Recap To The Past Decade: True African Was Ripped Away From Openview Consumers, Could eMedia Investments Finally Source Out A Replacement?

True African was a general entertainment channel that came in place of the defunct eNolly+ channel on the Openview platform. The channel served a purpose of promoting content from West Africa particularly Ghana and Nigeria through the form of movies and series.

As mentioned, the channel was ripped away from Openview consumers in an attempt to offer fresher entertainment for which channel didn't reflect even when it was operating as eAfrica+ before the switch to eNolly+ it still had a repetitive nature.

But unlike e.tv's News And Sport channel much less OpenNews, the channel was revived on PremiumFree TV which serves as freemium platform's first ever competitor offering a range of movies, drama series, reality shows, music and kiddies entertainment.

Fact of the matter is eMedia Investments hasn't replaced True African sure we have channels like Zee One, Star Life, The Home Channel+ and People's Weather but none of this can make up for the closure of the brand's last attempt in Nollywood entertainment.

As of 2023, eMedia Investments launched their pay-tv venture on the Openview platform which comes with 4 channels and plans to grow the lineup. But what was also outlined about this new pay-tv service was the focus on diversity and inclusion resulting in OUTtv.

The idea of eMedia Investments exploring something similar to True African TV possibly for Openview Ultra wouldn't be far fetched. It's not like consumers were familiar with the offering seen on OUTtv and yet there's plenty of households willingly to pay monthly.

The current offering (excluding OUTtv) kind of resembles the existing lineup seen on StarSat and DStv as well as the pricing for those wishing to view the offering.

eAfrica Vs. BBC UKTV: Another Attempt To Auction Off Second Hand Goods

eAfrica was a Pan-African feed of the current e.tv channel seen by South African consumers where they'd serve up current local dramas like Scandal, House Of Zwide, Imbewu and Durban Gen alongside other content to various platforms in neighbouring countries.

Aside from local dramas, eAfrica offered selected movies, series and kids shows from e.tv but it wasn't only a duplicate for the e.tv channel as its lineup featured content Openview consumers would have come across on various e.tv channels particularly eExtra and eReality.

Now BBC UKTV is set to join the list of channels probably by next month latest January 2023 to turn second hand goods into fresh goods as it offers a lineup of content from reality shows such as Live At The Apollo and The Graham Norton Show to drama series like My Family and Casualty.

eMedia Investments:
- Prediction: eToonz to get an additional channel
- Could Openview+ lead to 24 hour capability of these channels?
- eToonz schedule explained
- Housewives has been scrapped from e.tv's lineup
- eMedia's 4 channels to go dark on DStv
- Charlize Theron opinion over the Afrikaans language

It will even feature wildlife, lifestyle and kiddies programming (part of which can't be accessed on DStv as they don't supply BBC Kids).

On the upside, consumers won't spend should they use the Openview platform and with DStv more consumers are likely to downgrade or join the rival platforms if it means they'll be paying less and viewing the same content. At this point, it's not about getting the latest content but finding something edible.

Openview:
- Alternatives to News And Sport Channel
- BYUTV - another alternative to eToonz
- Why Openview competitor is a free-to-view Netflix?
- Openview to come with monthly fees
- Glow TV to be replaced by eBolly (prediction)
- DMAX rolls out in the African market (prediction)

While South Africa was able to get eAfrica in seperate components. eMedia was able to take advantage of those restrictions by using the channel to promote several content seen on eExtra (with Qubool Hai and The Heir) and eReality (with Botched and Forensic Files).

Channels like these are starting to become a necessity I mean folks overseas have gotten used to format and such has responded well with their audiences as it cutbacks on repeats and boosts the amount of fresh content.

DStv Updates: The Future Of eAfrica, The Launches Of INX Prime and Movie Room + More For Neighbouring Countries

South Africa has been seeing some love this past week following the launches of INX Prime and Movie Room on the DStv platform alongside the return of e.tv's 4 channels. In this section, we'll be not only discussing some of the aspects but recapping to the developments occurred.

South African consumers lost an estimated amount of 9 channels of which 4 were restored for the time being reducing it to 5 while as the rest of Africa from what I understand lost between 5-7 channels including Russia Today, Lifetime, fliekNET and Tellytrack.

MultiChoice had boasted about having transponder constraints but I don't want to discuss that but look at some brands that are known globally but unfortunately not in South Africa, China Movie Channel (CMC) and Zhejiang TV apparently they were axed with viewers directed to CCTV and KIX for similar content.

Amidst these terminations, MultiChoice has been increasing their focus in the African market with the launches of Hilaal TV and Racing240 which are said to be surpassing predecessors ITV Networks and Tellytrack in terms of viewership.

Other additions that have also managed to rollout in the year include the news station News Central, local channels ZTN Prime and 3Ktv, kids brand DreamWorks Channel and news station NHK World-Japan.

In regard to the recent additions to the DStv platform, INX Prime and Movie Room the channels are rumoured to launch exclusively in South Africa thereafter rollout in the rest of Africa as they go through a trial in the region before negotiations can occur.

This is a norm with MultiChoice not adding channels at the same time as other regions point being made these channels will be added. They're likely looking at viewer's feedback on the channel before taking any action but from my perspective I wouldn't be shocked if it launched regardless.

eMedia Investments had a deal with MultiChoice Africa for eAfrica and as seen earlier in the year. They took the pay-tv company to court now this wasn't for eAfrica but it's sister channels residing in South Africa so in regard to whether they'll return, MultiChoice stated diligently that it's not coming back so viewers will have to find other means to view their shows.