SABC Finally Switch SABC 1-3 To HD On Openview, Still Silent Over The Two Upcoming Channels

Last year, eMedia Investments forged a deal with SABC which would see SABC 1-3 switch to HD and launch further channels to the platform within that year. At the time, SABC Sport alongside SABC's 19 radio stations have since then made available to the Openview platform.

They failed to launch the two further channels as well as switch the current ones to high definition but now that all changes as Openview announced through their social pages that SABC 1-3 will be available in crystal clear HD after waiting almost a year.

The channels have been viewable in this format on both MultiChoice's DStv and Telkom's streaming service TelkomOne with Openview joining pair as the only providers to not only house these channels in HD but also operate their 19 radio stations.

Seeing that SABC failed to launch their two entertainment channels to Openview in 2021. They'll likely provide an update later in the year perhaps even sooner than expected.

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As mentioned on this site last year, SABC Encore and Children could be the two channels Openview customers have been longing for while SABC Parliament is a side dish probably for another platform.

These names were spotted on LyngSat I mean whatever is there isn't taken for granted and there's no way they could have thought of these names without any input from the SABC.

SABC Children and Parliament was part of the public broadcaster's DTT plans for 2012 which fell flat and Parliament was resubmitted 4 years ago while SABC had mentioned in an interview that they have considered reviving the controversial SABC Encore.

Reasons why these two could be for Openview and not Parliament, the two entertainment channels launching soon will house archived material and again perfect fit for those two possible entertainment channels.

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Unlike Parliament, SABC Children wasn't part of SABC's DTT plans for 2018 making it a liability so the only reason such channel would be conceived by them was if they'd get something out of it. SABC 3 despite being the least watched between the three SABC channels still brings in the dough.

Regardless, the two upcoming channels are launching on a nonexclusive basis meaning any other platform such as DStv and StarSat even TelkomOne can package part if not all these channels.

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SABC Encore And SABC Children: The Final Test Dummies, Could These Be The Channels eMedia Investments And The SABC Failed To Launch On Openview?

It's been 9 months since SABC and eMedia Investments extended their agreement to include three additional channels and 19 radio stations on Openview and 4 months since the media has been awaiting more details on the channels.

The SABC and eMedia Investments promised to unveil more details about the other two channels coming to Openview before the end of June and several months have pass with no update.

One of the two were speculated to be SABC Encore. When you look at the whole thing they've been mentioned or spotted by the media on several occasions like the radio interview or that funeral service.

Besides that, a channel registered under the name SABC Entertainment came up which was the original name for the Encore only for it to be removed in favour of the kiddies brand, SABC Children.

Now that kiddies has been merged with SABC Encore as seen below.

SABC offers three free-to-air channels which carry local and international programming ranging from dramas, soaps, reality, cartoons and news. So what I'm trying to get at here is they have plenty of entertainment channels.

Even though, it was mentioned that the two entertainment channels would carry content already seen on other channels they never stated it would cater for the same age group.

My logic here is that perhaps the two channels coming will be targeted and if so happens to be the two mentioned. The arrangement of the SABC channels will go as follows:

- SABC 1-3 remains catered for 18-49 so of course the lineup will recieve constant adjustments to appease that audience.
- SABC Encore will cater for the millenials who grew out of SABC 1-3. It could also be used as a history channel to document the lives of that age group as well as the stars.
- SABC Children which has been viewed as niche on SABC 1-3 in regards to timeslots will cater for 2-12/3/4 years olds.

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New Channel Alert (Rumor): SABC Entertainment And SABC Encore Might Be The Two Anticipated Entertainment Channels Coming Soon To Openview And TelkomOne And This Happens Admist Their 85 Year Anniversary

As some viewers on Openview (and TelkomOne) wait impatiently for the SABC to unveil their two long awaited entertainment channels which was suppose to be announced in June. It seems people find their own means of recovering the info.

A week ago, viewers spotted SABC Encore through TelkomOne which disappeared (for now) not to mention SABC hosted a funeral which highlighted the channel as well.

According to a viewer, they spotted another SABC channel through LyngSat Intelsat 20 which goes by the name, SABC Entertainment and oh look even SABC Encore is tallying along.

Another channel present but still under development is SABC Parliament which implies that SABC is more serious about adding channels.

SABC Entertainment was the first name the public broadcaster had chosen for SABC Encore that was part of 5 year agreement they forged with MultiChoice where the channel would offer archived material from the SABC.

According to sources, the only reason SABC Entertainment wasn't used at the time was that the SABC wanted a name that fits with the channel's premise being repeats and I applaud them for that.

SABC Entertainment seemed more like an SABC 1 you'd find on a pay-tv platform when I first saw that name.

My guess would be that this revived concept will serve as the SABC 4 and 5 channel they tried to pawn or a another eExtra which is used for repeats and leftovers.

MTV in the United States has two music channels one for the 80s the other 90s maybe SABC Entertainment and Encore will ride on that wagon for the time being and as the ship sails they'll definitely be some reshuffling.

SABC currently has an ongoing battle with MultiChoice (in fact pay-tv platforms) regarding the carriage agreement for SABC 1-3 alongside a pending deal with regards to SABC Education. This has been around for more than a decade actually if you count TV licence.

Others rumours is Openview is said to give eVOD it's own channel (114) which is probably similar to DStv's defunct Explora Tutorial channel and SABC Encore on channel 113 (spotted this week) so I'm presuming SABC Entertainment will launch on channel 112 since 111 was often used for eMedia's pop-up channels.

SABC is celebrating 85 years of broadcast and we might get some confirmation about these channels.

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New Channel Alert: One Of SABC's Two New Entertainment Channels On Openview Might Have Surfaced

SABC held a memorial service for fellow musician Tsepo Tshola and in the advert they displayed what appears to be SABC Encore and that it's available through DTT.

Not only that, Telkom's streaming service, TelkomOne seems to be transmitting SABC Encore through their platform which is likely part of a carriage agreement both parties established in 2020.

SABC Encore began in May 2015 and lasted about 5 years through an exclusive clause on MultiChoice's DStv. SABC mentioned on two occasions that they were working on reviving the channel through another platform.

I have no doubt in my mind at this point that SABC Encore is one of the two long awaited entertainment channels SABC promised to launch on the Openview platform.

In March, SABC stated these two channels coming to Openview will also be found on DTT as well as OTT platforms e.g. TelkomOne. Also that these two channels would have 80% existing content and 20% new content so maybe the memorial service is part of the 20%.

SABC Encore which was created to present the best of SABC will likely become another Disney where they make new property based on old content. In this channel's case I mean documentaries, reality shows and TV specials.

SABC Encore would be ReWIND's first competitor should it launch on Openview kind of like how SABC Sport is competing e.tv News & Sport.

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SABC Is Considering Launching A Second Sports Channel As Well As Reviving The Scrapped Encore Channel

SABC Sport's general manager Gary Ruthbone held an interview with SAfm Radio on Monday to discuss about the Chief-Wydad games.

Within that interview, he also mentioned that the SABC plans to have two sports channels at some point and are looking to possibly revive SABC Encore.

SABC Sport is currently viewable on Openview, TelkomONE and SABC's DTT platform. For some reason it's not available on any pay-tv platform alongside SABC Education.

It wouldn't be surprising if two supposed sports channels used the numbering system and format like ESPN and were to be referred as SABC Sport 1 (the current SABC Sport channel) and SABC Sport 2.

SABC Encore lasted about 5 years on DStv after the platform decided it wasn't worth the value and killed it for about a year now and SABC mentioned this revival a year ago and it's interesting that they're still considering it now that they plan to launch their own streaming service.

Perhaps Encore will be one of the two long awaited entertainment channels SABC promised to launch on Openview alongside SABC Education (maybe). Then there's chances that we could see two other channels and Encore will just join the list of SABC's dream channels.

Recently, a proposal made by ICASA grants SABC the rights to negotiate carriage fees (not TV licence) with pay-tv platforms. With that in mind, it's possible that some channels (SABC 2/3) may disappear and other channels come in their place.

Update: SABC is rumoured to unveil the channels between the 10th to 15th of July.

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What If A Modernized SABC Encore Launched As The Two Channels On OpenView?

SABC and eMedia Investments reached an agreement back in March that would grant OpenView customers access to SABC's 19 radio stations alongside 3 additional channels one of which being a sports channel.

It was stated at the time that SABC Sport alongside the 19 radio stations would roll out in the month of April with the other two being carrying content from SABC archives alongside new programming being unveiled within the next 3 months being April to June likely to crossover onto July.

SABC Education was suspected to be the first one but it was stated the two would be entertainment channels besides that OpenView already has 2 other educational channels that often air the same programs.

The second rumored channel was the Encore channel formerly available on DStv but the idea from SABC was to also give these new channels some fresh content so I derived it into SABC 4 and SABC 5 channels the broadcaster initially plotted to launch before downsizing to just three channels.

Perhaps, SABC Encore a channel SABC hoped to continue on another platform could be the mysterious brand for OpenView except it won't actually return but split into two parts.

The name SABC 4 and 5 could be a better way to "label' these Encore channels.

SABC 4 would be home to all the local dramas and soapies currently seen on SABC 1-3 such as Yizo Yizo, Soul Buddy, Velaphi and Intersections while as SABC 5 will bring in factual, religious and lifestyle entertainment such as Motswako, 50/50, Voetspore and Psalted.

SABC is currently in a TV licence brawl with MultiChoice and is scheduled to also launch a streaming service later in the year with eMedia Investments launching theirs in the month of July.

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SABC Encore Stops Airing On DStv After 5 Years

Yes, you heard correctly SABC Encore stops airing on DStv from June. The channel joins ITV Choice which is also set on DStv later in June.

SABC Encore was conceived through a 5 year agreement back in 2013 between SABC and MultiChoice. In this deal, SABC had to supply a news and entertainment channel. Both channels severed delays in their launch before they eventually launched on DStv.

SABC Encore was originally suppose to launch back in 2014 as SABC Entertainment. The channel along with SABC News were also part of DTT which is long overdue.

SABC originally plotted to launch 18 channels before downsizing their plans to 9 channels back in 2018 and Encore wasn't listed in those plans only SABC 1-3, Education and News were mentioned meaning it's possible that the SABC was planning to scrap the brand at the time another sign of its turmoil was it's Facebook account as it stopped being active early last year.

SABC went from 6 channels to just 5 again, for those who aren't aware SABC launched an educational channel through DTT platforms and online with plans to launch it on pay-tv platforms.

There's no reason yet as to why the channel is being scrapped maybe SABC and MultiChoice are cutting back on costs or MultiChoice no longer sees it viable to have it on the platform.

SABC also had another entertainment channel which outlived Encore called SABC Africa was also on DStv for at least 10 years before getting scrapped due to poor performance maybe that's the reason.

SABC And Multichoice Enter Into New Contract

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and MultiChoice are pleased to announce that they have signed a new commercial channel supply agreement allowing the SABC News and SABC Encore channels to continue to be broadcast on DStv.
 
The agreement follows extensive discussions between the parties as the previous contract is set to expire.  SABC and MultiChoice believe that this agreement will give their relationship a new start.
 
DStv customers will continue to enjoy around the clock news coverage from SABC News on channel 404, while SABC Encore on channel 156 will allow viewers to indulge in nostalgia, airing old favourites and classics.  The SABC archives, which the SABC uses to produce SABC Encore, remains the wholly-owned property of the SABC.
 
SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe said: “The SABC welcomes the new agreement with MultiChoice which will bring certainty to our viewers and our staff.  The board and management of the SABC are satisfied that the agreement meets both the commercial and governance needs of the SABC.  The SABC looks forward to delivering high quality channels into the future.”
 
MultiChoice South Africa CEO Calvo Mawela said: “We are pleased to be able to continue to carry these channels on DStv.  We have a long standing relationship with SABC and are happy that we have reached a mutually beneficial agreement.  We look forward to continue working with SABC to deliver great entertainment to our customers.”