Recap To The Decade: SABC Encore Revival Is Still In Development For The Openview Platform

SABC is gearing up for the launch of their second news channel, SABC eKhaya. It will serve as the 7th TV channel by the public broadcaster and it will also be a regional spinoff to the current SABC News brand viewed on MultiChoice's DStv, SABC's DTT and SABC+.

It will debut in the second quarter of the year exclusively on SABC's DTT and SABC+ offering news in all 11 South African languages. A format which was once seen on the current SABC News but abandoned following the brand's expansion to the rest of Africa.

As seen these past years, SABC has been behind on expanding their linear presence. In 2021, they formalised a partnership with eMedia Investments for 3 additional channels including SABC Sport and now we are in 2023 and we're still awaiting updates on the 2 channels.

From what was gathered, these two channels would leverage content from SABC's archives and just like SABC Sport. The plan was to offer something unique and not available on SABC 1-3 as more households tune into these stations and their content.

Although, we have yet to get an update on the supposed channels. SABC eKhaya isn't the only channel the public broadcaster might be looking to introduce in the coming future but likely a revival to the controversial SABC Encore now referred to Intelsat as SABC 1.

For almost 2 years, the public broadcaster had been working on this supposed channel under SABC Entertainment, SABC Children and SABC Encore. What had me more convinced about Encore was the time since it left DStv which is when these tests were underway.

One of the brand names, SABC Entertainment was initially meant to be the name for SABC Encore before those plans were scrapped while as the connection with SABC Children may have to do with the fact that both channels exist to leverage from SABC 1-3.

The public broadcaster had marketed SABC Encore on numerous occasions particularly for live matches or memorial services alongside talked on a revival. On top of that, SABC 1 had been spotted with the SABC Encore tag.

If anything, I do wonder how this brand would be any different to the version viewed on DStv. The channel was opened on numerous occasions for rebroadcasts of live matches on top of that memorial service and with SABC restructuring repeats on SABC 1-3.

It wouldn't be shocking if SABC Encore returned in a similar form to M-Net's SWITCH channels or eMedia's Power UP as SABC 1-3 won't be leveraging repeats from the other. Considering it was somewhat relevant, I can see the 80s/90s version of the channel remain intact.

SABC 1 Title Card Had Been Registered For The Openview Platform

If you're probably reading this then you must have realised that that the public broadcaster once again missed the deadline to rollout their OTT platform accompanied by their additional channels which are set to join the existing SABC 1-3, Sport and Education.

At this point, I wouldn't be shocked if people forgot about these channels or pay attention to them as eMedia Investments had already found other means to keep viewers occupied. This year alone, Openview welcomed eXposed, ePlesier, The Home Channel+ and probably BBC UKTV.

Most of which are basically premium channels and are nothing like what ePlesier and the long awaited channels are going to be - repetitive as they were highlighted to get archived material.

Although we haven't gotten official confirmation toward the existence of SABC Children and any other SABC channel. The public broadcaster alongside eMedia Investments seems to have registered a brand known as SABC 1.

I know some viewers are thinking how absurd this appears but interesting fact about this SABC 1 was often referred as the defunct SABC Encore channel. Even had its logo swapped while transmitting on both Openview and TelkomOne.

Taking that to account, it's possible SABC 1 is just a cover up for another channel they don't want to mention e.g. SABC Encore, SABC Parliament or SABC Children. At this point, I'd be more shocked if none of these brands happened to be the reported channels.

I mean there's a lot of evidence staggering against them one is that DTT still has a slot for SABC Encore and the second is that SABC Education beforehand was available digitally on Tuluntulu before launching on DTT.

MultiChoice Set To Add A Further 3 Channels From The SABC To Replace The 4 e.tv Channels On DStv

On Monday, the Competition Tribunal heard eMedia’s application for interim relief against MultiChoice’s decision to drop the eMovies, eMovies Extra, eExtra and eToonz channels from its DStv packages.

The broadcaster planned to suspend these channels from its service at the end of March 2022 but delayed the removals by two months after E-tv decided to take the issue to the Competition Commission.

eMedia Holdings legal counsel Tembeka Ngcukaitobi argued that MultiChoice’s decision amounted to a dominant player refusing to supply a scarce service, in contravention of the Competition Act Section 8. The company believes it will lose as much as 19% of its advertising revenue should the channels be suspended.

 

 

In his opening arguments on the matter, Ngcukaitobi stated that MultiChoice did not justify its decision during negotiations or in response to a letter of demand from eMedia.

MultiChoice had only stated the decision was based purely on commercial considerations.
It was only in its first answering affidavit to the case brought before the Competition Tribunal that MultiChoice elaborated. Initially, its rebuttal included that it had satellite capacity constraints.

MultiChoice said it had to cut eMedia’s four channels so it could accommodate three yet-to-be-launched SABC channels that it must carry under the changing legislation.

Ngcukaitobi also stressed that DStv doesn’t have to carry SABC’s additional channels immediately, but only sometime in the future following negotiations with the SABC.

 

 

A year ago, SABC officially unveiled their sports channel SABC Sport and a year prior SABC Education. On LyngSat, they registered three channels SABC Parliament, SABC Children and SABC Encore. Could any of these 5 channels be making their way to DStv?

SABC Encore has been rumoured for over a year as the public broadcaster offers it on DTT to broadcast sports and other events that weren't seen in the version that was made available on DStv. On top of the fact that the public broadcaster hoped to revive the channel.

SABC Education was meant to be on DStv and rival platform StarSat but the SABC was stalling so both brands removed further info about the channel on their website and i-Plate respectively.

The public broadcaster plans to launch more channels in the near future alongside a streaming service where these channels alongside SABC 1-3 will be available to stream.

Aside from DStv, the public broadcaster still has to launch a further two channels on the Openview platform as promised in 2021.

 

E-tv needs DStv
eMedia contends under the prevailing market dynamics, its channels were dependent on DStv to remain competitive. Ngcukaitobi argued presence on the DStv platforms allows E-tv to maintain customer contact, generate advertising revenue, and ensure a high-quality broadcasting service.

The company has also argued that carrying the four E-tv channels was economically feasible for MultiChoice, as eMedia provided them for free, and two were in DStv’s top 10 most popular channels.

MultiChoice’s other reasons for denying a carriage renewal agreement included that the channels did not meet its strategic objectives for local content, black empowerment, value propositions, and its aim to decrease the frequency of repeats.

Ngcukaitobi said MultiChoice’s claims that the decision was based on E-tv not meeting DStv’s strategic objectives were “contrived”.

He argued two of the four channels were sharply focused on local content, while eMedia was a majority black-owned business. He also maintained MultiChoice had not provided evidence it would replace the channels with other offerings that met its criteria.

Ngcukaitobi surmised that MultiChoice’s action was done from a desire to inflict harm on a potential rival by undercutting its revenue.

Roundups #28: M-Net Working On More Short Form Series As Lingashoni And The Queen Are Axed On 1Magic And Mzansi Magic, SABC Planning To Restructure Their Offering Ahead Of The Launch Of Its Unnamed OTT Service And, The Triplets Alongside New Episodes Of Roary The Racing Car Launches This April On JimJam Africa

M-Net calls it quits for these two series

“The Queen’s producers, Ferguson Films, will shoot Season 7 of the show, which will premiere in July 2022 and viewers will continue to enjoy the telenovela on their screens until its final episode airs on 13 January 2023,”.

“The 1Magic telenovela Lingashoni, produced by Stained Glass TV, will come to an end after its second season concludes on 16 March 2023. This follows the season’s premiere on 21 March 2022.”

A new telenovela will plug the gap on the weekday 9pm slot, replacing The Queen from January 2023. The new content, which is under development, will be announced in due course.

Meanwhile The River, a multi-award winning production, has been renewed for Season 5.

“Our replacement for Lingashoni will be announced in due course. The business has reviewed our approach to focus on stabilising the channel slate with limited high-end series and realities.”

Also read:
- The Scent Of Passion coming soon to Telemundo
- April on Honey
- March on TNT
- 7 Year Stitch coming soon to E!
- March on Curiosity
- March on Universal TV
- March on Studio Universal
- Simply Maria has a release date on TLNovelas
- Second batch of rumoured series coming to M-Net, 1Magic, Me and Showmax
- March on E!
- March on CBS Reality and CBS Justice
- March on History

Potential lineup changes coming to the SABC channels

As reported in the past week, the public broadcaster has pushed the launch for its new channels and OTT service to the next financial year which will end by March 2023.

These new channels are said to be made available on the untitled OTT service as predicted and plans are underway to redevelop the offering across all their television channels and radio stations ahead of the launch.

The public broadcaster wants to have a multi-OTT presence and just like Discovery Inc's Discovery+ they're not setting out to surpass Netflix or Showmax but to be sustainable for the years to come.

As mentioned a couple of times, the rumoured SABC Encore could be different to the one formerly seen on DStv and this info kind of proves my suspicions were pretty accurate.

Also read:
- SABC wants to launch a second sports channel
- Trollstopia coming soon to e.tv
- eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra and eToonz to stop airing on DStv
- Dokter Ali S2 coming in April to eExtra
- SABC will launch more HD channels and streaming service
- What to possibly expect on SABC's streaming service?
- Should eReality merge with News And Sport?
- Racing240 expands to Openview this April
- Doodsondes returning for a fourth season on eExtra
- Saloni and East Meets West coming soon to SABC 2

More kids entertainment for Easyview customers

PBS Kids which was available to DStv Premium, Compact+, Compact, Family and Access package will also be available on Easyview when eToonz goes off air from April meaning viewers get hours of Arthur, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Wild Kratts and more.

JimJam is also available on channel 310 and kids can look forward to the following titles in April:
• The Triplets S1
• Roary the Racing Car (new episodes)

Also read:
- Press release of DreamWorks Channel on DStv
- March on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
- March on Cartoon Network
- We Bare Bears coming to Cartoon Network in April
- Da Vinci Kids acquired rights to The Deep
- March on Da Vinci Kids
- Drafted results for Cartoon Network in March include Lego Batman
- March on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons
- Cartoonito expected to return to EMEA by mid 2022

SABC Encore Being Used As A Catch-Up Channel For Live Sports, Could This Be A Possible Hint On What To Expect From The Possible Revival?

Two years ago, SABC Encore ceased transmission on MultiChoice's DStv and since then several developments involving the channel went down. From hosting a memorial service for Tshepo Tsola to broadcasting CAF games all this coming from revamped SABC Encore channel.

It's evident that the public broadcaster hasn't given up on the brand and believe it could be of value to other consumers than it was on DStv as they've left a spot open for the channel on DTT and distribute the pop-up on TelkomOne.

As mentioned much earlier, SABC Encore broadcasted CAF games and a memorial service, content which is not that old as seen before with DStv customers so could it be possible that maybe the revival will be slightly different.

Instead of rehashing content from the 80s to 00s, SABC Encore will be no different to the Rewind channel currently packaged on the Openview platform which supplies content that has already or is currently being viewed on other stations.

Also read:
- SABC will launch more HD channels and streaming service
- SABC Encore and SABC Children channel might be in development for Openview
- The Vow coming soon to Zee One
- Indian horror Dayan, Destructive Beauty has a release date on eExtra
- eToonz needs these improvements
- Could eNCA launch on Openview?
- Should eReality merge with News And Sport?
- Why Openview has more Indian content?
- Doodsondes returning for a fourth season on eExtra
- Saloni and East Meets West coming soon to SABC 2
- Dokter Ali S2 coming in April to eExtra

Not too long ago, Rewind was more like SABC Encore but with a mixture of both local and international programming. As years went by, it became a catch-up channel kind of like eMedia's other brands eToonz.

Repeats don't often get high ratings especially if you live in 2022 where you have a brand like SABC 1 broadcast content from the time it was simply known as TV1. It's the reason you don't see Rewind airing old series like Madam & Eve and Backstage.

In the next financial period, the public broadcaster plans to launch more HD channels one of which possibly being SABC Encore as they did broadcast CAF and who'd want to watch that in poor quality. Time will only tell if this revival would be of any use to consumers or be treated in the same manner as its DStv counterpart.

Also read:
- What to possibly expect on SABC's streaming service?
- eVOD free data promotion was meant to end in January
- Balaji Telefilms unveils new content possibly for Glow TV, Zee One, eExtra and Star Life
- SABC wants to launch a second sports channel
- The Estate could be on the chopping block
- News And Sport set to go off air on Openview by the end of March
- Could Zee One be rebranding soon?
- The Homemaker, The Accidental Mayor and Happily Ever After coming soon to Star Life
- No free eVOD data on MTN
- A Promise Of Love coming soon to Glow TV
- Racing240 expands to Openview this April

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SABC To Launch More HD Channels And Delayed Their Streaming Service To The Next Financial Year + Possible Outcomes For eMedia Investments Agreement With MultiChoice For eNCA (Still Involves Openview)

Upcoming developments for the SABC

In 2018, SABC had announced plans to launch a streaming service and since then it's been delayed likely due to their contract agreement with the Asian streaming service, VIU which bundles several shows from eMedia Investments such as Scandal and Imbewu.

Perhaps it will be called: SABC VOD, SABC Streaming, SABC On Demand, SABC iPlayer or SABC Plus/SABC+.

According to Madoda Mxakwe on CxO Series, the public broadcaster is expected to launch some HD channels likely the two long awaited channels on Openview one of which were rumoured to be SABC Encore while upgrading SABC Education to HD in the next financial year accompanied by an OTT service.

The public broadcaster stated in some documents that the streaming service will be available before the end of current financial year which is March 31st, 2022 and is anyone surprised that they've never reached the deadline.

For almost a year, Openview consumers have been waiting on the two channels promised to them by both eMedia Investments and the SABC in mid 2021. Since then several names pop-up part of which were part of their DTT plans and still need to be addressed: SABC Encore (as mentioned), SABC Parliament and SABC Children.

The future of eNCA and e.tv News

Every year, eMedia Investments and MultiChoice enter negotiations regarding the carriage agreement of eNCA alongside several other channels packaged by the eBrand.

For several years, eMedia Investments had expressed their frustration with MultiChoice as other brands such as Newsroom Afrika and SABC News make more money than them despite having the most watched news channel on their platform.

Also read:
- SABC Encore and SABC Children channel might be in development for Openview
- DreamWorks Channel will be added to MultiChoice's DStv
- Should eReality merge with News And Sport?
- The Estate cancelled only on SABC 1 for new drama series
- Warner Bros. Discovery potential channel closures
- A list of Afrikaans voice actors for Die Put and Droomvelore
- Why VH1 Classic was terminated on DStv?
- Lifetime could be on the chopping block on DStv
- Saloni and East Meets West coming soon to SABC 2
- Dokter Ali S2 coming in April to eExtra

News And Sport is set to go off air by the end of March on Openview and the retrenchments following onto eMedia Investments kind of lead to the question over the fate of e.tv News segments.

The NewsLink Block on eNCA is changing headquarters which was held in the same spot as e.tv News is moving to the spot renovated by eNCA on DStv with new anchors.

eNCA launching on Openview to some extent???

Regarding the upcoming agreement, is it possible that e.tv News and eNCA will be unified under one brand just like SABC News segments on SABC 1-3 with the linear channel on DStv.

SABC News is available on SABC's DTT but the likely reason is the limitations as the public broadcaster isn't selling them like hot cakes but putting up a fence requiring households with an income of less than R3200 to obtain them at their nearest post office.

Adding eNCA onto Openview was seen as a get out of jail free card for DStv customers who are fed up with the yearly increases and never ending repeats and MultiChoice didn't want any of that but how about a portion of the brand?

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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.

Also read:
- SABC 2 to air Indian series from Zee World
- Doodsondes S4 airs later in the year on eExtra
- New movie: Surviving Gaza coming soon to eVOD
- SABC registered three channels: SABC Parliament, SABC Children and SABC Encore
- The Carmichael Show returns to e.tv
- eVOD offers the latest episodes of High Society: Scandal before eExtra
- eToonz needs these improvements

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.

Also read:
- Fatmagul returns to eExtra
- The complete season of eExtra's upcoming series Dayan, Destructive Beauty is on eVOD
- Possible schedule adjustments for Star Life
- What we might get from SABC's streaming service?
- Star Life to air Lockdown Ki Love Story
- More Zee World repeats for Zee One and eExtra
- More about eVOD's Microblast TV
- Indian horror Dayan, Destructive Beauty has a release date on eExtra

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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Read Also:
- Female wrestling promotion launching in 2022, could e.tv pick it up?
- Surrender In Love coming soon to eExtra
- Star India exits the English market, could it have implications on Star Life?
- Upcoming shows on Star Life + possible new channel
- SABC and e.tv ratings for October
- Could Dizi or eMedia pick up rights to The Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem?
- DBE TV might go off air on Openview, could SABC Education replace the channel?
- African Animation Network rolling out a programming block
- e.tv new Turkish drama Erkenci Kus might air on eVOD
- Other shows coming soon to eToonz? 
- SABC Parliament is in development
- Kamer 309 the delayed Turkish drama might move to eVOD

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.

Read Also:
- Could Star Life and Rewind be the first channels to go off air on Openview?
- Is SABC working on a reality channel?
- What we might expect from SABC's streaming service?
- Could Star Plus and Star Life be rebranding soon?
- Voelvry coming in future on e.tv
- Kamer 309 delayed on eExtra
- Other shows coming soon to eToonz?
- e.tv is filming a new boxing drama
- Nickelodeon returns to e.tv 
- SABC planning to reduce Muvhango