MultiChoice had lost a total of 11 TV channels in the previous financial year namely Emmanuel TV, M-Net's Me and 1Magic and B4U Movies. Amidst this, the company was part of a takeover procedure by Canal+ which had concluded not long ago.
PBS Kids is an educational brand operated by Public Broadcasting System which offered content for viewers aged 4 to 9. The channel formed part of the various cuts at MultiChoice with shows suddenly appearing on eToonz.
eToonz is only licensed to consumers in South Africa and operated by eMedia Investments. Following PBS Kids' closure, various shows from the brand to have now been seen in the region include WordWorld, Let's Go Luna and Pinkalicious & Peterrific.
PBS Kids was accessible to the same as eToonz being DStv Easyview so consumers aren't necessarily missing out on much. Unlike those residing outside of the region who would need to access the latter on Showmax or on YouTube.
But the reality is that eToonz is not PBS Kids as they offer lesser content from the brand. The same can be said about Universal TV and Bravo after MultiChoice opted to axe 1Magic and Me consumers on those packages can't see shows like America's Got Talent or Yellowstone.
Companies like MultiChoice believe that by merging channels or not replacing removed ones would ensure an enhanced viewing experience. When consumers would have to pay the same amount for even less and opt to find alternatives alongside cancelling their subscription.
South African media company eMedia Investments, owner of e.tv, has announced the acquisition of a 30% equity stake in Pristine World Holdings, a specialist provider of high-end visual effects (VFX) services to the global film and television industry. The deal, valued at R119 million, marks a strategic move by eMedia to diversify its content creation capabilities and tap into international production markets.
The transaction will be executed through eMedia Investments, with payment directed to Convergence IT Services FZCO, the sole owner of Pristine World Holdings. Convergence is incorporated in the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the international scope of the deal.
In a statement released to investors on Thursday, eMedia highlighted that the investment aligns with its broader strategy to strengthen and diversify revenue streams within its existing media ecosystem. By acquiring a stake in Pristine World Holdings, and by extension, gaining access to its subsidiary MR Factory, a cutting-edge VFX studio, eMedia aims to integrate advanced visual effects technologies into its own production pipeline.
Pristine World’s service offerings include:
• Computer-generated imagery (CGI)
• Motion capture
• Digital compositing
• Animation
These capabilities will enable eMedia to enhance the quality of its content across platforms such as e.tv and eVOD, its video-on-demand service. The investment also positions the company to collaborate on international projects and offer high-end VFX services to external clients.
The timing of the acquisition coincides with eMedia’s ongoing development of its own VFX infrastructure at its Hyde Park studios in Johannesburg. This facility is being built to support real-time visual effects integration, allowing both in-house and third-party productions to benefit from advanced post-production technologies.
eMedia stated:
This investment forms part of eMedia’s strategy to diversify and strengthen its revenue streams within its existing ecosystem. By acquiring a stake in Pristine World (and, in effect, in MR Factory), eMedia gains access to the technology and innovation of MR Factory. It aims to incorporate high-quality visual effects capabilities into its content production pipeline, thus enhancing the quality of its offerings and positioning the eMedia group for international project collaboration.
The transaction is set to become effective on 1 October, pending regulatory approval from the South African Reserve Bank and the finalization of a shareholder agreement between eMedia and Pristine World Holdings.
The Competition Tribunal has granted unconditional approval for eMedia Holdings (EMH) to proceed with its acquisition plan, which aims to boost its stake in eMedia Investments (EMI).
This merger is a key part of a broader initiative that will enable eMedia shares to be distributed among Remgro’s shareholders. EMH anticipates that this move will provide it with greater control over EMI’s strategic direction while enhancing the liquidity of its stock.
The approval follows a recommendation from the Competition Commission, which indicated that the transaction would not significantly hinder competition within any market. Once the deal is finalised, EMH will have complete authority over EMI.
eMedia Investments owns several entities, including E-tv, Platco Digital, E-sat TV, Yired, SASANI Studios, and eMedia Properties, with Platco Digital managing the satellite service Openview.
EMH is publicly traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is entirely controlled by Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI). The Commission highlighted that EMH and HCI have diverse investments spanning multiple sectors, such as hospitality, media, transportation, energy, technology, and real estate.
In 2000, a restructuring of the Rembrandt Group led to the formation of VenFin, a holding company that gained joint control of EMI with EMH. Technology investments were assigned to VenFin during this restructuring, while traditional investments remained under Remgro’s control.
Remgro is a South African investment holding company listed on the JSE. It has interests in various sectors, including healthcare, consumer goods, insurance, industry, infrastructure, media, and sports.
According to the Competition Commission, the proposed merger is unlikely to substantially reduce or obstruct competition, as it is described as an internal restructuring with no significant public interest issues.
In their documentation outlining the transaction, eMedia clarified that EMH currently owns approximately 67.69% of EMI, while VenFin holds the remaining shares. Under the new agreement, VenFin will exchange its EMI shares for shares in EMH, which it is obligated to distribute to Remgro’s shareholders immediately.
Should VenFin or Remgro neglect to distribute the shares, EMH retains the right to repurchase them for a total cash amount up to US$3.3 million.
eMedia has stated that this merger will significantly increase EMH’s scale by consolidating complete ownership of EMI under the publicly listed company, ensuring that EMH has both independent and comprehensive control over EMI’s future strategic objectives. Furthermore, the transaction aims to increase the percentage of EMH N shares held by the public, thereby enhancing market liquidity and availability.
The Competition Commission has recommended that the Competition Tribunal unconditionally approve a proposed transaction that will see eMedia Holdings acquire eMedia Investments.
This will give eMedia Holdings (EMH) independent and complete control over eMedia Investments’ long-term strategic direction, and improve the liquidity of EMH’s shares.
eMedia Investments (EMI) controls the following firms: E-tv, Platco Digital, E-sat TV, Yired, SASANI Studios, and eMedia Properties. Platco Digital operates eMedia’s satellite service Openview.
EMH is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and is ultimately solely controlled by Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI).
The Commission noted that EMH and HCI have investments in various firms active in several industries, including hotel and leisure, media and broadcasting, transport, energy, services and technology, and property.
Meanwhile, eMedia Investments is jointly controlled by EMH and VenFin, a holding company formed in 2000 as part of the Rembrandt Group’s restructuring.
During the restructuring, technology investments were held by Venfin, while traditional investments remained with Remgro.
Remgro is a South African, JSE-listed investment holding company with interests in the healthcare, consumer products, insurance, industrial, infrastructure, media, and sports sectors.
“The Commission is of the view that the proposed transaction is unlikely to substantially lessen or prevent competition in any market as it is an internal restructuring,” the Competition Commission said.
“The proposed transaction does not raise significant public interest concerns.”
In a circular explaining the deal, eMedia said that EMH holds the majority of the shares (approximately 67.69%) in EMI, its operating subsidiary, while Venfin holds the remainder.
Under the terms of the deal, Venfin will receive shares in EMH in exchange for its EMI shares, which it must then immediately distribute to Remgro shareholders.
If Venfin or Remgro fails to distribute the shares, EMH has the right to repurchase the shares from either party for an aggregate cash consideration of up to R59,509,547.50.
“The proposed transaction will materially enhance EMH’s scale by consolidating 100% ownership of EMI under the listed entity, and ensure that EMH has independent and full control over EMI’s long-term strategic direction,” it said.
“In addition, for an extended period of time, there has been limited liquidity in the listed EMH N Shares.”
eMedia said that the transaction would create a significantly larger percentage of the EMH N shares held by public shareholders, creating additional free float and liquidity.
In 2023, eMedia Investments' unveiled plans to rival with MultiChoice's DStv with the launch of Ultraview. It served as an add-on to the current Openview offering and comprised of two packages the first package EDGE offered youth based content with the other Spice TV offering Bollywood stories.
Spice TV comprised of just two channels Star Select and Zee Family served as the remainder of eMedia Investments' pay-tv venture. It managed to outlive EDGE which was discontinued last year with its offering folded under the Pride tile through eVOD.
During the week, eMedia Investments and MultiChoice added Star Khanya, a new Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel from Jiostar who also distribute Star Life in Africa. Unbeknownst to viewers was the sudden removal of Star Select and Zee Family on Openview.
eMedia Investments has killed that part of its business as it wasn't financially stable and the channels in question couldn't be probably monetised. Spice TV was the only popular addition to Ultraview and this stemmed from the fact that Openview already offered Star Life and Zee One.
Fact of the matter is linear TV has been in decline in favour of streaming in South Africa compared to the rest of Africa and MultiChoice has been losing consumers from all areas of its DStv offering. Ultraview couldn't compete in an already competitive landscape.
e.tv is proud to announce the debut of Ithemba Alibulali, a gripping Zulu-dubbed drama that promises to capture hearts and inspire viewers across South Africa. Starting on Tuesday 19 August and airing weekdays at 4PM, the series is a powerful tale of determination, sacrifice, and the unwavering belief that hope is unstoppable.
The story follows Rani, a young woman with a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor, as she navigates the complexities of her marriage to an emotionally distant surgeon, motherhood, and the weight of societal expectations.
With its universal themes and culturally rooted storytelling, Ithemba Alibulali is set to resonate deeply with South African audiences. The show's relatable characters, engaging plot twists, and emotional depth will keep viewers hooked from Mondays to Fridays.
“Ithemba Alibulali is more than just a series it’s a story that mirrors the struggles and triumphs many of our viewers face every day,” says Helga Palmer, Manager of Local Productions at e.tv, “By bringing it to life in isiZulu, we’re ensuring that the message of perseverance and hope connects directly to the hearts of our audience. We believe viewers will see themselves in Rani’s journey and feel empowered to chase their own dreams.”
Don’t miss the debut of Ithemba Alibulali weekdays at 4PM on e.tv.
DStv, in collaboration with JioStar, is launching Star Khanya — a general entertainment channel with a lineup of Indian telenovelas and soapies dubbed in isiZulu and subtitled in English. It starts on 18th August 2025 on DStv Channel 160, Star Khanya will be available to Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family, and Access customers.
Tunte - Mon - Sun 6 pm CAT
Tunte’s extraordinary journey of becoming a fashion designer
Tunte is the inspiring story of a small-town girl with big dreams. Coming from a rural weaving family, Tunte moves to the city to become a fashion designer but ends up working as a house help in a wealthy household. Her resilience and determination help her fight social barriers and chase her dreams.
Uthando Lweqiniso - Mon- Sun 6:30 pm CAT
Anandi escapes an abusive marriage to reclaim her life
Follow Anandi’s journey, a woman determined to rebuild her life after escaping a difficult marriage. Despite the stigma of being divorced, she faces society’s judgments with courage and hope.
Titli - Mon - Sun 7 pm CAT
Titli, a hearing-impaired girl, aspires to fly
Titli follows the inspiring journey of a young, ambitious girl who loses her hearing in a childhood accident but refuses to give up on her dreams. Determined to become a pilot, she moves cities, where she finds an ally in Sunny, the son of her father’s friend—together, they strive to overcome every obstacle to make her dream take flight
Elinye Ithuba Mon -Sun 7:30 pm CAT
Pallavi, a young widow, gives life a second chance
The show revolves around Pallavi, a young widow who bravely navigates familial responsibilities, and Raghav, a guarded business tycoon. Their paths cross, igniting a complex and emotional union
Isivumelwano Mon - Sun 8 pm CAT
Two young lives sealed in a contract marriage
A story about a spirited young woman raised in an orphanage, as she crosses paths with a respected criminal lawyer. United by a contract marriage, they help clear an innocent man’s name while navigating deception, family secrets, and unexpected love
Ithemba Alibulali Mon - Sun 8:30 pm CAT
Career Or Motherhood, Follow Rani's Inspiring Journey.
A determined young woman who dreams of becoming a doctor. After marrying the emotionally distant surgeon, Rani discovers she’s pregnant—but refuses to give up her aspirations. The show blends personal struggles with societal expectations, celebrating resilience, ambition, and the balance between motherhood and career.
Unami na? Mon-Sun 9 pm CAT
After his wife’s death, a movie star is guarded by her ghostly presence
This show blends horror and romance in a gripping tale of love, loss, and the supernatural. After his beloved wife tragically dies, superstar Swaraj Joshi is haunted by her memory—until her soul returns to uncover hidden evils and guide him toward a new soulmate.
Inhliziyo Ayiphakelwa Mon-Sun 9:30 pm CAT
Two contrasting lives united by twist of fate
A strong-willed woman who resists marriage clashes with a feared local gangster. Their intense confrontations gradually spark unexpected chemistry and love. Set in the culturally rich town, the series blends drama, romance, and societal themes.
Update: The channel will be available on Openview channel 144.
MultiChoice is set to announce that it will be adding it's second Zulu dubbed Bollywood channel called Star Khanya to the DStv platform soon. This comes two years after the rollout of Zee Zonke with the channel proving to be a popular addition and with Star Khanya set to bolster this lineup.
Star Khanya comes from Disney Star who are responsible for brands like Star Life, Vijay TV and StarPlus on DStv. The channel is set to rollout with 8 new series: IThemba Alibulali, Inhliziyo Ayiphakelwa: Blind Love, Titli, Unami Na?, Tunte, Elinye Ithuba, Uthando Lweqiniso and Isivumelwano.
Titli
Titli follows the journey of a girl who aspires to become a pilot despite suffering from hearing impairment overcoming all the hurdles she faces. The story starts with Titli's childhood, her choice was to listen to variety of sounds. One day, a plane crashes near her and a dangerous sound of that plane damages her eardrums.
One day, she goes to the crashed plane and takes oath that she will be a pilot. However to achieve her dream she ended up in Kolkata in her father's rich friend Aparesh Bose's house. She will also have to win the heart of every person in the Bose house.
She befriends Sunny, a YouTuber and a food blogger, and the youngest son of Aparesh Bose, who also befriends Titli. But the Bose family doesn't approve of their friendship. However, with Rekha (sunny's mother), Sunny and Kinni by her side, Titli has nothing to fear.
It stars Madhupriya Chowdhury as Titli Sanyal Bose – Pilot and Aryann Bhowmik as Sunny Bose – YouTuber, food vlogger and businessman.
Tunte
The story of the serial Tunte revolves around a skilled artisan and weaver, who embarks on a quest to fulfill her dreams of becoming a fashion designer.
Tunte will take the viewers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as we witness Tunte's relentless pursuit of her passion amidst the twists and turns of fate. Raised in a village, Tunte dreams of making her mark in the fashion world in a bustling city. However, destiny takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself working as a househelp in the influential Business family of Lahiri’s, renowned for their chain of retail stores. Tunte's dreams of becoming a fashion designer appear to shatter, but her indomitable spirit refuses to be crushed.
Through the narrative, the show unravels the challenges Tunte encounters on her path to becoming a fashion designer. The show delves into the often unseen struggles faced by Tunte being a househelp, shedding light on the importance of fighting for her rights and aspirations. Tunte's tale becomes a powerful symbol of empowerment and resilience, inspiring viewers to stand up against societal barriers and never give up on their dreams.
Dipanwita Rakhshit will essay the character of Tunte, capturing her strength, determination, and unwavering spirit with remarkable finesse. Syed Arefin will be seen as Rongon, the youngest son of the Lahiri family, who will become an unexpected ally in Tunte's journey, providing support and encouragement during her quest.
Elinye Ithuba
Elinye Ithuba (Mehndi Hai Rachne Waali) centres around Pallavi Deshmukh, a widowed daughter-in-law of the Deshmukh family. Despite being loved as a daughter by most of the family members, she faces challenges, especially from Sulochana and Amruta. Pallavi manages the Deshmukh Saree Emporium for her father-in-law, Vijay Deshmukh. The plot takes a turn when Raghav Rao, a business tycoon with an arrogant and reckless demeanour, enters Pallavi's life, leading to misunderstandings based on their different personalities.
The series stars Shivangi Khedkar as Pallavi Deshmukh Rao, Caretaker of Deshmukh Saree Emporium and Sai Ketan Rao as Raghav Rao – Don of Hyderabad; Jewellery Designer and owner of Jayati Jewels.
Uthando Lweqiniso
Uthando Lweqiniso (Poongatru Thirumbuma) promises a gripping narrative and a talented cast, including Shobanaa Uthaman, Eshan Shyam, and Sameer in pivotal roles.
Uthando Lweqiniso will centre around a woman trapped in a complex and distressing marriage with a psychologically unstable husband. The storyline is expected to delve into intense emotions, drama, and the protagonist’s journey of resilience, making it a compelling watch for audiences.
Shobanaa Uthaman will play the titular role, bringing her depth and experience to the character. Having made a mark in Tamil television, she is best known for her portrayal of Muthazhagu in the popular serial Muthazhagu. Her strong screen presence and ability to portray complex emotions have earned her a loyal fan following. With Uthando Lweqiniso, she is set to take on another powerful role that is expected to resonate with viewers.
Joining Shobanaa Uthaman in this intense drama are actors Eshan Shyam and Sameer, who will play key roles in the narrative. Their performances are expected to add layers to the storytelling, creating an engaging on-screen dynamic.
Isivumelwano
Isivumelwano (Tharala Tar Mag!) tells the story of an optimistic girl who was raised in an orphanage. She meets her biological father Raviraj, but they are unaware of each other's identities. Sayali alias Tanvi, is grown in orphanage and has a sweet, kind disposition. Arjun, humble despite his wealth, is a leading criminal lawyer. Sayali is looking for a lawyer to argue in a case related to Madhubhau, who was falsely accused and arrested for Vilas' murder which was done by Sakshi with Priya by her side.
Arjun's family had planned his engagement with Priya (masquerading as "Fake Tanvi"). But Arjun loathed love and marriage because of his traumatic past, including Sakshi's betrayal of Arjun's friend's death. In particular, he had no desire to marry Priya. So, Arjun agrees to take up Sayali's case on the condition that she would agree to one-year contract marriage with him.
After she agrees, the two go to the temple on Arjun's engagement day. After registering the marriage, Arjun and Sayali reach the engagement venue, and Arjun announces his marriage to Sayali to his family, thereby stopping the engagement. Sayali goes to Arjun's house and they pretend to be husband and wife in front of the family. Meanwhile, Priya, Sakshi Shikhare, her father Mahipat and Raviraj's brother Nagraj plot against Sayali and Arjun to make them cease the Madhubhau case.
It is based on an official remake of Tamil TV series Roja, Jui Gadkari as Sayali Madhukar Patil / Tanvi Killedar / Sayali Subhedar and Amit Bhanushali as Arjun Subhedar.
IThemba Alibulali
IThemba Alibulali (Tomader Rani) follows the story of Rani, a young, independent woman who dreams of leading a better life, overcoming societal barriers and personal struggles. The show revolves around her journey of self-discovery, as she battles the expectations of her family, her society, and the pressures of tradition.
Rani hails from a poor family, and her world revolves around her loved ones. She is known for her intelligence, perseverance, and nurturing nature. Despite facing numerous challenges, Rani is determined to rise above her circumstances. Her life takes a major turn when she gets involved with Arjun, a young and successful businessman who hails from a wealthy family. Their contrasting worlds—her humble roots and his privileged lifestyle—form the crux of the drama.
Rani is played by Madhumita Sarkar, the protagonist of the show. Rani is depicted as a girl full of dreams and aspirations. Madhumita's performance in this role is highly appreciated, as she brings a sense of vulnerability, strength, and authenticity to the character.
Arjun is played by Soham Chakraborty, a wealthy businessman with a good heart. He is shown to have a modern and progressive outlook, but his journey involves a lot of emotional growth as he navigates his relationship with Rani and his family. Arjun’s character is a mixture of confidence and vulnerability, and Soham's portrayal has earned praise for making him a relatable yet charismatic figure.
Unami Na?
Unami Na? (Sang Tu Aahes Ka?) follows Swaraj Joshi, a renowned superstar, makes a comeback to the film industry after a three-year hiatus, burdened by a mysterious past. Dr. Vaibhavi longs to meet him, finds herself drawn into a web of enigmatic events. She delivers a cake to Anandwan on Swaraj's birthday, an encounter that exposes her to a ghostly apparition marked with a symbol. Her encounter takes a terrifying turn as Kabir rescues her, leaving her haunted by the symbol etched on the ghost's foot. Abhay and Krutika plot against Swaraj. Sulakshana, determined to secure Swaraj's wealth, promises Krutika marriage to him as a will clause requires his wife's signature. The vengeful ghost injures Sulakshana after she gives her word. Dr. Vaibhavi crosses paths with Swaraj at the market, unaware of his true identity. Swaraj reluctantly agrees to marry Krutika after the anniversary of Dr. Vaibhavi's tragic demise.
It stars Siddharth Chandekar as Swaraj Shashikant Joshi: Dr. Vaibhavi's husband and Ghost Vaibhavi's widower, Saaniya Chaudhari as Vaibhavi "Taisaheb" Joshi (Ghost): Swaraj's first and late wife and Shivani Rangole-Kulkarni as Dr. Vaibhavi "Sona" Joshi: Swaraj's second wife.
Inhliziyo Ayiphakelwa: Blind Love
Inhliziyo Ayiphakelwa: Blind Love (Yed Lagla Premacha) revolves around Manjiri, a resilient woman who can face the world alone but fears marriage. Her life takes an unexpected turn with the entry of Raaya, a local thug. The show explores their relationship and the challenges they face, including threats, revenge plots, and family conflicts. One key plot point involves Raaya's true identity being revealed as Manjiri's brother.
Manjiri is portrayed by Pooja Birari as a strong and independent woman who is initially hesitant about marriage. Raaya portrayed by Vishhal Nikam, a local thug, enters Manjiri's life, and their relationship becomes a central focus of the show. The story involves various twists, including Shashikala's vengeful actions against Manjiri and the revelation of Raaya and Jay being brothers.
Update: the channel will be available on Openview channel 144.
Due to some restructuring that we had discussed in 2024, we opted to make some minor adjustments on how content is maintained on the website. Below we have summarised events that occurred in 2024 and trust me when I say that it was one of gruesome years for publishers such as myself but we strive to continue operating at minimum capacity.
Openview
Following the rollout of Ultraview, the pay-tv extension of Openview had lost two channels in under a year, OUTtv and FUSE. These were youth oriented channels priced at R75p/m that eMedia Investments had since integrated with the rest of eVOD's offering leaving the Bollywood channels.
As we've stated in 2024, eMedia Investments hadn't disclosed how many subscribers Ultraview accumulated but it is believed to low and also what prompted the closure of EDGE. Also to note was the lack of additions in this financial period with Sporty TV being the first new channel in over two years.
Other developments to have occured involved one of their existing offerings People's Weather that was axed from DStv and since became People's Planet.
StarSat
After operating illegally for over a year, StarSat was forcibly shuttered in South Africa following a raid by ICASA and law enforcement which affected several channels in other African countries. On Digital Media which held the broadcasting license has since been liquidated with no further action by both parties.
Consumers who were owed money were encouraged to contact On Digital Media if they wished to collect their bounty.
Similar to Openview, the financial period hasn't been the most productive of years with the rise in streaming. The only addition for the company during its lifespan at the time was ST Movies which if I can recall was ousted from the platform for unknown reasons and revived following the removal of TNT.
DStv
2024 has proven to be treacherous year for DStv amidst it's takeover by Canal+ had ousted 11 channels including People's Weather, Ginx TV, B4U Movies, Africa Magic Urban, One Freestate Televisual, DW, NWTV, PBS Kids, Emmanuel TV, Me and 1Max (formerly 1Magic).
As for additions, there was Arise News after being made exclusive to DStv consumers in the West and Eastern parts of Africa expanded to Southern Africa.
Other developments included the expansions of services SuperSport Action (Compact), CBS Justice (Compact), Comedy Central (Family), HGTV (Family), Nicktoons (Access) and WildEarth (Easyview). Readers are advised to view the summary below for the full list of channels.
eMedia Investments will be rolling out it's first new channel for Openview consumers in over 2 years. After promising to allocate more content since the previous financial year, the broadcaster will be allocating a football based channel Sporty TV to rival with the current SABC Sport.
Residing in West Africa, SportyTV is a free-to-air sports channel established as the home of premium football with English Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, UEFA EURO 2024. It also hosts major sporting events such as The Olympic Games, PFL/Bellator, EuroLeague, NFL Super Bowl, among others.
The channel will sit alongside SABC Sport when it goes live this weekend on channel 125 and weirdly enough eMedia Investments allocated it before SABC Sport on the Openview website.
As some are aware, StarSat got liquidated after going quite for the past 4 months and Sporty TV was distributed on the platform in other African countries. On Digital Media which served as the license holder didn't pick up the channel for consumers in South Africa so this will be the first time it broadcasts.
With MultiChoice looking to likely inflate DStv prices by the end of March, more consumers will definitely flee their platforms and likely get an Openview seeing as it is the only rival in South Africa. Another with a bolstered sports offering can convince Easyview consumers that rely on Blitz for sporting updates to migrate.
eVOD is a South African based streaming service operated by eMedia Investments that distributes locally produced and international content. It is currently rivalling with MultiChoice's Showmax, Netflix, VIU and Amazon Prime Video who offer an alternative and expansive lineup.
eMedia Investments hadn't stated why these channels were offloaded from Openview but if we had to guess the fault may have fallen on current market conditions. As it stands, their competitors DStv has seen a dip in subscriptions and Ultraview is struggling to find it's flock with those consumers.
At this stage, we wouldn't be shocked if the remaining lineup of Ultraview which comprise of Zee Family and Star Select were to join OUTtv on eVOD if not shut down. Bollywood programming has resonated with Openview viewers and eVOD was built on consumer's preferences.
Of course, what's interesting about OUTtv's integration with streaming is that all the content has been locked away from Openview consumers. It comes on eVOD at no additional charge but to date none of the content has yet to make entry on eMedia's linear platforms.
This is what consumers had already seen with local dramas Stout, uMbali and Splintered Pieces so I can only assume similar to Showmax, eMedia Investments is trying to give eVOD some independence. They don't want consumers to regard it as a repeats or catch-up service like SABC+ so they're banking on new content.
eMedia Investments had boasted about turning eVOD into the Netflix of South Africa and that could as well mean curating content specifically for the platform.
This trend had been seen with Disney+ and ABC, Max and HBO even Showmax and M-Net so it would only seem logical for eMedia Investments to follow soon. They do operate 8 channels (4 of which are on DStv) each with their own offering so again it's not shocking that eVOD would gain some independence.
With the government looking to turn off analogue signals in the coming future, eMedia Investments is expected to see a dip in ad revenue. I can only imagine similar to Showmax, they're looking to make eVOD profitable even if that means taking a chunk of content away from Openview.
With Comcast looking to offload its cable networks we turn our sites to both MultiChoice and eMedia Investments whose 2024 was somewhat dismal or dramatic at least for one of the two. MultiChoice ousted 11 channels while undergoing a takeover by Canal+ which is awaiting approval from South African regulators.
eMedia Investments has rounded another year with no additions despite promises to add a few more channels as Ultraview's future is being questioned after OUTtv and FUSE reverted to eVOD.
Let's face it, consumers don't prioritise TV as much in recent years as Netflix has become the hangout spot for shows like Squid Games and Wednesday. MultiChoice has been focused on everything from streaming, insurance and cybersecurity but saving the once dominant DStv platform.
Even the financially challenged SABC's top rated soaps are grasping through straws as their viewership continues to plummet. Uzalo that serves as the dominant player amongst the foe stood at 4.8 million in October 2024 which is a 21% drop from 6.1 million in October 2023.
This is the reason MultiChoice has been selective when it comes to sourcing content take for instance Zee Zonke. The only reason this channel was able to stay afloat is due to Zee TV's existing footprint in the market same goes for SuperSport Schools that established it's presence on YouTube as School Sports Live.
If anything things haven't been greener for eMedia's Ultraview offering as part of its offering had been merged with eVOD, consumers are curious on what's next for the brand. Since it's rollout, it was met with heavy criticism for its pricing and content offering while being compared to DStv so a majority are expecting for it to be dismantled.
When it was introduced, Eskom was going full force with power cuts although that withered DStv hasn't recovered and as for Ultraview it never had a fighting chance. Remember eMedia Investments hadn't disclosed consumer numbers for Ultraview but it's assumed to have under 500 subscribers.
In general, adding new channels has been more riskier in recent years MultiChoice had done that with One Freestate Televisual and NWTV which lasted for about 3 months. Even if the plan were to restructure, SABC has done that numerous times with SABC 3 and it still hasn't saved its fallen viewership.
This led to them even going through a 2 and a half year carriage battle with MultiChoice but this didn't end because one party decided to retain these channels but rather eMedia Investments realised the money wasted on legal fees was putting a damper in their money bin so where does this leave DStv consumers if you may ask.
Well as it stood, eMedia Investments' channels were slated to go dark on DStv by August 2024 as ongoing legal action is what prompted these 4 channels to stay onboard. The year is drawing to a close and if these channels are still seen on DStv we can only assume one of several outcomes.
Firstly an extension had been reached between both parties and MultiChoice had a change of heart as seen with the relaunch of WildEarth which some are prompting to the takeover by Canal+. Of course, the duration to such agreement, settlement, obligation or however they want to put it is what's keeping eMedia Investments quiet.
Could it be that these channels aren't out of the woods yet?
MultiChoice made a similar deal with the SABC back in 2017/8 that SABC Encore would be axed on their platforms by May 2020 and this was something neither party addressed when renewing their agreement. Maybe MultiChoice just gave these channels an extended vacation and are planning to remove them later.
This whole process could take months into 2025 maybe March which is when the current financial year period ends or May which would date back to when these channels were officially removed. In general, all I'm saying here is this agreement doesn't sit well with me why the secrecy particularly with eMedia Investments.
Maybe I'm wrong or partially and MultiChoice just looks into retaining a few channels on their platforms alongside e.tv and eNCA. But then again, Disney and BBC Studios had announced extensions to their contracts yet eMedia Investments doesn't and retaining them on DStv was a priority.
Another topic that was addressed within eMedia Investments annual results for 30 September 2024 was the matter of the Rugby World Cup. This was something eMedia Investments had been battling to get onto Openview after MultiChoice denied other platforms aside from that of SABC's DTT the right to view the content.
This led SABC to change transmission for these channels once these games come on through platforms outside SABC's DTT and DStv which is what prompted this battle. MultiChoice accused eMedia Investments of free riding and wanting to broadcast the content without paying a cent.
eMedia Investments had pitched a sum in which MultiChoice deemed too low and from what other sources mention SABC's bid was a lot higher. It took local legislation to pressure these broadcasters into reaching an agreement which saw these games getting reduced even further.
When MultiChoice blocked other platforms from getting rugby it was so that SABC could pay less and get the bulk of content associated with a free-to-air broadcaster. Then after eMedia Investments came into the picture it has been theorised that MultiChoice had to reduce the amount of games given to the SABC.
Now all three parties have settled the matter of course it's not really known how they managed to settle the matter but it isn't something that they can keep secretive forever. MultiChoice has been in such disputes with both parties several times and this isn't something you'd expect to go away that easily.
As some readers may have remembered from the last time we had posted eMedia Investments' 4 TV channels namely eExtra, eMovies, eMovies Extra and eToonz were all slated to be removed from DStv by August 2024. Several months had already passed and these channels continue to distributed on DStv.
MultiChoice made the decision by March 2022 that they didn't want to include these channels on any of their platforms which led to the discontinuation of e.tv's African feed eAfrica. At the time, eMedia Investments had stated that they're changing their distribution strategy for these consumers while in South Africa they took the matter to court.
According to MultiChoice, eMedia Investments 4 TV channels had a lot of duplicate content and also the matter of transponder constraints led to the decision to terminate these services. The free-to-air broadcaster stated otherwise as they showed 2 out of the 4 channels had local content and that MultiChoice had plenty of space for more channels.
To top it off, MultiChoice forged ahead and allocated several placeholders on each DStv package: Movie Room (Access), DreamWorks (Compact), PBS KIDS (discontinued, Easyview) and KIX (Access). They even ramped up a rival offering to eExtra's Kuiertyd with the addition of Turkish dramas on KykNet & Kie.
In the financial year results ending 30 September of this year, eMedia Investments had confirmed that they've reached a settlement with MultiChoice after two and a half years. This means eExtra, eToonz, eMovies and eMovies Extra will remain on DStv but what's odd about this is the lack of engagement by both parties.
eMedia Investments didn't want these channels removed now they're getting what they asked for but still you'd think they'd be a celebratory mood. But questions amount to what prompted MultiChoice to suddenly join hands as eMedia Investments mentioned paying significant costs in legal fees.
In a couple of days, MultiChoice will be reinstating WildEarth to their platforms which served as one of the 12 TV channels to exit the company's platforms in the year. If one had to guess maybe the transaction to have Sanlam acquire majority stake in NMIS Insurance Services helped them build up their capital.
Another could as well be the onslaught of TV channels to have exited their platforms during the year with One Freestate Televisual, NWTV and People's Planet being based in South Africa. Maybe eMedia's 4 channels are being used as leverage for the fallen either that or the drastic takeover by Canal+ which is awaiting approval.
As some readers have been made aware, SABC 1-3 will be transitioning away from analogue TV on 31 December 2024 a process that had been delayed the government for more than a decade. They put up various banners addressing the situation with e.tv that has yet to do so as they opt to once again delay/scrap the switch off.
Several countries had already turned off their signals as this current method of watching TV has been deemed outdated for sometime. As you can rely on a smart TV for these channels and best part pick up additional channels even the likes of Openview and DStv can help combat this situation.
Trust me when I mention that the government should have never opted to delay the switch yes there was millions still reliant on their aerial but this problem could have lessened by 2024. MultiChoice was always accustomed to catering for a selection of consumers and now free-to-air operators will have to adjust to this current structure.
Having SABC 1's viewership minimised as some households will probably be watching SABC Sport or eReality and with MultiChoice having SuperSportBET, DStv Insurance and Namola to obtain some revenue. These operators are now going to have to find other means to recover this lost revenue.
If there's anyone that's going to suffer more from this it's the SABC while eMedia Investments went ahead and launched Openview ahead of the switch off were able to garner some income and grow their fanbase. Although SABC had followed similar routes with SABC Education and SABC Lehae on DTT very little income is being generated.
Now SABC is trying to make a DStv a cash cow by trying to make its parent company either pay for SABC 1-3 or help in collecting TV licence despite making R500 million in advertising. These are just ideas that have been in development hell for more than a decade alongside the rest of the public broadcaster.
This was something that TVWithThinus had mentioned from time and time again the government had failed the SABC. If it didn't SABC News wouldn't be financed by MultiChoice and I believe if they were more involved they would have tried improving the SABC's financial situation.
At this stage, the public broadcaster can't survive in its current structure without some financial backing maybe they could look into minimising the amount of local content on SABC 1. There's already DStv and a global player like Netflix even e.tv has increased its local investment in recent years.
If there's anyone that can survive in SABC's shoes it would be MultiChoice as consumers are paying for the content being viewed on Mzansi Magic and Moja Love alongside Netflix.
Sentech's Freevision which serves as one of the various rivals for eMedia Investments' Openview platform alongside PremiumFree TV started its services back in 2015. Similar to DStv's Easyview package, it mainly consisted of religious and provincial stations alongside various SABC and e.tv channels.
According to several consumers, e.tv channels had been ousted from the platform and this would include eExtra, eMovies and eToonz which serve as the initial offering on the platform. This would only leave mainly SABC channels particularly SABC 1-3, SABC Sport, SABC Education, SABC Lehae and SABC Variety.
eMedia Investments is already running through a similar hurdle with MultiChoice after they made the decision to exclude these services from DStv by 2022. Unlike Sentech's Freevision, these channels have a lot more viewers there of course with its pending demise one could say eMedia Investments is under siege.
With MultiChoice betting their odds on Showmax, Sentech had made similar pursuits with Freevision Play featuring a range of local content from various provincial stations some of which like Cape Town TV were exclusive to DStv.
Freevision Play taps into the same market as SABC+ and eVOD which is free and if we had to compare the three they're all winners in some way. Freevision Play has a catalogue of local content and TV channels, SABC+ is good for sports and local news and eVOD offers a mixture local and international content.
But the reality to all this only one out of three favour eMedia Investments and it's sort of this scenario of them being less reachable by fans. Right now, they're fighting to prevent analogue signals from going off the deep end as there's still households dependant on them for content and contribute to their ad revenue.
As some of you may remember, SABC and eMedia Investments held hands to announce a new partnership that would see SABC Sport alongside SABC's 19 radio stations on Openview. This would join the existing SABC 1-3 channels with more expansion plans said to be underway with the inclusion two new channels.
These channels were non-exclusive brands meaning it could as well be distributed on SABC's DTT or MultiChoice's DStv platform with plans to spread the existing lineup from SABC 1-3 on these channels. At the time, the SABC had stated that when these channels would get enough exposure that new content could be curated specifically for them.
Similar to what we've seen with SABC's DTT channels, this content will likely be allocated on SABC 1-3 cause with more exposure means more advertising income. Although Ouma Sarie was able to pull 1.8 million viewers on e.tv that's not the case with eExtra as it's estimated to be under 500000.
These new channels had been in development hell for 3 years which means they could have been working on some ideas and that's where it's stands. Often when something is in development hell it's likely to get the axe look what happened to BBC UKTV's launch on Openview that went to DStv and consumers are reliant on SABC 3 for their offering.
Let's remember, SABC had continued adding further channels SABC Lehae and SABC Variety maybe one or both of those could be something they were looking to include on Openview. Then something behind the scenes happened with either eMedia Investments or the SABC which led to its cancellation or delay.
They are technically insolvent and need funding in order for these channels to survive. At this stage, they wouldn't really launch channels without knowing they'd be compensated in some capacity.
Another possible outcome would be structure of this deal, when SABC Encore was distributed on MultiChoice's DStv what happened there was that SABC had a deadline (missed it) but eventually launched with the money coming from MultiChoice. Could the same have been outlined with eMedia Investments agreement with SABC?
This is a non exclusive deal unlike that of SABC Encore so SABC could have benefitted from this as there was no given timeframe by eMedia Investments on when these channels would go live. Probably because the payments eMedia Investments had given to SABC Sport matched that of SABC 1-3.
This means that SABC would be the one covering most of the costs for these channels cause with the financial constraints of eMedia Investments there's no way they could fund all 19 radio stations. This is the reason you don't get SABC News much less eNCA on those platforms due to constraints in livelihood.
Despite MultiChoice attempts to lure consumers to their most cheapest package this has proven to challenging as Openview has over 20 channels which incorporate telenovelas, movies, reality shows and drama series. Easyview is still reliant on provincial and news brands despite the inclusion of TNT and Real Time.
One of the main factors that drive people away from Easyview would be sports as eMedia Investments distribute SABC Sport on Openview and all Easyview has got is Blitz their news channel. One could as well establish that Blitz is superior for its news coverage for which SABC Sport lacks but from a consumers perspective live sports is a necessity.
Openview draws over 3 million households of course when it comes to viewership particularly sports it is estimated to reach 50000-100000 viewers and although MultiChoice hasn't mentioned Easyview consumer numbers their lower mass market which include Access and Family amount to 4 million.
When it comes to sports, MultiChoice injects a lot of funding there which is the main factor to the inflation rates on the Premium to Access packages. If or when MultiChoice decides to offer sports on the Easyview package full-time they'd be various challenges awaiting them one would be keeping the rates intact.
DStv Easyview was R39 per month before it dropped to R29 as MultiChoice was struggling to retain consumers and part of the blame went to Openview. As mentioned, despite the package seeing an increase in content is under threat and although being the most affordable it isn't the most attractive of packages.
One way Easyview is able to give a channel like SABC Sport a run for their money would be provincial stations. Despite being the reliant on when it comes to premium entertainment has seen a number of events under their wing including DStv Diski Challenge, World Wrestling Professionals RPT and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
During certain sporting events, SuperSport either launches a dedicated TV channel or temporarily opens up an existing channel to their consumers.
Heck even the movie channel TNT had opted to offer sports with the inclusion of wrestling promotion, All Elite Wrestling. If anything, I think the only other way MultiChoice can help Easyview compete even further with SABC Sport is by licensing some of its content from SuperSport to Magic Showcase.
Magic Showcase broadcasts 16-18 hours a day and one way they could help extend those hours would be the inclusion of sporting event like Betway Premiership and compliment this with Jambo WWE. The content would broadcast on Magic Showcase weekly and could as well help them minimize costs.
As some people may have already seen, DStv has lost over 400000 in the last financial year leaving their consumer base to plunge from 8 million to 7.6 million. This is due to the current economic climate which has the average consumer having to wind down on expenses which has becoming an epidemic in other parts of the world.
Netflix would release an entire season of Wednesday or He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe and consumers would try to stream as much of it within a short pan of time. This has even splashed onto DStv when consumers would resubscribe when a major sporting event is on or Big Brother Naija.
Even with Canal+ having to acquire DStv's parent company MultiChoice this wouldn't necessarily improve these numbers but rather lead MultiChoice to rationalize on things like TV channels. These numbers are anticipated to decline which could lead other competitors such as Openview to edge out DStv numbers.
Openview is operated by e.tv's parent company eMedia Investments and has since seen a lot of growth in recent years with its activations reaching over 3.5 million homes almost half of DStv's consumer base. This does lead some to wonder if Openview could eventually have an advantage over DStv with numbers.
Free-to-air broadcasters already dominate the viewership spectrum I mean e.tv pulls over 5 million households and MultiChoice had already been accustomed to not having these figures on any of their brands but DStv was one way to exercise their dominance. So with Openview having close to half these figures could this edge out DStv.
Free viewing hasn't really slowed down in most parts of the world of course that doesn't mean its dependency remains under siege as Netflix continues to be a money grabber. In the UK, Freeview which serves as a free tier has its services in over 18 million homes while Sky the pay-tv counterpart has only 12 million.
Content wise you find that Sky continues to be a dominant player if you're used to getting the freshest content but if you're more prone to a selection of this lineup then Freeview is the best option.
