Back in 2019, Starsat and StarTimes subscribers awoke only to discover Smile TV was no longer available on the platform. Both operators haven't informed the media beforehand instead they only inform viewers through an enquiry that the channel went offline while TBN Africa remained quiet about the whole removal.
To start off the year, Smile got scrapped worldwide according to the admin of Smile TV media account and viewers can only find it online worldwide or through DVB2 in the United States.
It's possible that both Starsat and StarTimes found out around the time the channel left as viewers were asking about the channel and they were silent for a couple of hours.
Do I believe these companies will replace it?
No
Is it worth replacing?
Not really, there's plenty of religious channels so they'll more likely recommend subscribers to those channels or maybe source out "another" kids channel that won't be added as a replacement channel
No
Is it worth replacing?
Not really, there's plenty of religious channels so they'll more likely recommend subscribers to those channels or maybe source out "another" kids channel that won't be added as a replacement channel
Positiv.tv is a Christian-Based Movie Channel launched in 2020 offering family-friendly films that you might have seen on TBN. It was adapted from a programming block that aired on Smile TV.
This channel is said to be Smile TV's successor along with the youth based channel Juce TV. It's funny how broadcasters label replacements in linear TV. First minute you're watching a classic drama such as Bones on Universal TV next minute you wake up only to see a sports tournament such as Tokyo 2020 on the Olympics Channel. To me it seems more of a turnover than a replacement.
TBN should have informed the media and it's distributors that these kids channels will be scrapped so these operators can prepare themselves better and possibly seek out other alternatives instead of them having a run around and viewers pointing fingers at their them since they package the channel. Either way the damage has already been done and these operators lost several channels throughout 2019 as 2020 moves they're still sourcing out replacements.
