessor, MTV Music24 all its content played in a particular order and would often restart within the day.

Basically, the channel was less productive which could have been the result to its demise.

Qwest TV seeks to undo the wrong which was set by MTV Hits as the brand on top of being a multimedia platform offers concerts, live performances, countdowns and documentaries. The only setback comes from it being a jazz channel.

MTV Hits was more of a youth based brand as the offering resonates with audiences between the ages of 13-18 or 18-34 years while Qwest TV is for a whole new audience or in this case 25-49+ years. The only thing these two have very much in common at this point is their focus on international shores.

Most people between the age range for MTV Hits are using Spotify or iTunes to stream their favourite tunes but to those who are unable to afford such luxury will now have to direct themselves to the audio section of DStv for a similar offering.

Qwest TV is gearing up for a November debut as MTV Hits gets wiped off the airwaves. MultiChoice hasn't launched Moonbug Kids as promised on the 13th of October.

New Channel Alert: MultiChoice To Add Qwest TV As New Music Channel To The DStv Platform

Quincy Jones, one of the most decorated icons of the global cultural landscape, partnered with music programmer Reza Ackbaraly in 2017 to launch a groundbreaking venture called Qwest TV.

Qwest TV is currently a video-on-demand service offers exclusive, original content including concerts, documentaries, interviews and archival footage. The service touts itself as a vast source of jazz and the many artists the genre has influenced, stating that it will explore music from “Billie Holiday to Esperanza Spalding, Sun Ra to Kamasi Washington, Bill Evans to Flying Lotus, and Ravi Shankar’s soaring sitar solos to the traditions of Cuban Santería.”

“The dream of Qwest TV is to let jazz and music lovers everywhere experience these incredibly rich and diverse musical traditions in a whole new way. At my core, I am a bebopper, and over the course of my seventy-year career in music I have witnessed firsthand the power of jazz – and all of its off-spring from the blues and R&B to pop, rock, and hip-hop, to tear down walls and bring the world together. I believe that a hundred years from now, when people look back at the 20th century, they will view Bird, Miles, and Dizzy, as our Mozarts, Bachs, Chopins and Tchaikovskys, and it is my hope that Qwest TV will serve to carry forth and build on the great legacy that is jazz for many generations to come,” Jones said in a statement.

As of 2021, Qwest TV was estimated to have reached 149 million homes globally and with the addition of MultiChoice's DStv they're expected to reach over 45 markets.

The news of Qwest TV coincides with the launch of the preschool brand Moonbug Kids. Both of which have a lot of loopholes in rollouts as we already got an estimation on when to expect Moonbug while as with Qwest it will launch on channel 330.