Reviewing Major Changes Coming Soon To The SABC

Last month, the public broadcaster was all buzz hosting a last minute showcase where they transitioned to video entertainment announcing further content for their current channels on top of launching SABC+ in place of the former TelkomOne streaming service.

Of course, what remains absent is the two entertainment channels announced in partnership with eMedia Investments last year. Just like SABC+, sources mention that those channels had already entered final stages a while back.

Honestly, it doesn't appear that they'll be anything time soon but with these recent adjustments. It's possible that they'll likely bring them up in the near future or as soon as most of these developments are dealt with.

As mentioned, the SABC has shared a couple of things in which we want to brief everyone on:

* The public broadcaster is heading for another loss making year with R608 million which has just tripled from last year R201 million.
* They failed to hit their targets in terms of commissioning, producing and broadcasting fresh content with most of the blows going onto SABC 1. All 3 channels target 20% of which the top channel reaches 4% with the second channel 14% and least watched 9%.
* The SABC is expected to make a chunk of cash through their newly launched streaming service, SABC+. R6 million in one quarter alongside R31.5 million in the next quarter.
* The revenue for their 3 channels has been negatively impacted following the cancellation of analogue signals.
* SABC+ has about 15000 signups on a daily basis can't say it's surprising considering that they have the most accessible channels in South Africa.
* A new loyalty programme might be in works the aim is to boost the number of TV Licence payers.
* Still bickering want MultiChoice to pay for their 3 channels although other outlets like Openview view them freely.
* A budget for their channels had been shared with the media. From what's known R468 million had been budgeted for which 218 million is spent and R665 million is earned on SABC 1, R141 million is spent and R199 million earned on SABC 2 and lastly R69 million is spent and R79 million is earned on SABC 1.
* SABC 1 will focus more on sourcing youth based content while SABC 2 transitions to current affairs and news.
* They'll be cutting back on the amount of social media handles we assume that they are also referring to shows like The Epic Hangout which too has a social page.
* A cutback on repeats especially on primetime with the axing of non-performing content. We assume The Estate will be saved despite primetime not being one of the top 20 shows on SABC 3.
* Uzalo remains on SABC 1 and Muvhango remains on SABC 2 - remember how the public broadcaster repeated shows on multiple channels well they'll put a stop to that meaning each primary show will air on their primary channel with SABC+ also filling that gap.
* The public broadcaster in partnership with SABC News is trying to find alternatives to the cancelled Special Assignment on SABC 3.

Prediction: Mindset Learn To Be Taken Over By The SABC, Rebrands Into SABC School

Prediction: A statement of what you think will happen in future

Mindset is a curriculum based learning channel which caters to Grade 10-12 and includes content from Grade 1-3. Following the demise of Mindset Pop, it kind of caters to Grade 4-9 but just like a certain brand most of their audience aren't home during those times.

Basically, Mindset is meant to help learners improve on their maths, numeracy, science, literacy and accounting. It's basically free at this point as it is managed by a nonprofit organisation and such usually just try to make sure a difference in the economy.

For which this brand was fortunate enough to do for the past decade but you just wished that more areas would be covered. Of course there's a few exceptions such as Creative Arts, Life Orientation and Business Studies as one is general and the other reading.

Anyways, the public broadcaster announced the exit of Telkom to the streaming market for the recently launched SABC+. The brand supplies SABC 1-3, News, Sport and Education alongside selected archived content was locked away in their archives.

Prior to its launch, they were only a linear company which experienced success with SABC 1 and SABC Sport. So much so that the SABC had proposed spinning off one of the two as the other follows a number sequence so yeah.

SABC Education also garnered much relevance even before a 24/7 service was released so why not give it a linear channel. Initially, the channel was meant to to be a partnership with the Department Of Education which currently operates within the Openview platform.

Implying that the 24/7 channel, could have turned out differently and wouldn't entirely be an SABC Encore based channel but sort of a mashup with Mindset which just gives me an idea for another brand, SABC School.

Based of SABC Learning and in partnership with Mindset Learn, the channel will continue to align itself with the current curriculum with Geleza Nathi replacing the Grade 12 lessons and also reruns of Matric Reloaded and Takalani Sesame forming part of the channel.

Prediction: Parliament TV To Be Taken Over By The SABC, Rebrands Into SABC Parliament

Prediction: A statement of what you think will happen in future

Earlier in the week, it was announced TelkomOne would be taken over by the SABC's new streaming service, SABC+ then an idea came to mind about one of their DTT plans so we dive on further to them and explain it a bit better through another brand, Parliament TV.

Parliament TV is a provincial channel which airs on channel 408 through the DStv platform and operates more like a news hub but usually for gatherings and other important events which in a way can be kind of boring but you get the gist of it.

A few years ago, the public broadcaster unveiled 5 new channels of which two which fortunate to materialize with one of the latters being SABC Parliament going through development hell.

Not that it isn't a thing as test had been conducted on it a while back and from what was stated by the public broadcaster. The channel would need some form of funding on top of an outlet where they could try to expand and what better way than through Parliament TV.

Parliament TV is available to consumers on the DStv platform on an exclusive basis and the change to SABC Parliament means the channel alongside SABC News join the bulk of entertainment to be confined with the pay-tv company.

SABC Launches Its Streaming Service SABC+, Includes SABC News Channel

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has launched its long-anticipated OTT platform, SABC +.

The SABC + streaming app will provide the best that the SABC has to offer including 19 radio stations and 3 free-to-air television channels SABC 1, SABC 2, SABC 3, as well as the SABC Sports Channel and the SABC’s 24-hour news channel. In addition, the app will feature a variety of local and international content, to extend the Corporation’s mission to inform, educate and entertain citizen, everywhere, anytime.

“SABC + signals a new digital era for the SABC and a key accomplishment in addressing universal access for all citizens” states Mr Madoda Mxakwe, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the SABC. “ SABC + app also presents a growth path to enhancing our value offering to clients and customers to build a strong foundation for future financial sustainability of the SABC”, concluded Mxakwe.

In partnership with the global consumer electronics and home appliances market leader, Hisense, the Corporation will distribute the SABC + app through the Hisense VIDAA Smart TVs and mobile devices in time for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ on 20 November 2022. Together, these two powerhouses will bring 28 matches of the FIFA World Cup and the official FIFA World Cup show daily, for FREE.

The SABC is proud to partner with a technology company such as Hisense to enable us to fulfil our public mandate, whilst utilising innovation to provide cutting edge content to the public.

TelkomOne Vs. SABC+: Transition From International To Local Entertainment

Earlier today, TelkomOne without prior notice announced that they'll be unavailable for the rest of the day and left a cryptic message to their subscribers while as SABC has gearing up for the rollout of their long awaited streaming service, SABC+.

Moments later, it was discovered that TelkomOne would be shutting down and that SABC will fill the gap that Telkom would leave several of their subscribers so here's an overview.

TelkomOne alongside SABC+ are both based in SA and managed by different parties. If anything, their parties formed an agreement where one would leverage from the other in exchange for money so in this case is it really shocking as this was bound to happen.

I mean MTN, Cell C and Vodacom all joined the streaming game and backed out so why not Telkom in this case.

TelkomOne featured a variety of international content particularly premium channels like Real Time, Toonami, Discovery Science and EWTN all of which are likely dead at this point following the acquisition by the public broadcaster.

From what sources stated about SABC+, it would be similar to BBC iPlayer in the UK so basically another DStv App which comes with SABC 1-3, Sport and Education alongside their 19 radio stations and archived material.

If you study the facts carefully, basically all the content TelkomOne picked up without a linear channel will be compensated with archived content while as the linear channels such as Discovery Science will be supplemented with SABC 1-3.

Considering how many linear channels they were at the time my guess would be that they'll add a few more channels to the lineup just not as much as that of TelkomOne.

While as TelkomOne offered Toonami and Boing with SABC+ the likelihood is that consumers will get SABC Education and the rumoured Tuluntulu channel, SABC Children while as The Home Channel and Discovery Science and France24 would be compensated with SABC Encore and SABC Sport.

SABC Children and Encore were rumoured for about a year and I'm not saying these are the channels but you find plenty of global streamers like Paramount+ use several of their existing shows and forming a digital channel within the platform to promote the content.

The idea of SABC doing such doesn't seem far fetched especially after what happened last year as they stated Openview's upcoming channels would be repeat channels which is what SABC+ is all about.

During the years, I assume the public broadcaster took some notes from MultiChoice's Showmax and eMedia Investments' eVOD and will include Fast Forward or simulcast broadcasts to some of their properties.

Over to whether SABC News will be seen on SABC+ that's a definite maybe should it be included it won't be available elsewhere unless it's a product of MultiChoice which gives the brand stability.

All in all, viewers have to tune in tomorrow to see what else SABC has in store.

But from what was implied about it several times it's just a reduction to TelkomOne so I'm assuming some consumers will opt to cancel while those viewing the free version will latch onto the platform for the time being either way I can see it ending in a positive and negative manner.

TelkomOne Rebranding Into SABC+

Telkom is exiting the streaming media business. The telecommunications operator has agreed to “hand over” its TelkomOne platform to the SABC, which will rename it SABC+.

The TelkomOne website has been taken down and replaced with this message: “Your TelkomOne entertainment service will be temporarily unavailable until Thursday, 17 November 2022… Watch this space for a new and exciting announcement.” Meanwhile, the website www.sabcplus.com has gone live.

“Telkom and the SABC have had a successful partnership since the launch of TelkomOne in late 2020. The platform has now matured and ready to scale under the management of the SABC’s broadcasting expertise,” Telkom said in a statement.

Telkom and the SABC have had a successful partnership since the launch of TelkomOne in late 2020.

“Their expertise in sourcing and curating relevant content will enrich the current content library for existing and new customers,” said Telkom chief marketing officer Gugu Mthembu in the statement.

The entire customer base will be shifted over the SABC.

“We will continue to evolve to our digital lifestyle provider ambition through our investments in areas such as content, fintech, gaming and IoT by partnering with strategic partners to deliver products and services that create a better life for our customers,” Mthembu said.

Telkom said existing TelkomOne Amp customers with active subscriptions will automatically have access to SABC+ at no additional cost. “They can also look forward to enhanced content offerings which they can subscribe to directly through SABC+.”

Background

Telkom and SABC launched TelkomOne is November 2020 to house the public broadcaster’s free-to-air radio and television channels on a streaming platform.

The deal, which had a five-year term, would “showcase South Africa’s most-watched TV programmes and most listened-to radio platforms, on one online platform”, the companies said at the time.

The SABC agreed to provide its content to Telkom on a non-exclusive basis. In exchange, the SABC would receive a carriage licence fee as well as a share in the advertising revenue generated on the TelkomOne platform.

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.

Rumour: eMedia Investments To Add A Further 4 Channels On The Openview Platform

eMedia Investments unveiled their annual results last month and a lot was unveiled during that time such as the launch of the Openview pay-tv tier to rival with the likes of MultiChoice's DStv and On Digital Media and StarTimes' StarSat and the addition of a new channel in October.

Although not much details have been shared about the channel, it is believed by several consumers that it could be another channel from eMedia Investments. As of this moment, nothing is certain at this point so viewers have to wait until there's official confirmation.

Other channels viewers have been waiting aimlessly on for more than a year comes from the SABC which might have showed their showed their faces ahead of their debut on the platform but what's got viewers more curious is the test cards on the platform.

eMedia Investments seems to have placed 4 test cards implying that consumers may be getting a total of 4 channels and I know we have 2 SABC channels coming to the Openview platform but what are the chances that these test cards have nothing to do with them.

SABC has been testing out potential new channels exclusively on their DTT plans through Sentech of course none of these experiments have been conducted outside that area which just builds more questions as to what the test cards are for.

All we know at this point is that 4 developments are happening on the Openview platform.

Could The Rumoured SABC Encore Revival Be Scrapped As The Supposed SABC Children's Channel Enters Post Production?

SABC Encore is a defunct entertainment channel that was home to archived material mainly 80s and 90s shows by the public broadcaster that was once available on an exclusive basis alongside SABC News to MultiChoice's DStv and SABC's DTT platform.

Its been 2 years since the channel went off air and a year since rumours swirled around about the potential revival after the SABC had mentioned considering reviving the channel on another platform on top of that it's presence on Sentech which has since then been taken down.

As seen for the past year, SABC Encore was registered alongside SABC Children now updated excludes the channel as Children takes up the space once shared by the channel which raises concern for some readers.

Also seen in the past year was the SABC's mentions of an SABC Encore without any mention of MultiChoice. Of course, it's presence was often a temporary matter as it was used to beam memorials or catch-up on sports matches.

As seen earlier in the month, Openview consumers were alarmed to see SABC 1 branded as SABC Encore as this had happened frequently and of course eMedia Investments and the SABC remaining silent on the matter. Even TelkomOne at one point had an SABC Encore without using SABC 1.

Taking that to consideration I doubt SABC Encore is dead or at least from my perspective considering how sneaky they have been with referencing the channel so if anything the brand is going through somewhat of a phase that's beyond our understanding.

SABC Encore when first spotted was registered under its initial name SABC Entertainment which might as well be the future of the channel of course nothing is certain at this point in regard to the concepts of the channel.

It was never part of SABC's initial DTT offering but due to the load of followers it just led them with the idea of reviving the channels which too would be unveiled with SABC's untitled streaming service which would introduce further channels and programming.

The further channels will carry archived material so there's no reason to not believe it's Encore or something remotely close to it, SABC Entertainment but how do you go about adding "further programming" if the name boasts on repeats we'll see what happens.

If anything I'm expecting them to either make the channel cater to viewers of the 80s and 90s with fresh content that compliments their tastes or to just use the concept for their SABC 4 and 5 that were part of their failed DTT attempts which was just diving SABC 1-3 to cover more ground.

New Channel Alert (Rumour): SABC To Launch SABC Children As New Children's Channel On DTT As Brand Enters Post Production, Will Be Added Onto More Platforms Soon

SABC Children has been rumoured entertainment channel SABC in partnership with eMedia Investments failed to launch on the Openview platform in 2021 after the channel was spotted on Sentech and on DStv consumers MultiChoice had promised 3 SABC channels after eMedia's 4 channels went off-air at the time.

SABC Children is currently broadcasting a digital service on the Tuluntulu app and interesting to note SABC Education was once a digital exclusive on the platform before getting a linear service in 2020 which just builds onto the suspicion.

But the one thing that has seems credible at this point is Sentech. Initially, the channel was registered alongside SABC Encore without logos now SABC Children appears to have an official logo which is the exact same logo used on Tuluntulu and several media sites.

In some old documents about the channel, SABC Children is said to provide content segmented into defined age categories with an investment emphasis on early child development and preschool children basically a spinoff to SABC Education which also caters to 18-49 year olds.

From what was currently seen through old SABC Children media accounts. The channel is multilingual and unlike SABC Education there is a bunch of international content not sure if it will be included in this version of the channel but seeing as some are dubbed it's possible.

Now that SABC Children's existence seems more alive then ever questions amount to the existence of the second SABC entertainment channel likely SABC Encore. Is it launching at the same time as Children or do viewers have to wait a while before we can get any update and confirmation to any of this.

The launch of SABC Children coincides with the launch of their long awaited streaming service which is expected to bundle not only SABC 1-3, Sport and Education but further channels from the broadcaster which are expected to

That Time A Former DStv Channel Was Made Available On The Openview Platform

SABC Encore is a defunct entertainment channel that was supplied exclusively to MultiChoice's DStv as part of a 5 year agreement made between them and the public broadcaster which was worth half a billion and included SABC News that continues to operate on the platform.

When SABC Encore left DStv, the SABC had stated on several occasions that they were working on continuing the channel on another platform. Aside from DStv, the channel was viewable on DTT but due to a lack of funding the space reserved for the channel remains inactive.

Of course there has been a lot of site seeing for SABC Encore. Take for instance, any major league broadcast on SABC 1 and SABC Sport often SABC Encore is used as somewhat of a pop-up for this content the same happened with some live memorial service for a local figure.

Interesting about this as that the SABC seems to acknowledge all this as the press release credits SABC Encore without diving further in the sudden inclusion of the channel especially with no input coming from MultiChoice.

SABC and eMedia Investments had signed an agreement for which two channels are still awaiting launch on the Openview platform and as speculated from several witnesses SABC Encore could be one of the two channels but that's where it gets more intriguing.

Several months ago, a consumer noticed that SABC 1 was 'mislabeled' as SABC Encore and that was the only thing different about the channel as everything else functioned normally and just recently another user noticed the SABC Encore banner.

Other brand names that were also used aside from SABC Encore through various other outlets include SABC Africa, SABC Entertainment and with SABC Children which at this point is sharing a space with the controversial channel.

The brand's presence just builds further speculation that this was indeed one of the two channels eMedia Investments and the SABC failed to launch last year and as stated by both parties these channels are nonexclusive which could explain its presence on TelkomOne.

Why Openview Has Been Excluded From Delayed SABC Channel Expansion?

eMedia Investments and the SABC finalised their deal for 3 additional channels one of which were SABC Sport alongside 19 radio stations in 2021. As consumers wait over a year for the two channels which are set to carry a lot of existing content there's been some speculation one of which was cleared up is SABC Education.

SABC Education is a DTT channel currently seen on TelkomOne and soon on the likes of DStv and StarSat is based on the educational division formed by the SABC which is home to shows like Takalani Sesame, Matric Reloaded, Ispani, Uzalo, Geleza Nathi and 90 Plain Street.

The channel has remained active as of May 2020 and used as a catch-up channel to programs currently viewed on SABC 1-3 with plans to roll out the brand onto more platforms still underway.

As seen through several consumers on the Openview platform is SABC 1-3, SABC Sport alongside the 19 radio stations but SABC Education doesn't form part of the bouquet with SABC News being exclusive to DStv and DTT consumers.

So the question would have to be is eMedia Investments waiting on SABC Education like DStv?

Probably not as MultiChoice is waiting on two other channels to roll out on the DStv platform and SABC Education alongside SABC Sport and the 19 radio stations did form part of TelkomOne's initial offering when it launched in October 2020.

There could be a number of reasons SABC Education won't form part of the offering. The first has to do with costs, second would have to do with their rivalry perhaps they don't want to invest too much and last may have to do with the existing educational offering on Openview being DBE TV and Mindset.

Could The Rumoured SABC Children's Channel Replace eToonz On MultiChoice's DStv?

The public broadcaster is set to unveil a batch new channels before the end of the current financial year. These new channels are said to be bundled on their long anticipated streaming service SABC+ alongside the existing SABC 1-3, Sport and Education.

For several months, there's been rumours going around about the supposed channels set to be unveiled soon. One of which happened to be SABC Children.

SABC Children is a brand name for the public broadcaster children's division serving up a mixture of multilingual animation and live-action both local and international currently seen on SABC 1-3's kids blocks.

 

For nearly a decade, the channel had only been exclusive to the Tuluntulu app. As seen in 2021, the public broadcaster had begun testing out the channel alongside SABC Encore and SABC Parliament.

From what was analysed, SABC Children could be one of the two entertainment channels that failed to launch on the Openview platform in 2021. As the public broadcaster had stated the two channels would have content viewed on SABC 1-3.

Last month, MultiChoice revealed in the court proceedings with eMedia Investments that they were phasing out their 4 channels in order to make room for 3 new SABC channels one of which are SABC Education.

 

As seen with eMedia's 4 channels, there was a lot of existing content or at least at launch. After 5 years on DStv, there has been improvements despite not much original productions going on there.

These 3 channels coming to DStv will likely start out the same way as the e.tv channels - existing. From what was stated by MultiChoice, the e.tv channels failed to reduce the level of repetition and lacked local content which you might gain with SABC Children.

From what was seen with SABC Children on Tuluntulu, some of YoTV's content was added to this channel and selected content from SABC Education. The international offering had been dubbed to various local languages aside from English.

Disturbing Facts About Controversial News Station Afro Worldview (Formerly ANN7)

8 years ago, MultiChoice operated Afro Worldview (known as ANN7 at the time) which was a Gupta owned news station which gained attention mainly for its technical setbacks, untrained staff and behind the scenes antics.

Today, we explore some various aspects of the former DStv channel some much worse than others but after reviewing this you'd understand why MultiChoice opted to cut ties and source Newsroom Afrika as an alternative to Afro Worldview.

Here are the disturbing facts about Afro Worldview part of which were highlighted in the book Indentured - Behind The Scenes At Gupta TV

 

"Rajesh, I want you to prepare for our first meeting with DStv, our enemies at MultiChoice. Arun and you will go to the meeting tomorrow and I want you to give them a copy of the EPG and make sure that channel 404 on DStv is allocated to us. But I want to warn you, they are our enemies. They will try everything to see us fail," writes Rajesh Sundaram. Mentioned on page 62 of Indentured.

1. Afro Worldview wanted to be on channel 404 currently occupied by SABC News and went as far as getting Jacob Zuma involved.
2. MultiChoice was a big enemy of Gupta owned channel.

"It was clear that the team from MultiChoice did not believe we were technically or editorially prepared to launch a news channel by the end of July. The tension in the room was palpable. They were visibly upset with the political pressure that was being brought to bear on them to launch the channel quickly and on the terms directed by the Guptas." Mentioned on page 63 on Indentured.

 

"We did not have the people, the studio was not complete, and much of the broadcasting equipment had not even been ordered at this time. The team did not even have newsgathering and studio cameras." Mentioned on page 63 on Indentured.

3. MultiChoice was seemingly aware that the channel was not ready to launch at the time.

"DStv suddenly gave in. Even as ANN7 was offering three bulletins a day produced on primitive systems and equipment nowhere near the quality standards prescribed by DStv, it was announced internally that DStv had been 'pressured' through president Jacob Zuma 's office to oust Russia Today from the 405 slot and give it to us." Mentioned on page 126 on Indentured.

4. Russia Today moved from channel 405 to 408 due to pressure from Jacob Zuma to occupy ANN7 on a higher channel number but MultiChoice has denied it and claimed the change was a way of getting local channels closer.

"His plan saved the company thousands of rands, but it cost the company millions in lost reputation, as we found out post-launch."
"Atul wanted Gerry Rantseli-Elsdon to train the models. Gerry was hired to present the breakfast show, which had been branded Vuka Africa."
"Gerry was given a table and chair, a white board and a training room. Some days she had a camera at her disposal. She had no teleprompter, professional monitors or audio equipment in the initial weeks." Mentioned on page 107 on Indentured.

 

5. Afro Worldview used models as news anchors.

"The bulletins we had produced at that time were, unsurprisingly, fullof technical glitches and were anchored by a group of models hired by Atul and trained by Gerry Rantseli-Elsdon . The young women were very raw, clueless about the news they were reading and very unfamiliar with a studio setting." Mentioned on page 130 on Indentured.

6. Afro Worldview always had glitches with their bulletins even before launch.

"We are nowhere near the quality of CNN International or BBC. He had very little understanding of television or the primitive conditions under which the bulletins were being produced." Mentioned on page 114 on Indentured.

7. Channel boss had little experience with television.

"The archival footage at the SABC was indeed of a very high quality and in my view worth millions of rands," writes Rajesh Sundaram. "Nazeem, Laxmi and Atul repeatedly told me that the contract with the SABC for this sale favoured ANN7, was drafted by Gupta lawyers and that the price of the footage was 'peanuts' compared to its real value."

 

8. "Stupid SABC" - Before MultiChoice, SABC sold their archives to Afro Worldview.

He told Biznews that Indian staffers, brought to South Africa on tourist visas and who worked in the country illegally, had to live on the ANN7 Midrand construction site "in sub-human conditions".
"There were staff that Atul Gupta would slap; and physically abuse us; scream verbal abuse at people. For instance say the playout system crashes, Atul Gupta would come into the production control room and start beating up the audio console person".

9. Channel boss was abusive to staff by slapping and calling them names.

"My relationship with ANN7 started when I was approached to produce a show for the station. It was supposed to start on Sunday but there were issues I wasn't happy with since I discovered its history with the Guptas."

10. Controversial pastor Paseka "Mboro" Motsoeneng pulled his gospel show due to ties with Guptas.

Could The Rumoured SABC Encore Revival Launch On DStv Perhaps To Replace eExtra?

Two years ago, SABC Encore was ripped away from DStv customers as MultiChoice opted to not renew the agreement for the channel. Since then, there's been several rumours about a possible revival as the SABC had stated they were looking into continuing the channel on another platform.

Aside from DTT which had a blank space, TelkomOne often supplied the channel as somewhat of a pop-up. Of course, would you consider it a pop-up if it didn't last a day better yet 8 hours.

It's evident that the channel isn't fully functional as the SABC is hoping to get some funding on the brand I mean SABC Sport was on limbo for a couple of years supplying repeats from SABC 1-3 and outdated sports and all that changed when TelkomOne and Openview were onboard with supplying the channel. Now it's one of the top 10 watched channels on Openview.

SABC Encore catered toward 18-49 of the 80s and 90s serving up content like 'Sgudi 'Snaysi, Agter Elke Man, Interster, Ubambo Lwami, Pumpkin Patch, Dikolong and Hlala Kwabafileyo, among many others.

 

The channel ran on DStv for approximately 3 years and the additional 2 years were served as open window kind of like EVA and Disney XD where they filled up the schedule with repeats to sort of distance viewers before closing off a channel.

The SABC's reason to zombify had to do with those 2 remaining years as MultiChoice opted to scrap the channel. Although no reason for the dismissal was given there could be a few theories that led to this decision.

Firstly, SABC Encore featured too much repeats and old programming which not a lot of viewers of this generation would follow which could explain the pop-up focus on being a catch-up to the modern SABC 1-3.

Another reason had to do with exclusivity, MultiChoice carried the second most watched channel SABC News alongside SABC Encore which again was all repeats and considering how much money was wasted on the channel. MultiChoice saw no reason in having it on an exclusive basis.

The SABC is set to unveil a couple of new channels alongside their OTT platform before the end of the current financial year and these supposed channels will be bundled on the platform alongside the existing batch of channels like SABC 1-3, Sport and Education.

 

MultiChoice is expected to get 3 channels, Openview and likely StarSat are waiting on 2 channels from the public broadcaster.

The SABC has tested out a brand under the branding, SABC Encore. As stated by the public broadcaster, the new channels or at least the two Openview consumers are waiting on will have existing content and as more consumers follow the channel they'll shift the percentages to make room for fresher entertainment.

If SABC Encore (or as it was initially registered SABC Entertainment) were to return questions kind amount to what type of offering should viewers expect from this supposed channel.

Despite being outdated, SABC Encore was a mashup of SABC 1-3 so I'm not expecting another eExtra to comes out of the rumoured SABC Encore.

eMedia serves as an entertainment brand while the SABC just wants to offer a little bit of everything seen on DStv. eMedia offers movies, drama series and reality shows but with the SABC they incorporate that into the local market which might be the outcome of this supposed channel.

 

MultiChoice did highlight some discrepancies about e.tv channels one of which were the failure to offer local programming and reduce the level of repetition which eMedia was able to counterclaim but still couldn't keep their channels onboard.

Instead of getting more alternatives to Telemundo which is what several angry DStv customers are hoping for within the replacement. Viewers will likely get another Mpuma Kapa or Soweto TV which is in no way competition but better in terms of quality.

Channel Updates: Southern African Broadcasting Entities Strengthen Cooperation Towards The Launch Of SADC TV + MultiChoice Opens 1Magic And ESPN 2 To Their DStv Compact Customers For Almost Two Months

SADC TV channel in development

The President of the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA), Stanley Benjamin Similo, together with the Secretary-General, Cecil Jarurakouje Nguvauva, met the Group Chief Executive Officer of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Madoda Mxakwe – accompanied by some SABC Executive Management – to discuss critical issues about the advancement of broadcasting services and the media industry in Southern Africa. Especially with the planned launch of the SADC TV and the SABA Convention and Annual General Meeting events that are upcoming later in the year.

Both the SABA and the SABC leadership agreed that broadcasters in the region need to align their strategies and the way they do things and conduct their broadcast business with the changing media landscape in order to satisfy the needs of their audience.

The meeting concluded that the partnering regional broadcasters and the Association should also look to enter into a specific agreement to identify critical areas of interest to focus on in the immediate and distant future.

Furthermore, the meeting resolved that the upcoming launch of the SADC TV Channel in Windhoek, Namibia, and the 29th SABA AGM (Annual General Meeting), set to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, will become top priority for the Association and their partners this year.

More drama coming to DStv

Last month, MultiChoice scrapped the 4 e.tv channels from the DStv platform with Openview being the only outlet to view the channels. Alongside the e.tv channels were Lifetime with ITV Networks and fliekNET joining soon.

DStv customers haven't been taking the demise of the e.tv channels so well with several either downgrading, cancelling or complaining about their displeasure with the entertainment offering.

As reported during the week, MultiChoice will be opening up 1Magic and ESPN 2 to DStv Compact customers until 24 July probably feeling guilty for adding something on bouquets lower than that package and even more for not adding anything on platforms higher.

MultiChoice will be rolling out several channels in the near future including a replacement to ITV Networks and second movie channel to replace the eMovies alongside lifestyle channel NHK World Japan and 3 SABC channels.

e.tv Experiences A Plummet In Viewership For Movies As SABC 3 Becomes The #1 Hotspot For Movies - Viewership Stats For April 2022

SABC 1:

Uzalo - 6 471 686
Generations the Legacy - 5 566 826
Skeem Saam - 4 096 548
The Estate - 3 904 719
Zulu News - 2 625 221
Xhosa News - 2 608 225
Ngomusa Documentary - 2 421 534
Selimathunzi - 2 150 111
Clover Classic Celebrations - 2 063 946
Uzalo Omnibus - 2 062 426
Roxic Reality - 2 025 651
#Issa Vibe - 2 015 621
Uzalo Repeat - 1 977 567
Skeem Saam Repeat - 1 881 438
Ses Top La - 1 841 228
Siswati/Ndebele News - 1 685 009
Makoti - 1 641 520
13 Weeks to Find Mr Right Movie - 1 600 895
Ubambo Lwami Repeat - 1 598 433
Muvhango Repeat - 1 547 113

 

SABC 2:

Muvhango - 3 285 619
Hlala Kwabafileyo - 1 066 447
Giyani - 987 098
7De Laan - 897 739
Presidential Address - 872 141
Muvhango Omnibus - 859 914
Kwa Mamazala - 761 499
Abakwa Zidenge - 731 588
Ses/Tsw/Sep News - 670 784
Nuus - 649 046
Giyani Repeat - 539 454
Venda/Tsonga News - 515 326
Voetspore - 499 996
Samson - 498 043
The Estate Repeat - 486 379
Morning Live - 482 301
Voetspore Zambezi Documentary - 477 698
Uzalo Repeat - 474 962
Muvhango Repeat - 456 676
Generations Repeat - 456 635

 

SABC 3:

Titanic Movie - 793 301
Ice Age Continental Drift Movie - 630 920
Life of Pi Movie - 563 017
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Movie - 561 932
Serengeti Documentary - 559 490
News - 524 295
The Estate Omnibus - 487 796
Planet of the Apes Movie - 446 145
The Masked Singer - 429 838
A Perfect Planet: Oceans Documentary - 394 972
We Bought a Zoo Movie - 384 730
Britain's Got Talent: The Champions - 375 071
Betway 2nd Test Series: South Africa vs B - 351 963
The Estate Repeat - 350 828
The Shape of Water Movie - 349 121
The Estate - 340 269
Water for Elephants Movie - 335 628
Betway 1st Test Series: South Africa vs B - 328 331
Generations the Legacy Repeat - 326 129
On Point - 314 518

e.tv:

Scandal - 5 274 616
House of Zwide - 4 589 276
Mr Bones 2: Back From the Past - 3 238 200
Imbewu - 2 860 068
Durban Gen - 2 753 425
Piet's Sake Movie - 2 613 058
The Black Door - 2 449 977
E.TV News - 1 921 331
The Powerball Draw Quiz - 1 869 208
Is'phindiselo - 1 748 320
Just for Laughs Gags - 1 716 761
South Africa Tonight News - 1 677 656
Droomverlore - 1 669 936
Kandasamys : the Wedding - 1 618 783
Imbewu Repeat - 1 582 917
Imbewu Omnibus - 1 567 666
Date My Family - 1 493 581
Our Perfect Wedding (Mag) - 1 493 026
Durban Gen Omnibus - 1 476 205
The Fashion Hero Repeat - 1 462 231

 

DStv:

MZAN Gomora - 1 278 247 & 1 544 471
MZAN The Queen Movie - 1 077 302 & 1 267 747
MZAN Umbuso - 1 062 406 & 1 330 342
MZAN Our Perfect Wedding - 925 150 & 1 198 165
MZAN Gomora Repeat - 919 687 & 1 113 505
MZAN Date My Family - 861 816 & 1 072 233
MZAN Diep City - 829 222 & 994 215
MZAN The River Movie - 804 304 & 960 674
MZAN Big Brother Mzansi - 752 573 & 996 411
MZAN Mnakwethu Happily Ever After - 722 726 & 928 011
MZAN Diep City Repeat - 643 116 & 787 480
MZAN The River - 640 290 & 788 829
MZAN Twice as Bold - 633 101 & 752 848
MOJA Umndeni Documentary - 613 948 & 729 059
MZAN The River Repeat - 606 932 & 753 566
MWET I Blew it - 564 037 & 675 174
MZAN Sengkhathele - 553 234 & 658 198
MWET Abazali - 545 473 & 652 163
MZAN Housekeepers - 497 548 & 584 440
MWET Ses'fikile - 475 762 & 553 186
MWET Not the One for You - 474 894 & 546 013
MZAN Abandoned Movie - 471 287 & 559 320
MOJA Ukungenwa - 470 761 & 586 354
MWET Ubizo - 467 143 & 557 705
MOJA Ukungena - 442 785 & 564 080
MBIO Zimele - 427 220 & 550 768
MBIO Hunt for Amamillions - 424 261 & 552 989
MOJA Mamazala - 405 400 & 508 145
MZAN The Queen Repeat - 390 996 & 511 019
MOJA Amabishop - 390 495 & 468 960

SABC Movies: A Scrapped Dream Journal For The SABC

In 2012, The SABC announced plans to launch their long awaited DTT platform to the market which would consist of 18 channels and some of the channels that were fortunate enough to materialize were SABC News, SABC Sport and SABC Education.

Although, the public broadcaster plans for their decoder fell through several brands have since then resurfaced. Aside from SABC Education and SABC Sport, the public broadcaster registered two other brands SABC Parliament and SABC Children.

 

 

SABC 4, SABC 5 and SABC Movies are the only brands that haven't been picked up.

SABC 4 & 5 are likely dead at this point the two were going to be SABC's version of Cape Town and Soweto TV and such channel has been deemed expensive just not for pay-tv platforms but SABC Movies on the other hand is different.

SABC Movies just like eMovies was set to be a catch-up channel for films broadcast on SABC 1-3 which is the norm for the most free-to-air channels overtime the lineup would shift to appease the audience.

 

 

If successful, the brand would have gotten a second movie channel to help boost the load of repeats.

At the moment, the public broadcaster is looking to source channels other platforms are willing to cover. SABC Movies has no room in the overcrowded field of movie channels or at least for DStv.

Not that they can't launch it but if the SABC wanted the brand on there it would have find its niche even with platforms like StarSat and Openview. It shouldn't duplicate what's already available or air content that is not suited for the modern demographic.

Summary: Government To Update Viewers On The Progress Of Digital Migration And Unveil A Further Set Of Channels

1.  Introduction

1.1. Many developments involving the Broadcast Digital Migration (BDM) and Analogue Switch-Off (ASO) have taken place since our last media briefing on the 24 November 2021 and my SONA debate address on the 15th of February 2022.

1.1.1. The Minister of Communications & Digital Technologies determined and gazetted the 31st of March 2022 as the end of dual illumination period and the Analogue Switch-Off (ASO) date.

1.1.2. The regulator, ICASA successfully concluded the auction of the high demand spectrum, raising the much-needed R14.4 billion for the national fiscus. This left the BDM process, particularly the analogue switch-off (ASO) with limited time to conclusion, for the National Treasury to access over R14 billion proceeds of the spectrum auction.
1.1.3. ICASA, announced a transitional period for the broadcasting service licensees and signal distributors to ensure a seamless transition process for the switch-off of the remaining analogue transmitters to end on 30 June 2022.

1.1.4. The Gauteng High Court ruled in favour of concluding the much-delayed broadcast digital migration but deferred the (ASO date to 30 June 2022 to allow the Minister to complete installations to households that has applied on 31st October 2021. It is important to indicate that, as usual, e-TV has since appealed this judgement.
1.1.5. The Minster of Trade, Industry and Competition has gazetted a request for comments on the DTIC’s intention to prohibit the importation of analogue television sets, to prohibit the dumping of analogue TV sets in South Africa whilst supporting the penetration of digital television viewing.

1.1.6. We have managed to conclude SABC analogue Switch-off in the five provinces of the Free-State, Northern Cape, North-West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. In the provinces where analogue has been switched-off, we have concluded a process of re-arranging spectrum (Restacking) in these 5 provinces thereby giving a way for the spectrum to be assigned for future technology usages.

 

 

2. Date for Final Switch- Off of Analogue Signal and the End of Dual Illumination Period

2.1. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies in line with paragraph 3.3.1 of the Broadcasting Digital Migration Policy published in Government Notice No. 958, Government Gazette No. 31408 of 08 September 2008, as amended, determine the 31st of March 2022 as the date for the final switch-off of the analogue signal and the end of dual illumination.

2.2. The Minister had considered the two (2) conditions for the end of dual illumination period as set out in the Digital Migration Regulations published in Government Notice No. 1070, Government Gazette No. 36000 of 14 December 2012, and satisfied herself that these conditions have been met as follows: that the electronic communications network service licensee, SENTECH, appointed to provide signal distribution services to the SABC has ensured that the digital broadcast signal for the SABC has reached hundred percent (100%) through the terrestrial and the satellite networks; and that the coverage requirements for Multiplexes 1 and 2 based on the terrestrial television broadcasting service licensees licence conditions have been met, for those licensees who have appointed an electronic communications network service licensee to provide signal distribution services.

3. Gauteng High Court judgement and Progress with the Set Top Boxes (STBs) Installations

3.1. We welcomed the Gauteng High Court judgement including the deferment of the ASO Date from 31st March 2022 to 30 June 2022. The deferment is to give government sufficient time to complete installations of Set Top Boxes (STB) for households who have timeously registered and thus are entitled to receive their STBs before the analogue switch off. The 30 June 2022 date coincides with date ICASA has announced as the end of transitional period for the broadcasting services and signal distributors.

 

3.2. The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies committed to ensure that the 507 251 households that registered by the 31 October 2021 have their STBs installed by no later than 30 June 2022 and same for those the High Court directed be installed by no later than 30 September 2022.

3.3. As of 25 April 2022, of the 507 251 households, we had distributed 258 821 STBs to the beneficiary households and 109 000 STBs installed, with 6973 beneficiaries not having been found at their registered addresses and could not be reached through the provided mobile numbers.

3.4. We are pleased to report the completion of installations to all households that registered and qualified by 31 October 2021 for the Gauteng province. The installations of STBs for those who applied by 31 October 2021 in Northern Cape should be concluded in the next few days. Equally, we are on course to completing the remaining installations in the months of May and June 2022.

4. Impact of the KZN and Eastern Cape floods disaster on the STBs installations

4.1. We are currently undertaking assessments on the impact of the recent floods in KZN and EC on both the households with installed STBs and the structural integrity and existence of houses of registered households awaiting installation of STBs.

4.2. We have adopted a three (3)-pronged approach, particularly in eThekwini and Ugu districts due to high number of registrations and high impact of the floods:

 

Quarantine the numbers to still be installed but working with Department of Human Settlements to verify the number of households both installed and awaiting installations to determine the extent of the damage to the homes for continuing installation or replacing damaged installations. We will communicate as soon as possible the number of households whose installations will be delayed as we await the resettlement process. 
For the registered households whose homes require re-settlement or repair, we will work with Human Settlements to ensure installations when repairs or resettlement is completed.
Continue with installations to the households whose homes physical structures were not damaged by the rains.

5.  End-of-Life Stage for Analogue Technology and Digital Television as a way of watching TV in South Africa

5.1. We have previously indicated that we have received correspondence from the Analogue Transmitters technology manufacturers and repairers that their last inventory stock hold was in 2018

5.2. On the 24th of February 2022, the Minster of Trade, Industry and Competition on behalf of the International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa and following a request from the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, gazetted an Invitation for the Public to Comment on the Introduction of a Policy Directive on the Importation of Analogue Television Sets.

5.3. The intention of the Policy Directive is to prohibit importers, retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers from shipping to and importation of all analogue television sets classified under HS8528.7 after 31 March 2022.

5.4. Understanding that the retail market will have analogue TV sets, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies has commenced consultations with TV sets manufacturers and distributors within the country with the purpose of gazetting a Policy Directive to require for all Digital TV sets in South Africa to carry a Go Digital stamp to assist consumers from purchasing analogue TV sets.

 

5.5. Given the prevalence of Smart TVs in the country, SENTECH will commence a process to create a channel to carry streaming content or OTT from the current DTT/ DTH platform. More details will be shared during the Department’s Budget Vote speech on the 18th of May 2022.
5.6. We will also provide further details on additional channels on the DTT/ DTH platform during the Budget Vote Speech with the purpose of bring new and additional content with new owners as part of grow and diversifying South Africa’s creative industry. 

6. Conclusion

6.1. We are currently implementing an accelerated distribution and installation of STB’s drive in the remaining 4 provinces (Gauteng, Western-Cape, Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal) to ensure that we meet the deadline.

 

6.2. The government of South Africa remains committed to its objective of supporting indigent households to ensure universal access of digital services. We will commence with the end of September target immediately when we conclude a province, as it is a case in the Gauteng Province. We are also in a process of creating STB capacity for any subsequent registrations and placement in the retail market for future replacement and access to any requiring citizen.

6.3. We are continuing to increase our capacity to install more STB daily. SENTECH is out on a call for STB Installer applications to augment our installations capacity. Therefore, Sentech is constantly intensifying installer capacity nationally to ensure that all the registered and qualifying households are migrated within the set timelines.